Compare the2023 Ram 1500VS 2023 Nissan Titan XD

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Ram 1500 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, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ram 1500 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 158 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Titan XD has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

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’s warranty.

Reliability

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

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ram 1500’s reliability 23 points higher than the Titan XD.

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.

Engine

The Ram 1500’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 67 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 413) than the Titan XD’s 5.6 DOHC V8.

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

	1500 V6 hybrid gas	1500 V8 hybrid gas	Titan XD
Zero to 30 MPH	2.5 sec	2.1 sec	2.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	5.9 sec	7.6 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	12.9 sec	9.7 sec	13 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	14.4 sec	15.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.3 MPH	97.6 MPH	86.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Ram 1500 eTORQUE’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Ram 1500 eTORQUE/Diesel’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Titan XD doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ram 1500 uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 hybrid 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’s optional fuel tank has 7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Titan XD (33 vs. 26 gallons).

The Ram 1500 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Ram 1500’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Titan XD:

	1500	Titan XD
Front Rotors	14.9 inches	14.2 inches
Rear Rotors	14.8 inches	14.4 inches

The Ram 1500 stops much shorter than the Titan XD:

	Ram 1500	Titan XD
70 to 0 MPH	179 feet	192 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	136 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ram 1500 has larger standard tires than the Titan XD (275/65R18 vs. 245/75R17). The Ram 1500’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Titan XD (285/45R22 vs. 275/65R18).

The Ram 1500 Rebel’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 Ram 1500’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Titan XD’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ram 1500 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Titan XD. The Ram 1500’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Titan XD.

The Ram 1500 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Titan XD doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the Ram 1500 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.

The Ram 1500 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

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

The Ram 1500’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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ram 1500 standard bed Crew Cab Pickup’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the Titan XD (153.5 inches vs. 151.6 inches).

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

The Ram 1500 standard bed Rebel Quad Cab 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Titan XD Platinum Crew Cab pulls only .69 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ram 1500 standard bed Big Horn Quad Cab executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Titan XD Platinum Crew Cab (28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.9 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

The Ram 1500 standard bed Rebel Quad Cab 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Titan XD PRO-4X Crew Cab (27.7 seconds @ .73 average G’s vs. 29.8 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab w/20” Wheels’ turning circle is 8.7 feet tighter than the Titan XD’s (45.1 feet vs. 53.8 feet). The Ram 1500 standard bed Crew Cab Pickup’s turning circle is 5.1 feet tighter than the Titan XD’s (48.7 feet vs. 53.8 feet).

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

Chassis

The Ram 1500 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1300 to 1600 pounds less than the Nissan Titan XD.

The Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab is 1 foot, 2.5 inches shorter than the Titan XD Crew Cab, making the Ram 1500 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Ram 1500 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 offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Titan XD doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Ram 1500 Crew Cab Pickup has 12.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Titan XD (132.4 vs. 119.7).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ram 1500 Crew Cab’s available rear seats recline. The Titan XD’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Ram 1500 Crew Cab Pickup is 1.5 inches lower than the Titan XD Crew Cab (22.5” vs. 24”). The Ram 1500 Crew Cab Pickup’s rear step up height is 2.2 inches lower than the Titan XD Crew Cab’s (23.6” vs. 25.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Ram 1500’s cargo box is larger than the Titan XD’s in almost every dimension:

	Ram 1500 Quad Cab	Ram 1500 Crew Cab Pickup	Titan XD
Length (short/long)	76.3”	67.4”/76.3”	78.7”
Max Width	66.4”	66.4”	63.8”
Min Width	51”	51”	50”
Height	21.5”	21.5”	20.8”

The Ram 1500 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.

Payload and Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Titan XD is limited to 11033 pounds. The Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab offers up to a 12750 lbs. towing capacity.

The Ram 1500 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 can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Titan XD can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Ram 1500 has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Titan XD (2300 vs. 2240 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The Ram 1500 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.

Ergonomics

The Ram 1500 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Ram 1500’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Titan XD’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Ram 1500 and the Titan XD have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Ram 1500 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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn/Limited has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Titan XD doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Ram 1500 has standard power remote mirrors. The Titan XD S doesn’t offer either a remote driver side or passenger side mirror. The driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Ram 1500’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Titan XD SV/Pro-4X/Platinum.

The Ram 1500 Laramie/Longhorn/Limited has standard front air conditioned seats and the Ram 1500 Longhorn/Limited offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Titan XD doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ram 1500 (except Tradesman/HFE/Rebel/Big Horn/Lone Star) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Titan XD doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Ram 1500 Laramie/Longhorn/Limited’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Titan XD doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Ram 1500 comes in extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Nissan Titan XD isn’t available as an extended cab.

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

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ram 1500 is less expensive to operate than the Titan XD because it costs $454 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Ram 1500 than the Titan XD, including $203 less for a muffler, $19 less for front brake pads, $286 less for a starter, $166 less for fuel injection, $145 less for a fuel pump, $22 less for front struts, $775 less for a timing belt/chain and $297 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ram 1500, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ram 1500 first among large light duty pickups in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Titan XD isn’t in the top three.

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

The Ram 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.”

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