There is more to car buying than just checking the sticker price. This is obviously a huge factor, but there are other things to take into consideration such as the critic ratings, insurance costs, fuel prices, repair costs, and depreciation. While the 2023 Toyota Tundra and the 2023 Nissan Titan both have a lot in common, one is more economical than the other.

The Toyota Tundra has a lower starting price

The Toyota Tundra is the cheaper model, but it was close. Toyota reports that the Tundra starts at $38,965. This ranges up to $77,645 for the Capstone model. 

The Nissan Titan is $40,350, which is $1,385 more. The most expensive model is that Crew Cab Platinum Reserve, and it costs $62,630.

There are plenty of different trims available for both trucks that start at varying amounts; however, in terms of lower base price the Tundra is more affordable.

Toyota Tundra vs. Nissan Titan: Which truck has better fuel economy?

Unless you have an EV, then fuel economy is a big factor when buying a vehicle. This is especially true if you’re buying a truck, since they are notorious for having poor fuel economy. Once again, the 2023 Toyota Tundra is the superior truck.

In Edmunds side-by-side comparison, it’s revealed that the 2023 Nissan Titan gets 16 city, 21 hwy, and 18 mpg combined. The Toyota Tundra gets 18 city, 24 hwy, and 20 combined. Over a five-year period, owners will spend an average of $13,299 on fuel for the Tundra, and $14,771 for the Titan. This is a savings difference of $1,472.

To be fair, the Titan does have a more powerful engine, which may contribute to this. It’s equipped with a 5.6-liter V8 engine that produces 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. 

The Tundra, on the other hand, has a 3.5-liter V6 engine. It generates 348 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. V8 engines tend to have poorer fuel economy than V6 engines, so this doesn’t really come as a surprise.

Lower depreciation contributes to big savings

The depreciation is where the Toyota Tundra really stands out. In the five-year ownership costs, it’s revealed that the Tundra costs $46,086. The Titan will cost $50,939. Given that there is only $1,000 difference between the two for the initial price, this is a massive difference, and most of it comes from the depreciation.

The 2023 Titan will see an estimated depreciation of $19,482 over a five-year period. In comparison, the 2023 Toyota Tundra will depreciate $14,301. This is a difference of $5,181, which is significant for anyone on a budget.

Toyota Tundra vs. Nissan Titan: which is the most economical?

There can be no debate that the Toyota Tundra is the better deal. Between the starting price, depreciation, and fuel economy, it manages to stand out over the Nissan Titan. Then there is the fact that Toyota is one of the most reliable brands on the market, which means less money being funneled into repairs.

The Tundra also lasts longer, typically. It’s well known that the Nissan Titan can last over 200,000 miles on average, which is stellar. 

The Tundra surpasses this with an average of 250,000 miles. In fact, there is one Tundra that has over one million miles. While there may be a Tundra that has done this, no one has come forward with it.

Finally, experts think that the Nissan Titan is on the way out. It’s expensive and tends to get poor reviews from experts. We recently reported that its sales are so bad that the past four years combined can’t compare to what the Tundra made in 2022 alone. 

While the Titan does have some redeeming factors, it’s clear that it can’t keep up with the Toyota Tundra. The choice is always up to you, but the Tundra is the more economical choice.