2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2018 Nissan Titan

Technology

Any driver should expect their new vehicle to be state-of-the-art inside and out. A truck is no different. In the category of infotainment, these systems provide better access to settings and features throughout the truck such as audio, climate control, engine performance, and navigation. This is also a category that the Chevy Silverado wins outright.

Simply put, the Nissan Titan’s infotainment system is outdated. Using a small 5 inch (or optional 7 inch) LCD panel, the system has a basic set of features such as a four-speaker audio system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional navigation system. Unfortunately, this is about it in terms of advanced features that drivers and passengers will find beneficial.

The Chevy Silverado’s infotainment relies on Chevy’s MyLink platform and provides all of these basic features and more. Along with a good audio system and optional navigation, the infotainment system provides wireless charging capability using a charging pad built into the central armrest in the front. For extra safety with new drivers behind the wheel, owners can also use the Teen Driver features in the infotainment system to mute the audio, limit speed, and activate advanced safety features all at once.

Safety

Driving high above the road may feel safer, but a truck must still rely on advanced standard and optional safety options along with intelligent chassis design to keep occupants safe during a crash. In recent years, many of the intelligent safety features such as blind spot monitoring and forward collision detection that started on smaller vehicles have become optional upgrades for trucks.

In terms of standard safety, both the Silverado and Titan come with the same set of front and side driver/passenger airbags. Depending on the length of the cab, additional safety features can be found in the rear such as anchor points for a child’s safety seat. Despite the similarities, this is a category the Silverado single-handedly wins. With a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA, the truck edges out the Titan’s four-star rating in the overall safety and frontal crash categories.

Both trucks offer their advanced safety systems as optional upgrades. In the Titan’s corner, options are more limited. To increase the driver’s awareness while operating the vehicle in challenging situations, the blind-spot monitoring system will kick in anytime it detects another vehicle to the side. Various sensors around the truck will also monitor traffic around the truck when parking.

The Silverado, on the other hand, has more to offer from its single safety package known as the Enhanced Driver Alert Package. In addition to the normal set of intelligent safety systems including blind spot monitoring and parking lot sensors, the truck brings the safety features to another level. For forward collisions, the truck combines a collision alert and automatic braking system to shrink response times when another vehicle is detected in front of the Silverado. The truck also comes with a lane departure warning system to prevent the vehicle from straying outside the lines of the road.

Fuel Economy

Fuel efficiency is a tricky thing to consider for truck owners. Since full-size trucks rely on bulky, usually bolt-on chassis, they are often heavy and far from aerodynamic. Given this, however, fuel performance has become an important consideration for many customers. Anyone wanting to maximize the fuel economy without turning to smaller pickup options will want to look at models that offer the best fuel ratings. In the case of the Silverado vs the Titan, Chevy wins here again.

On the surface, this is an even battle since the engines of both trucks are hungry for fuel. A combination of 15 city and 21 highway MPG means the Titan is average to above-average in the fuel economy department. The base engine option does a good job of maximizing fuel economy using standard, unleaded gas that is often cheaper at the gas station so you save money when filling up.

The Chevy Silverado, on the other hand, takes a different approach to its fuel economy. Using eAssist V8 engine options, the truck starts with the same basic 15/20 MPG rating and increases fuel efficiency depending on which powerplant you choose. At the max, the truck is capable of achieving 18 city and 24 highway fuel ratings using premium gasoline. These engines are also capable of using ethanol as an alternative fuel source.

Performance

A truck is a truck first and foremost. This means that the expectations most truck owners have of their vehicles outweigh virtually anything else when thinking about the list of must-haves. The engines need to be powerful with plenty of towing capability. Beds must be large with accessories, cargo boxes, and latch points. Drivetrains need to provide loads of traction. If any of these important ingredients are missing, the truck will fail to do its job.

The 2018 Nissan Titan offers a couple of engine options that edge out comparable models from other competitors. The baseline 5.6L V8 engine comes in with 390 HP and 394 pound-feet of torque. Anyone needing more power under the hood will be attracted to the 5.0L V8 turbodiesel engine that offers 310 HP and 555 pound-feet of torque since it has more hauling and towing capacity for tougher jobs.

This comparison gets a little challenging when the Chevy Silverado’s lineup is thrown into the mix. At the same level, the Silverado’s lower-tier engines struggle to compete since they are only six-cylinder. This is due to basic automotive physics: the more cylinders you have, the more performance you will receive in general. For maximum power and capability, however, the Silverado takes the win. The 6.2L V8 powerplant offers a great balance of 420 HP and 460 pound-feet of torque. Combined with a capable drivetrain, the maximum towing capacity of the truck is around 12,500 pounds.