Looking at light-duty pickup trucks, it’s easy to find endless articles comparing and contrasting the most popular models like the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Chevy Silverado. But while those three may be bestsellers, they are far from the only game in town. Today we’re going to look at the Silverado’s classier cousin, the GMC Sierra, and see how this all-American pickup does against Japanese automaker Nissan’s full-size offering: the Titan. In this 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2023 Nissan Titan discussion, we’ll look at everything from stats and performance to safety and tech features to see which one comes out on top and which one gets left behind in the dust.
Performance and Power
Let’s kick this off with one of the most important questions you can ask about a truck: what’s under the hood? For the Titan, the answer is very simple, since it only has one powertrain option. Its 5.6L V8 offers 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, and it pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission. That setup gives it plenty of power and makes for speedy acceleration.
The Sierra 1500, by contrast, has four different engines to choose from. The base engine is a 2.7L Turbo four-cylinder that pairs with an eight-speed transmission and produces 310 hp but can deliver an impressive 430 lb-ft of torque. Though if you’re looking for peak torque, you’ll want to look at GMC’s diesel option, a 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel that can produce a whopping 495 lb-ft of torque, a best-in-class stat for half-ton diesel pickups. If you’re not willing to settle for anything other than a V8, though, never fear: the Sierra has two options, both of which pair with a ten-speed automatic. The 5.3L V8 brings 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque to the table, while a 6.2L option leads the pack with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
This apples-to-oranges situation makes judging this category a bit tricky. Base engine to base engine, the Titan is the clear winner, but the Sierra’s 6.2L V8 offers more than the Titan’s 5.6L engine in terms of both horsepower and torque. We also consider the Sierra’s range of options a pro, since it lets drivers strike the right balance between power, budget, and fuel economy. So overall, this first round goes to the Sierra 1500.
Towing Capacity
For folks who are just looking to pick up some furniture from Craigslist or a garage sale now and then or have a lightweight boat for going out on the water, the Nissan’s towing capacity won’t be a dealbreaker. But at 9,600 lbs, the Titan is certainly not competitive in its class when it comes to this all-important stat. The Sierra 1500, on the other hand, can handle a towing capacity of up to 13,200 lbs when properly equipped, and can haul a payload of 2,240 lbs. Pretty impressive for a full-size truck. These numbers clearly blow the Titan out of the water, putting a second notch in the Sierra’s belt.
Fuel Economy
Whether you’re looking at the Titan or the Sierra, it doesn’t matter much in terms of fuel economy if you want a V8. Whether you opt for 4WD or 2WD and no matter which of the two V8 options you pick for the GMC, you’ll be looking at around 17 or 18 MPG combined, according to the EPA. Both trucks do better on the highway, with the 2WD Titan and the 2WD Sierra (equipped with the 5.3L V8) able to get up to 21 MPG on the highway. So if we were to just put equivalent engines head-to-head here, it would essentially be a tie.
But the Sierra has more than just V8 engines on offer, and if you’re looking to avoid pain at the pump, then GMC’s variety of powertrain choices becomes a high point once again. While the base 4-cylinder engine isn’t as powerful as a V8, it is more efficient, with a combined fuel economy rating of 20 MPG and a highway rating of 22 MPG. But if you really want to get solid fuel economy stats, then the diesel option is the one to go with. With the turbo-diesel engine under the hood, the Sierra 1500 is rated at 26 MPG combined, with a 29 MPG rating on the highway. That’s not half bad for a full-size truck, considering that the average 2023 vehicle gets 28 MPG.
Infotainment Systems
The Titan’s base infotainment system has an 8-inch touchscreen and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can hook your smartphone up to the truck’s interface. You also have the option to upgrade to a larger 9-inch screen and cable-free features like wireless AppleCarPlay and a wireless charging pad are available. For those still saddled to their wires, there’s a choice between a traditional USB-A port and a faster-charging USB-C port.
Except for the lowest-level Pro trim, every 2023 Sierra comes standard with a 13.4-inch touchscreen as well as a 12.3-inch digital driver information center, giving the cabin two large screens to display information on, so it’s easier to get a handle on navigation directions, warnings, or vehicle diagnostics at a glance. This system also comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so phones can be hooked up to the truck without anyone needing to dig through the glove box in order to get the right cable. Google built-in brings a digital assistant onboard, allowing for voice control over a variety of features.
Safety Features
Driver assistance technology that used to be considered fancy and futuristic is quickly becoming commonplace. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if some of these features that were considered high-tech just a few years ago became required equipment by the end of the decade. So we’re not surprised to see that both of these work trucks come standard with a full suite of driver assistance tech. Even at the cheapest trim level, you’ll still get things like forward collision alerts, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, and automatic high beam headlights. GMC’s Pro Safety and Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 are fairly similar, so this competition is essentially a draw.
So, Who Wins?
The Titan may offer a strong base model, coming standard with a powerful V8, but its lack of configurations is definitely a drawback compared to the versatile Sierra 1500. It’s also not class-competitive when it comes to the ever-important towing and hauling stats. That alone would be enough to put the Sierra on top, so the fact that it has a more impressive infotainment setup is really just icing on the cake.
The Titan is a solid work truck, and it has its high points, but it’s been a while since it got a new generation, and it’s starting to show its age. It has a surprising lack of customization options, so you can’t configure the truck to be what you want. This match is a clear victory for the good ol’ Asmerican Sierra. GMC’s truck is not just tough but well-rounded, so it’s going to take more than a standard V8 to best it in the ring.
