Comparison Nissan TITAN vs. RAM 1500: Which Is Right for You?

When you’ve answered the question, “Do I need a truck?” with an affirmative, the next one that typically follows is, “Which truck do I get?” Among the many options are the Ram 1500 and the Nissan TITAN. These brands offer customers a tried-and-true workhorse ready for the next challenge. 

A high-strength steel frame underpins the Nissan TITAN, the brand’s largest and only full-size pickup truck. The TITAN PRO-4X is Nissan’s answer to an offroad variant. Where the TITAN loses points for agility, it makes up for it with powerful braking and an upgraded differential. The 2023 Nissan TITAN has an impressive five-year, 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. 

RAM matches that warranty with one of its own, including the diesel powertrain, roadside assistance, and rust-through coverage. The Ram 1500 also employs a steel frame renowned for its smooth driving. A full-electric Ram 1500, known as the REV, is set to hit showrooms in late 2024. RAM enters the ruggedly capable Rebel and TRX models in the lucrative off-road segment. 

Nissan and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Ram’s parent company, often run several truck deals yearly. You can also lease or subscribe to the TITAN or the Ram 1500 if you’re not ready to purchase. 

How much is a Nissan TITAN? 

The Nissan TITAN starts at $40,350. With 17 available trims, prices can vary from just over $40,000 to upwards of $65,000. The TITAN XD Crew Cab Platinum Reserve, configured as a four-wheel drive model, starts at $65,720. 

How much is a Ram 1500?

The Ram 1500 starts just a few thousand dollars under the Nissan TITAN, at $37,905. Adding four-wheel drive ups the ante by $3,500. The TRX model, Ram’s off-road variant, starts at $85,050. 

Trucks break down but the most reliable trucks put in as many hours as you do. 

How reliable is the Nissan TITAN?

RepairPal ranks the Nissan TITAN second out of 17 full-size trucks. With 3.5 out of 5 stars, the TITAN is above average for the segment. Annual repair costs total $555 on average, with a 16% chance of severe maintenance (compared to 18% for full-size trucks). TITANs visit the shop about 0.3 times per year, which is average for its class. 

How reliable is the Ram 1500? 

Ram 1500 reliability ratings remain a main selling point for this competitor. RepairPal awarded the Ram 1500 3.5 out of 5 stars, similar to the TITAN. However, the Ram 1500 costs an average of $670 annually for repairs. Compare that to $936 on average annually for full-size trucks and $652 for the entire car market. 

These Ram trucks visit the shop 0.19 times per year, compared to an average of 0.3 times annually for full-size pickups. The Ram 1500 is just slightly above the average severity of any maintenance repairs at 17%. 

If you’re buying a truck, you’re likely concerned about balancing fuel economy with performance. So how do the Nissan TITAN and Ram 1500 stack up? 

How does the Nissan TITAN perform, including fuel efficiency? 

Nissan runs a single powerplant in the TITAN, a 5.6-liter V8 engine. This powertrain makes 400 horsepower and 413 foot-pounds (lb-ft) of torque. The TITAN is offered in two-wheel and four-wheel drive, with the PRO-4X designation offered explicitly in four-wheel drive standard.

FuelEconomy.gov reports the TITAN gets 16 city and 21 highway miles per gallon (MPG) in the rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant. Four-wheel drive variants lose a city MPG, while PRO-4X models achieve 15 city and 20 highway MPG.    

How does the Ram 1500 perform, including fuel efficiency?

The Ram 1500 features a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, in addition to three other powerplants: 

• 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque 

• 3.6-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque 

• 5.7-liter V8 with 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque 

• 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque 

The supercharged V8 engine comes stock on the TRX model. Many models also have the eTorque Mild Hybrid Technology System that boosts efficiency on the Ram 1500. 

The Ram 1500 achieves the following fuel efficiency ratings: 

• Turbodiesel V6: 20 city and 25 highway MPG (RWD); 19 city and 24 highway (4WD)

• Gas V6: 22 city and 32 highway MPG (RWD); 21 city and 29 highway (4WD)

• Gas V8: 17 city and 23 highway MPG (RWD); 17 city and 22 highway (4WD)

• Supercharged V8: 10 city and 14 highway MPG 

The Ram 1500 achieves slightly better gas mileage than the Nissan TITAN, if you can keep your foot out of it. However, the TRX model sacrifices saving a buck at the pump for horsepower.  

The ability to choose between multiple trims can improve the comfort and quality of any workhorse. 

How comfortable is the Nissan TITAN?

Compared to more stylish competitors, the Nissan TITAN straddles the line between functional and sparse. The TITAN comes with a standard eight-inch touchscreen and either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. Choose between King Cab and Crew Cab, the latter offering the most rear passenger space.  

King Cab variants include the King Cab S and King Cab SV. You can purchase the following Crew Cab trims in either RWD or 4WD: 

• S
• SV
• SV Midnight Edition
• Platinum Reserve

The PRO-4X model comes standard in a 4WD configuration. 

How comfortable is the Ram 1500?

