2022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 Nissan Titan

The 2021 Nissan Titan retained its refreshed look from 2020, offering three Crew Cab trim levels in Canada: SV, Pro-4X, and Platinum Reserve. Each trim had a distinct design identity, with the SV featuring a dark grille, the Pro-4X a black grille with lava-red script, and the Platinum Reserve a satin chrome grille. The Pro-4X also boasted lava-red tow hooks, adding character. The Titan's new headlights delivered 120% more light output than the 2019 model, and LED fog lights improved visibility by 15%. The truck bed featured four LED light sources, enhancing functionality without disturbing neighbours. The rear had LED taillights and unique tailgate finishers, with the Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve having black and satin chrome finishers, respectively. The Titan's interior saw significant upgrades, including a large infotainment screen and piano-black plastic trim, making it modern and attractive. However, the steering wheel design felt dated, with small buttons that were challenging to use with gloves.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced the Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants, expanding its premium and off-road offerings. With eight trim levels, the Sierra appeared larger and more aggressive, thanks to an updated grille, front fascia, and split-C headlights. The Denali's grille featured a "tri-linear" theme, while the Denali Ultimate had dark-coloured "Vader bars." New 22-inch wheel designs were available for Denali and Denali Ultimate trims. The Sierra's interior felt more spacious, with a redesigned dash featuring long, straight lines. The AT4X trim offered premium leather, contrast stitching, and genuine wood trim, while the Denali Ultimate boasted full-grain leather and open-pore wood. The Sierra's cabin was luxurious, with thoughtful design elements, although the low placement of screens and controls could be distracting.

The 2021 Nissan Titan was equipped with a single powertrain: a 5.6-litre V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, making it the best-in-class standard powertrain. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Titan offered smooth shifts and strong acceleration. However, it lacked engine start/stop functionality, impacting fuel efficiency. The Titan's 4WD drivetrain averaged 15.2 L/100 km in the city and 11.1 on the highway. The Pro-4X grade had slightly higher figures. The Titan's steering was traditional, with a bit of play, and its ride quality was average for the class. It offered a payload capacity of up to 739 kg and a towing capacity of 4,178 kg. The Pro-4X trim featured off-road equipment like hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered four engine options, including a 2.7L turbo four-cylinder and a 3.8-litre Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six, both enhanced for 2022. The turbo-four produced 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, with improved towing capacity. The diesel engine offered 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, with best-in-class towing for light-duty diesel trucks. Other engine options included a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 hp and a 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 with 420 hp. The Sierra's ride was smooth and comfortable, with the Denali Ultimate offering a luxurious experience. The AT4X trim excelled off-road, with Multimatic DSSV dampers and e-locking differentials. The Sierra's off-road capabilities were tested in the Anza-Borrego Desert, where it performed well, although the test route was not particularly challenging.

The 2021 Nissan Titan offered seating for five or six, with a front bench seat standard and bucket seats available. The Zero Gravity design of the seats ensured comfort for long journeys. Heated and cooled front seats were available, but petite drivers might struggle to find a comfortable position. The Titan provided ample seating and storage space, with a large centre console and smartphone holder. A panoramic moonroof and power-sliding rear window were available, enhancing the cabin experience. The Titan's interior featured thoughtful design elements like easy-to-reach grab handles and folding rear seatbacks.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 boasted a spacious interior, with best-in-class cargo capacity even in its short bed. Front headroom was 1,093 mm, and legroom was 1,131 mm. Rear-seat passengers in the crew cab enjoyed 1,102 mm of legroom. The Sierra offered numerous storage compartments, although the gloveboxes were small. The cabin's ergonomics were somewhat perplexing, with low-positioned screens and controls. The Sierra featured numerous knobs and buttons, which could be overwhelming. The AT4X trim had off-road controls in two different locations, adding to the complexity.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a standard 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class. It offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and satellite radio. Navigation, HD Radio, and additional USB ports were available. The interface was responsive, but the graphics were not as modern as competitors. A 7-inch programmable information display was standard, and a Fender Premium Audio System with 12 speakers was available.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered larger display screens, with a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen on most grades. The system included Google built-in, Bluetooth, OnStar, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Denali models featured an interactive start-up screen. The infotainment system was fast and responsive, with a clean display. However, distinguishing between in-car and smartphone navigation could be confusing. The Sierra offered personalization options and wireless charging on higher grades. A 15-inch head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system were available.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. Additional features included forward-collision warning, parking sensors, and an Around View Monitor camera system. The Titan had a five-year/160,000-kilometre bumper-to-bumper warranty, the best in Canada.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced GM's Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system available on the Denali Ultimate. Super Cruise offered hands-free driving with automatic lane changes and trailering capability. The Sierra featured up to 14 camera views and a GCW Alert for trailering. GMC Pro Safety included forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and IntelliBeam headlights. The Sierra received mostly "Good" crash safety ratings from the IIHS but had a "Marginal" grade in the front-passenger small overlap test and a "Poor" grade for headlights. NHTSA rated 2WD models four out of five stars for crashworthiness.