Compare the2022 Ram 1500 ClassicVS 2021 Nissan Titan XD

Both the Ram 1500 Classic and the Titan XD have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and front and rear parking sensors.

There are over 2 times as many Ram dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 1500 Classic’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Ram 1500 Classic has a standard 730-amp battery. The Titan XD’s 710-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ram 1500 Classic second among large light duty pickups in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Titan XD was rated third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ram vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ram first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked fifth.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ram vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ram 16th in reliability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Ram vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ram 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ram 1500 Classic V8 is faster than the Nissan Titan XD:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Ram 1500 Classic V8’s fuel efficiency. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ram 1500 Classic uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The Titan XD requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s optional fuel tank has 6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Titan XD (32 vs. 26 gallons).

The Ram 1500 Classic stops much shorter than the Titan XD:

For better traction, the Ram 1500 Classic has larger standard tires than the Titan XD (265/70R17 vs. 245/75R17).

The Ram 1500 Classic’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Titan XD’s standard 75 series tires.

The front and rear suspension of the Ram 1500 Classic uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Titan XD, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Ram 1500 Classic has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Titan XD.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Titan XD doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Quad Cab handles at .76 G’s, while the Titan XD Platinum Reserve Crew Cab pulls only .70 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Quad Cab 4x4 handles at .77 G’s, while the Titan XD Platinum Reserve Crew Cab pulls only .69 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ram 1500 Classic short bed Crew Cab 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Titan XD PRO-4X Crew Cab (29 seconds @ .56 average G’s vs. 29.8 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Regular Cab’s turning circle is 14.3 feet tighter than the Titan XD’s (39.5 feet vs. 53.8 feet). The Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Crew Cab 4x4’s turning circle is 5.8 feet tighter than the Titan XD’s (48 feet vs. 53.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Regular Cab has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Titan XD Crew Cab (8.6 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Ram 1500 Classic to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ram 1500 Classic short bed Crew Cab w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Titan XD Crew Cab SL/Platinum (10.8 vs. 9.1 inches).

The Ram 1500 Classic may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1450 to 1900 pounds less than the Nissan Titan XD.

The Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Crew Cab is 5.5 inches shorter than the Titan XD Crew Cab, making the Ram 1500 Classic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Ram 1500 Classic uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Titan XD doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Ram 1500 Classic Crew Cab has 5.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Titan XD (125.3 vs. 119.7).

The Ram 1500 Classic has an all welded cargo box to eliminate possible corrosion spots and to provide better chassis stiffness. The cargo box in the Titan XD is bolted through the bed to the frame with large bolts. These bolts are a prime area for corrosion to start as the normal flexing of the truck’s chassis causes them to eat through the finish; they can also snag cargo as it slides in and out.

The Ram 1500 Classic 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Ram 1500 Classic can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Titan XD can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Ram 1500 Classic offers an optional under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The Titan XD doesn’t offer an under hood light.

The Ram 1500 Classic has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Titan XD doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The power windows available on both the Ram 1500 Classic and the Titan XD have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Ram 1500 Classic is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Titan XD prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ram 1500 Classic Quad/Crew Cab has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Titan XD S doesn’t offer rear vents.

The Ram 1500 Classic comes in regular cab, extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Nissan Titan XD isn’t available as a regular cab or extended cab.

The Ram 1500 Classic is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Ram 1500 Classic owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ram 1500 Classic will cost $2510 to $8730 less than the Titan XD over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ram 1500 Classic will be $22397 to $28344 less than for the Nissan Titan XD.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 3 of the last 3 years. The Titan XD has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The Titan XD has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the 1500 as their 2019 Truck of the Year. The Titan XD has never been chosen.

The 1500 was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 4 of the last 13 years. The Titan XD has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the 1500 as the 2013 North American Truck of the Year. The Titan XD has never been chosen.

The Ram Pickup outsold the Nissan Titan by almost 20 to one during the 2021 model year.