Other brands have tried for decades to match the buttery-smooth ride standard on every Ram 1500. RAM recently upped the bar with Active-Level™ Four Corner Air Suspension in the Crew Cab models. This feature lowers the truck automatically to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.

A 12-inch Digital Cluster comes standard on all Ram 1500s. Most models feature leather seating, though you can choose between vinyl and cloth on base and Rebel models. The truck also features a 10-square-foot dual-pane panoramic sunroof. There are eight trims to choose from: 

• Limited
• Limited Longhorn
• Rebel
• Laramie
• Big Horn
• Tradesman
• Tradesman HFE
• TRX

A heads-up display (HUD) and a center console charging station are available on select models. Choose between Quad and Crew Cabs, which seat up to six passengers. 

You can never have too much room, especially in a pickup truck. 

How much cargo space does the Nissan TITAN have? 

The King Cab S and the Crew Cab Platinum Reserve models represent two common cargo space variants. The King Cab S variant offers:

• Front headroom: 40.9 inches
• Front legroom: 41.8 inches 
• Front hip room: 60.8 inches 
• Rear headroom: 38.7 inches 
• Rear legroom: 24.8 inches 
• Rear hip room: 59.4 inches

The Crew Cab Platinum Reserve model offers:

• Front headroom: 41 inches
• Front legroom: 41.8 inches 
• Front hip room: 60.8 inches
• Rear headroom: 40.4 inches
• Rear legroom: 38.5 inches
• Rear hip room: 60.3 inches

How much cargo space does the Ram 1500 have? 

The Ram 1500 offers the following cargo space measurements: 

• Front headroom: 40.9 inches
• Front legroom: 40.9 inches 
• Front hip room: 63.4 inches
• Rear headroom: 39.8 inches
• Rear legroom: 45.2 inches
• Rear hip room: 63.4 inches  

The best trucks for towing take practically everything you throw at them. Keep reading to see how much the TITAN and Ram 1500 can tow and take on in payload capacity. 

How much can the Nissan TITAN tow?

The TITAN XD model tows the most weight, at 11,033 pounds towing capacity. The payload capacity tops 2,406 pounds. King Cab 4WD models have a payload capacity of 1,697 pounds. Non-XD models can tow up to 9,323 pounds.   

In terms of towing technology, the Nissan TITAN offers the following features: 

• Intelligent Around View Monitor
• Remote Trailer Light Check
• Integrated Trailer Brake Controller  
• Trailer Sway Control
• Tow Mirrors
• Tow-Haul Mode

The XD and the King Cab models have the longest beds, measuring 78.7 inches. 

How much can the Ram 1500 tow? 

The Ram 1500 edges out the TITAN, with a maximum tow rating of 12,750 pounds with the HEMI V8 equipped with eTorque. The maximum payload for a Ram 1500 is 2,300 pounds. Quad Cab models have a 76-inch long bed. Ram offers a Multifunction Tailgate, the RamBox Cargo Management System, and Trailer Reverse Steering Control so you can back it up like a boss.  

Driving a truck puts your seating position higher than in a typical passenger car. However, the best full-size trucks have plenty of safety features to protect you and your loved ones in an accident.  

How safe is the Nissan TITAN?

Nissan’s Standard Safety Shield® 360 includes the following safety features: 

• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Rear automatic braking
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Blind spot warning
• Lane departure warning
• High beam assist

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the TITAN 4 out of 5 stars. The NHTSA recorded one complaint and two recalls. The recalls concern tearing the tire's inner bead and an unsecured transmission that may cause rollaway. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Nissan TITAN “Good” in all categories except for the “Small overlap front: passenger-side,” where it rated “Acceptable.”

How safe is the Ram 1500? 

The Ram 1500 was named a 2022 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK, continuing the tradition for four straight years. The IIHS rated it “Good” in all categories, and the pickup also earned superior ratings from the NHTSA. The Quad Cab earned 4 out of 5 stars, while the Crew Cab earned a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars. 

There are two recalls for the 2023 Ram 1500, including one for a high-pressure fuel pump failure and one that notes the rearview image may not display. 

The Ram 1500 includes the following safety features:

• 360-degree Surround View Camera
• Electronic Stability Control 
• Electronic Roll Mitigation
• 360-degree Trailer Surround View Camera
• Blind spot awareness
• Rear cross path detection
• Forward collision warning
• Digital safety and security measures
• Parallel and perpendicular park assist
• Adaptive cruise control

The 14.9-inch brake rotors on Ram 1500 models are the largest brakes in the class. You’ll also find six airbags throughout the cabin to protect occupants in a crash.   

The Nissan TITAN holds its own in a highly-competitive pickup segment. The TITAN may not be the best at any one particular thing, but many consumers pick this import truck based on its lack of fancy technology, expensive equipment, or multiple powertrains. With fewer options come fewer instances when components can fail. 

The Ram 1500 continues to keep heavy hitters like Ford and General Motors (GM) at bay, with multiple powertrains, trims, and configurations to choose from. The up-and-coming Ram 1500 REV all-electric pickup will put Ram back into an already-exploding market. Until then, you can make do with several fuel-efficient powertrains that cushion your backside and wallet.