Compare the2023 Ram HDVS 2023 Nissan Titan XD

Both the Ram HD 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.

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 HD’s warranty.

The Ram HD’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Titan XD’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

In the Ram HD, the optional 6.7 turbo diesel has a gear driven camshaft to prevent engine damage from a broken camshaft belt or chain. Gears don’t exert side forces against the camshaft that can wear the cam bearings. The engine in the Nissan all use chain driven camshafts.

The Ram HD 3500 has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Titan XD’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Ram HD has a standard 730-amp battery (1460 Diesel). 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 HD’s reliability 28 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.

The Ram HD’s 6.4 V8 produces 10 more horsepower (410 vs. 400) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (429 vs. 413) than the Titan XD’s 5.6 DOHC V8.

The Ram HD’s optional 6.7 turbo diesel produces 437 lbs.-ft. more torque (850 vs. 413) than the Titan XD’s 5.6 DOHC V8. The Ram HD 3500’s optional 6.7 turbo diesel produces 20 more horsepower (420 vs. 400) and 662 lbs.-ft. more torque (1075 vs. 413) than the Titan XD’s 5.6 DOHC V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ram HD 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 HD V8’s fuel efficiency. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Ram HD Gas’ 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. The Titan XD doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

The Ram HD Standard Bed Crew Cab’s standard fuel tank has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Titan XD (31 vs. 26 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Ram HD Long Bed Crew Cab’s optional fuel tank has 24 gallons more fuel capacity than the Titan XD (50 vs. 26 gallons).

For better traction, the Ram HD’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Titan XD (285/60R20 vs. 275/65R18).

The Ram HD’s wheels have 8 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Titan XD only has 6 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Ram HD 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.

The Ram HD Power Wagon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Titan XD doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Ram HD 3500 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.

The Ram HD’s optional 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 better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ram HD is .6 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Titan XD.

For better maneuverability, the Ram HD 2500 Long Box Regular Cab’s turning circle is 8.4 feet tighter than the Titan XD’s (45.4 feet vs. 53.8 feet). The Ram HD 2500 Long Box Crew Cab’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Titan XD’s (53.5 feet vs. 53.8 feet).

The Ram HD may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Nissan Titan XD.

The Ram HD 2500 Standard Box Crew Cab is 4.6 inches shorter than the Titan XD Crew Cab, making the Ram HD easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Ram HD 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 HD 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.

The Ram HD Crew Cab has 4.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Titan XD (124.6 vs. 119.7).

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

The Ram HD 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 HD’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Titan XD’s (14470 vs. 10898 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab is only 11033 pounds. The Ram HD 3500 Long Box Regular Cab offers up to a 37090 lbs. towing capacity.

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

The Ram HD has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Titan XD (2840 vs. 2240 lbs.).

The Ram HD has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Titan XD (7680 vs. 2240 lbs.).

The power windows available on both the Ram HD and the Titan XD have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Ram HD 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 avoid possible obstacles, the Ram HD offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Titan XD doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Ram HD also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ram HD 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 HD (except Tradesman/Big Horn/Power Wagon) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Titan XD doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Ram HD comes in regular cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Nissan Titan XD isn’t available as a regular cab.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ram HD second among large heavy 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 in its category.

Motor Trend selected the Ram HD as their 2020 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.