2021 Nissan Titan vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2021 Nissan Titan retained its refreshed 2020 look, offering three King Cab grades and five Crew Cab trim levels. Each grade, from the base S to the top-tier Platinum Reserve, had distinct interior and exterior designs. The Titan S and SV featured dark grilles, while the SL had a bright chrome grille, and the Platinum Reserve boasted a satin chrome one. The Pro-4X stood out with a black grille and lava-red script logo, complemented by lava red tow hooks. The truck's new headlights provided 120 percent more light output than the 2019 model, and available LED fog lights improved visibility by 15 percent. The bed featured four LED light sources, a Utili-track Bed Channel System, and a spray-in bedliner, making it highly functional. The Titan came in eight exterior colors, with the unique Baja Storm color being particularly attractive.

Inside, the Titan received significant upgrades, including a large infotainment screen and piano-black plastic trim. The upholstery and seat design were on par with GMC and Chevrolet, and a step up from the Toyota Tundra. However, the steering wheel design felt dated. The Titan XD, a separate model, was not covered in this review.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, with its unibody construction and unique styling, resembled a smaller Honda Ridgeline or a modern Subaru Baja. Measuring 195.7 inches long, 75.0 inches wide, and 66.7 inches tall, it was over a foot shorter than a Toyota Tacoma but nearly as wide. Its 118.3-inch wheelbase was 9.1 inches shorter than the Tacoma's. The Santa Cruz's SUV-like appearance, with a toothy grille and blended headlights, made it stand out. Available with 20-inch wheels or 18-inch wheels for off-roading, it offered versatility. The interior was conventional, with integrated air vents and appropriate materials for its price range. The design was honest and functional, fitting its rugged "adventure vehicle" persona.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came with a single powertrain option: a 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, making it the best-in-class standard powertrain. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Titan offered smooth shifts and strong acceleration. However, it lacked engine start/stop functionality, impacting fuel efficiency. The Titan was available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations, both achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. The Titan's steering was traditional, with plenty of play, and its ride quality was average for the class. RWD models could haul up to 1,600 pounds, while 4WD models had a 1,680-pound payload capacity. Properly equipped, the Titan could tow up to 9,310 pounds (RWD) or 9,260 pounds (4WD). The Pro-4X model featured off-road-centric equipment, including hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The base engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the optional turbocharged engine delivered 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The naturally aspirated engine came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD), while the turbocharged version was AWD only. The Santa Cruz's multi-link suspension provided a fun driving experience, with impressive ride quality and low cabin noise. The turbo engine offered ample thrust, but the vehicle's off-road capabilities were limited by its ground clearance and lack of underbody protection. The Santa Cruz had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds (naturally aspirated) or 5,000 pounds (turbocharged), and a maximum payload capacity of 1,906 pounds.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a front bench seat as standard, with optional bucket seats, accommodating five or six passengers. The Zero Gravity design of the front and rear outboard seats ensured comfort on long journeys. Heated and cooled front seats, as well as heated rear seats, were available. However, petite adults might struggle to find a comfortable driving position. The Titan offered ample seating space and storage, including a large center console and a smartphone holder. An available panoramic moonroof and power-sliding rear window added to the truck's appeal. Easy-to-reach grab handles and thoughtful interior layout features, such as folding rear seatbacks and bag hooks, enhanced functionality.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz's small truck bed, measuring 52.1 inches long, limited its utility for carrying larger items like bicycles or plywood. However, Hyundai included features to maximize the available space, such as a lockable tonneau cover, height-adjustable tailgate, tie-down points, in-bed LED lighting, and a 115-volt power outlet. The bed also had indents for creating a shelf and storage compartments under the bed and rear seats. The Santa Cruz was available only in a four-door crew-cab configuration, seating five passengers. Rear-seat legroom was tight, but front-seat space was more generous. The center console offered decent storage, and the controls for heated and ventilated seats were conveniently placed. However, touch pads for audio and climate control functions were harder to use while driving.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a standard 9.0-inch WXGA resolution infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and satellite radio. Available upgrades included navigation, HD Radio, additional USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-sliding rear window, remote start, and a household-style power outlet. The WiFi hot spot supported up to seven devices. The 7-inch programmable information display in front of the driver was larger than most competitors. The NissanConnect system offered a concierge service, and the audio system could be upgraded to a Fender Premium Audio System with 12 speakers on Crew Cab models and 10 on King Cab models.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trim levels offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The digital cluster could display blind-spot images from the optional surround-view camera system. Hyundai's Blue Link telematics service included smartwatch and Google Assistant connectivity. The 10.25-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster in the Limited test vehicle were impressive, with quick response times and clear graphics. Wireless device charging and Hyundai's digital-key feature, which allowed the use of a smartphone instead of a key fob, were also available.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. Additional features included forward-collision warning, parking sensors, an Around View Monitor camera system, adaptive cruise control, driver-alertness monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and rear door alert. Nissan backed the Titan with a five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the best truck warranty in America.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz had not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, Hyundai offered standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-follow assist, rear-seat reminder, and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trim levels included blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, a surround-view camera system, and Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering. Hyundai's system performed well for highway driving but struggled with gentle curves, a common issue with similar systems.