The lineage and history of GMC is a lengthy and interesting one. One of the first truck manufacturers in the United States, they were also called up to serve in two world wars, providing ambulances and troop transport and becoming a vital part of the war effort. When America entered the post-war period, which brought about a large economic resurgence, GMC adapted and mass-produced trucks to help make sure America’s infrastructure remained intact and running at full steam. All the way up to today, GMC continues to manufacture products with the American consumer in mind. However, when you’re well established in your field and are consistent with quality, competition tends to want to steal your thunder. While pickups are considered by many to be Americana, foreign manufacturers such as Toyota and Nissan have brought their own designs to the fold. Today, it’s a war between the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 Nissan Titan. Which is better? Which is the superior product? We’ll soon find out.
Under the Hood and Over the Finish Line
People buy pickup trucks for varying reasons. While some utilize their towing and payload capacity, others are more concerned with performance and economy. Every driver looks for different attributes, but the main variable in any situation is the engine. Whether it’s towing or performance, the truck’s engine is going to be one of the first places you look to assess a possible purchase.
The Nissan Titan comes equipped with a powerhouse of a motor. The 5.6L V8 that it has underneath its hood boasts 400 horsepower and is capable of generating an equally impressive 413 lb-ft of torque. Nissan’s V8 is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and for many, this is where the story ends. Similar to what they’ve done with the Frontier, Nissan offers one engine and transmission for all of their trim lines. While this affords an abundance of spare parts and makes working on the Titan much easier for technicians, there is a noticeable disadvantage. By having a complete lack of variety, some consumers will be instantly turned away. Not everyone needs a V8. However, those that do will be pleasantly surprised by what they get.
For potential GMC drivers, variety and versatility are the names of the game. The 2022 Sierra 1500 doesn’t have only one available engine, but four. For truck owners who favor economy and fuel efficiency, GMC offers a turbocharged 2.7L in-line four-cylinder and a Duramax turbo-diesel 3.0L in-line six. GM’s 2.7L might only have four cylinders, but it’s being praised by many as one of the smoothest motors in the industry. Throw in 0-60 MPH in 7.0 seconds, and you have a performance that is on par with some sports cars. GM continues to redefine the advantages of the diesel engine, as the Duramax not only boasts 277 horses and 460 lb-ft of torque, but it offers the economic shopper an estimated 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway, which is excellent for a truck. GMC also offers hungry power-seekers two options in the form of two different V8’s: a 5.3L with 355 horsepower or a 6.2L with 420 horsepower.
Towing Capacity & Payload
While not every truck owner considers cargo capabilities as a contributing factor when making a final decision, others need all the capacity and prowess they can get for both work and play. As one can expect, both the Titan and Sierra deliver admirable results in this category, but, much like the Highlander…there can only be one.
Nissan’s choice to implement all of their models with the same engine and transmission once again comes to hinder the Titan’s overall ability. While it’s still capable of pulling an estimated maximum load of 9,660 lbs, this isn’t enough for some drivers, especially the ones who have big trailers full of goodies and workloads that are larger than average. The Sierra’s redesigned chassis realty increases its towing ability, which now maxes out at an astonishing 13,200 lbs.
When it comes to payload, we have to give favor to the Sierra once again. Its maximum payload of 2,240 lbs is simply more than the 1,690 lbs Titan is capable of. Clearly, the Titan falls behind in the towing and payload department, which will hinder its appeal to the worker bees.
Interior Motive
No matter what you need your truck for, there’s a fundamental truth to all vehicles; you’ll be spending a lot of your time in the driver’s seat, so you might as well be comfortable while you’re sitting down. While trucks have always been associated with rugged individualism and taming the unkempt wilderness, today’s modern incarnations have an interior less to do with ‘roughing it.’ They are perfectly content to offer drivers all of the creature comforts of a luxury sedan…albeit with a bigger dose of horsepower and ground clearance.
By all accounts, the Nissan Titan possesses a substantial amount of room for cargo and holds nothing back in terms of keeping its drivers as comfortable as possible when they’re driving. An infotainment system with plenty of driver assistance technology makes for peace of mind when on the road for long periods of time. Despite its posh and refined look on the exterior, the interior once again reflects the shortcomings of mass production. The interior has all the hallmarks of manufacturing but none of the craftsmanship. Its uninviting nature is another factor that makes the Titan unappealing.
The opposite can be said about the interior of the Sierra, which is spacious, inviting, and contains a high level of craftsmanship that appeals to many. As history has shown us, GMC is a company that has adapted with the times and stayed ahead of the game in terms of the many changes that occur within the industry. If one opts for the Denali trim, then you’re going to receive the type of pampering normally reserved for the cultural elite. Massaging chairs and leather interior make for a setting that surpasses the expectation of luxury and comfort. The Sierra also outshines the Titan in the sheer amount of standard features and driver assistance technology. An available 12-speaker stereo system is the cherry on the top of the cake and one more reason why the Sierra 1500 caters to the whims of every driver.
Sierra or Titan? We Have to Go With the 2022 GMC Sierra
There’s no doubt that the Nissan Titan is a capable truck that offers effective towing and performance along with a considerable amount of cargo space that’s needed for lengthy road trips and workloads. However, the Titan falls prey to its own shortcomings. While mass production and a surplus of interchangeable parts greatly benefitted the industrial revolution, utilizing them in the modern age can have mixed results. With only one engine available, the Titan can only have mass appeal for a single demographic and not several.
The GMC Sierra 1500, on the other hand, is what’s sometimes referred to as a ‘hat trick.’ By offering customers a variety of options as far as engines are concerned, this allows truck drivers of all wants and needs a chance to opt for the trim that best suits them. The Sierra has very little to limit its offerings and has the appeal of something handcrafted and built with a gentle touch, as opposed to the Titan, which has the cold feel of an assembly line. Once again, GMC reaffirms dominance of its field by offering versatility, performance, and above all, passion.
