Mac James Truck Playoffs – Round 1: Nissan Titan vs. Toyota Tundra

In our first two Truck Playoffs match-ups, the Ford F150 eked out the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra crushed the Ram 1500. This week, it’s the final pair of our first round match-ups – the last round before we crown the ultimate King of Trucks. Who will meet the F150 and the Sierra in the ultimate showdown?

In our third and final round, we pitted the Nissan Titan against the Toyota Tundra. These brands have each struggled in the past when competing with their domestic rivals, but both are still trucking along to compete with the big boys. The Titan is the rookie, putting in some work to catch buyers’ attention, while the Tundra is a brawny hauler with authentic truck talent.

1. NISSAN NOTABLES
   The 2017 Titan, Nissan’s long-overdue successor to a truck that made its debut in 2004, is offered as either the light-duty Titan or as the near-heavy-duty Titan XD. The Titan XD, which broke into the market for the 2016 model year, is for those who need to tow but don’t want a full-on heavy duty truck.The new light-duty Titan was added to the lineup with a 5.6-liter V8 that gets 394 lb-ft of torque and mates to a seven-speed automatic and rear- or four-wheel drive.Supportive seats and a quiet cabin make the Titan practical and comfortable for cruising the highway as well as the job site, and it can tow up to 9390 pounds. The crew cab with a 5.5-foot bed is available now; single- and king cab models, plus 6.5- and 8.0-foot beds, arrive in 2017.
2. TIME FOR TUNDRA?
   Since 2015, the Tundra dropped the V6 option for all models. That leaves a 4.6-liter V8 rated at 310 horsepower and 327 pound-feet of torque, and the top-line 5.7-liter V-8, good for 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque and both engines team up with a six-speed automatic transmission. Maximum towing rates at 10,500 pounds; maximum payload is 2060 pounds. Trim levels include SR, SR5, Limited, and Platinum.Materials have been upgraded across the board, though it’s less readily noticeable in the lower-tier SR and SR5 models. The Tundra includes a very good set of standard safety equipment, and crash-test scores improved greatly for the 2015 model year.
3. STYLE SHOWDOWN
   Both have gotten new styling and upgrades in recent years to keep up with the heavy hitters in their class. The Titan is looking beefier and more macho than past years, though many still say its styling takes much from the F-150. The massive grilled, tough looking Titan received some major upgrades to its interior and equipment levels in 2014.

Do you think the Nissan navigated its way to conquer the Tundra or did Toyota prove it topples the Titan?

Survey says – NISSAN TITAN edges out Toyota Tundra FOR THE WIN.

Stay tuned to see who is crowned the ULTIMATE King of Trucks.