With so many trucks on the market today and every manner of upgrade imaginable, it is difficult to find the best option for you, your family or your business. That’s why we try to make it a bit easier by pitting two similar options, the 2018 Chevy Silverado vs. 2018 Nissan Titan, against each other to see which truck will come out on top. When looking at some of the most important features that a truck driver cares about—performance, fuel economy, and safety—it is clear that one truck—the 2018 Chevy Silverado—emerges victorious.
The Silverado is at the Peak of Power and Performance
The 2018 Chevy Silverado is a powerhouse of performance and has several different engines available to choose from depending on your needs as a driver. The available engines include a 4.3-liter V6, a 5.3-liter V8, and a 6.2-liter V8.
The 6.2-liter V8 engine delivers a maximum horsepower of 420 and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine also offers a maximum towing capacity of 12,500 pounds and a maximum payload of 2,250 pounds.
In addition to the impressive power and performance that the Silverado delivers, it has other special features that improve the truck’s capabilities. These features include a tow/haul mode that reduces shift cycling, StabiliTrak™ with trailer sway control to prevent and manage swaying trailers, and hill start assist to help prevent rollback.
And, no matter what engine you pick, you won’t be sacrificing fuel economy for power. The Silverado gets an EPA-estimated 15/21 MPG in the city and on the highway with the 6.2-liter V8 and 18/24 MPG with the other two engines. The three engines each contain several fuel-saving technologies like Active Fuel Management™, Direct Injection, and Continuously Variable Valve Timing, all of which work together to save you money at the pump. Some trims are also equipped with eAssist Powertrain, a hybrid technology within the 5.3-liter engine. See up to a 12 percent improvement in fuel economy with this technology.
The Titan Just Falls Short
The Titan also offers three different engine choices: two standard gas and one diesel. These engines include the Endurance® 5.6-liter 32 valve V8, the Endurance® 5.6-liter DOHC 32 valve V8 engine, and the Cummins® 5.0-liter DOHC 32 valve V8 turbo diesel engine. However, despite the promise of power, the most capable engine, the 5.6-liter Endurance V8, can only tow a maximum of 9,400 pounds, which is significantly less than the Chevy Silverado can handle. Likewise, the maximum payload with this Titan configuration is only 1,610 pounds, which is approximately 600 pounds less than the Silverado’s maximum payload. This engine also gets a max 390 horsepower and 394 lb.-ft. of torque, falling short of the Silverado yet again.
The 5.6-liter Endurance V8 engine gets an EPA-estimated 15/21 MPG in the city and on the highway, which is essentially the same as the Silverado gets with its most powerful engine. This means that the Titan sacrifices on power to bring you fuel economy. Though the gas mileage is the same, the Silverado is more powerful, refusing to compromise on power. As you can see, when it comes to sheer capability, the 2018 Chevy Silverado is the clear winner.
The Silverado Sets the Standard for Safety
The 2018 Chevy Silverado has numerous safety features that work together to prevent accidents from occurring, protect the driver and the passengers in the event of an accident, and respond to any accident that happens. Available safety features include low-speed forward automatic braking; lane keep assist with lane departure warning, forward collision alert, safety alert driver’s seat, front and rear park assist, and rear vision camera. These optional features will all work together to make certain that the driver and passengers stay safe no matter what surprises you may encounter on the road.
In addition to all of the available safety features in the 2018 Chevy Silverado, the truck is built with safety in mind. The cab is designed to protect the occupants in the event of an accident with six standard airbags and a high-strength steel safety cage that prevents the cab from crushing. Many Chevy models are also equipped with a free trial of OnStar to ensure that help arrives as quickly as possible after an accident. A representative will contact you in the event of a crash and dispatch emergency assistance, even if you are unable to respond.
The 2018 Silverado also has Teen Driver Mode, an available safety system that promotes safe driving habits among teenagers, even when you’re not in the truck with them. The system works by giving audiovisual warnings when the teen is going over a certain speed, muting the audio system if any occupant isn’t wearing a seatbelt, and providing an in-car report card to parents so you can see how your new driver is doing and assess what they need to improve on.
Titan Tech Falls Short for Teen Drivers
Like the Silverado, the Titan has many optional and included safety systems. For example, the new Intelligent Mobility initiative, which aims to create a safer driving environment by having cars communicate with and learn from each other on the road. Other available features include forward collision warning, blind spot warning, lane intervention, back up intervention, an around view monitor, and distance control.
2018 Chevy Silverado vs. 2018 Nissan Titan – The Features Just Add Up
While these available safety features are nearly the same as the available features on the Silverado, the Titan is lacking one thing in particular: Teen Driver Mode. If you have teens that are driving age or will be of driving age soon, the Silverado’s Teen Driver technologies make this truck the top choice in terms of safety features. When you’re in the market for a new pickup truck, don’t settle for anything less than the best. Choose a 2018 Chevy Silverado and drive with peace of mind knowing you’ll be able to get any job done and be safe while doing it. But don’t take our word for it; test drive a 2018 Chevy Silverado today and see for yourself.
