The truck war for market dominance wages on between automotive manufacturing juggernauts, seemingly with no end in sight. Even the all-electric and autonomous driving future of automobiles cannot deter the consumer demand for mid to large size pickup trucks. The clear benefit of automotive companies focusing primarily on the pickup truck as their money maker is the plethora of new models being released as well as the advancements and updates on previous truck technology. Today’s modern truck is no longer a one size fits all workhorse, only viable for the work site or towing long hauls. Auto manufacturers have designed the pickup to be lighter and faster while not only maintaining its raw functionality for towing and hauling but also improving upon that designated area from previous specs. As a result, the pickup truck of today is versatile and still able to handle the heavy-duty workloads of previous models while now capable of also being an everyday errand mobile or a decked out luxury vehicle. One could argue that part of the recent rise in consumer demand is actually a result of the pickup trucks more recent versatility; either way, the demand is real, and consumers are now calling for a truck that can meet the varied demands of their multifaceted lives. The only unintentional drawback for any truck enthusiast would be attempting to sift through all the duds to find the pickup truck that exactly meets their needs; that is where our detailed rundown of spec by spec comparisons come in handy. Two of those juggernaut auto companies, Chevrolet and Nissan, have recently released their primary candidates for the 2019 truck of the year with the Silverado and the Titan. In order to give you a better idea of how they stack up against each other, we have pitted the 2019 Chevy Silverado vs 2019 Nissan Titan to help you decide which truck is the better pickup and if either meets your needs as a driver.
Powertrain and Performance
With the completely redesigned new Chevy Silverado, you get options aplenty! From five different engines to select from and eight different trims, the Silverado provides the type of personal customization from underneath the hood to aesthetic and functional styling that exactly meets our definition of what modern truck should provide for its drivers. No matter your needs; be it a work truck, a tool around town vehicle, and off-road adventure, the Chevy Silverado can match them and most times operates at a capacity to meet even the multiple demands of the modern truck driver. You no longer have to only have a work truck when it comes to the Silverado. The pickup still comes with the standard 4.3-liter V6 engine capable of 285 horsepower with 305 pound-feet of torque that is paired with a six-speed transmission which we all agree is a pretty generous offering with ample power for a starter engine. Next on the docket of upgrades is the fully capable 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pushes the power just up over the 300 mark with 310 horsepower while managing to really crank up the torque at 348 lb-ft. This 2.7-liter, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, may seem like the smaller engine option, but it is still very capable of a high tow/hauling capacity. The real heavyweights show up in the next round with not one but two V8 offerings churning out either 355 or 420 horsepower. The 5.3 liter V8 comes standard on the more popular High Country and LTZ trim levels with 383 pound-feet of torque while more powerful 6.2-Liter V8 is optional on these top tier trim levels with a whopping 460 lb-ft of torque. This final combination of engine type brings the hauling capacity of the Silverado up to an impressive towing capacity of 12,500 pounds when properly equipped. The Silverado 1500 will also feature a turbocharged diesel engine option that should provide both power as well as better fuel economy.
The 2019 Nissan Titan, on the other hand, fails to offer the same customizable approach to truck buying in the modern age that Silverado has so obviously embraced. The Titan is no slouch when it comes to being a work truck of old, but its lack of options will leave many buyers wanting more. It is the true epitome of a one-size-fits-all truck mentality. Nissan equips the Titan with the Endurance engine, but a fancy name does little to impress when it is the only engine offered. The Endurance is a 5.6-liter V8 that churns out a slightly above-average 390 horsepower with 394 lb-ft of torque but you will have little trouble towing around 9,000 pounds. Paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission that shifts between gears effectively, the Endurance V8 engine also delivers the goods when it comes to throttle response. That’s right, the Nissan Titan is strong and quick with an estimated 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds. However, once again, this is the only engine option available making the Titan really only suitable for the work site. And with an estimated fuel economy of 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, numbers that are an industry standard low in comparison to other V8 offerings from competitors, the fuel economy rating almost ensure that you will not want to use the Titan for anything but its designed purpose. No quick trips to the grocery store or daily commuting and definitely no cross country road trips, completely out of the question no matter how low the fuel prices drop. The single engine option does offer a slightly above average towing capacity figure at around 9,240 to 9,660 lbs, but with its sole purpose in design seeming to be for work, it still falls short of the shear capacity in towing numbers that the Silverado is capable of posting.
Technology
The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado offers the latest in interior creature comfort technology with an updated Chevy infotainment system that operates with both Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The system is highly intuitive with crisp images and highly responsive to touch. However, the real technological benefits come into play with the trailer tech and advanced safety driver features. The Silverado can be equipped with a rear trailer camera as well as Hitch Guidance software; the rear camera provides drivers with a crystal clear view from the rear to visually check on any towed cargo while the Hitch Guidance zooms in on a close up of the trailer hitch facilitating trailer hookups with ease. All of Chevy’s most advanced driver aids are at least option-able on the 2019 Silverado including the standard backup camera and Teen Driver safety system. The optional upgrades provide drivers with driver assist aids like rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking while maintaining low speeds.
The 2019 Nissan Titan does offer an updated infotainment system that is much improved over previous years offerings. All Titans now come with standard with the NissanConnect infotainment system along with a 7-inch touch screen, a sizable improvement over the previous 5-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are compatible as well as Bluetooth smartphone connectivity. Previous owners of the Titan will be pleasantly surprised with the up to date infotainment system which is easier to use and appropriately has the look and feel that it is from this century. Also, that it was planned and not an afterthought is definitely a plus. However, the Titan starts to show its dated design rearing its ugly head again when it comes to driver safety features. The only optionable feature to equip with the Nissan Titan is blind-spot detection, which is better than no driver assist aids. But Nissan misses the boat completely failing to offer any of the other popular driving aids that have become industry standards. Smart cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist are all features you will only possibly see in future Titan editions…or on today’s competitors like the Chevy Silverado.
Conclusion
The 2019 Chevy Silverado clearly has its finger on the pulse of the modern truck consumers needs and wants. With various options in engine selection and trim level, all driver’s needs can be met and multiple demands can even be met with the right configuration on the Silverado. The Titan, on the other hand, is a truck of a previous era that has clearly failed to get with the times. This is evident in its failure to provide any new technology in its driver aid packages; heck, Nissan has just made the vehicle’s infotainment system somewhat current, so you can hardly expect them to move on to safety features yet. It has above average power, but even the popularly named Endurance engine fails to stack up to the Silverado’s stronger V8s. The modern truck driver should not waste their time on such a shortstacked offering as the Nissan Titan when there are plentiful options that come out the gate with the Chevy Silverado.
