For Toyota's and Nissan's best efforts, a used Ford or GM truck is still a better truck.
Touring truck? No. But for hauling loads, yes. I'd take an F150 over a loaded Titan.
For safety, it's all about the body here. Everyone has airbags and antilock, but the bodies of the US trucks and cars are simply stronger. Not even a japanese engineer will argue this. A German.. maybe but they are never in-the-right
Other countries design around fuel needs. America has cheap ass fuels (Except for Russia, and no truck can TOUCH a Russian truck for safety or hauling). Because of that, import trucks are lighter and ergo - Made of less materials and thinner steels.
For cars, the same applies - only a Japanese car sold in the US will be so overloaded with safety gear, that the overal safety cage weight savings have been negated.
Now, there are newer designs out there that blow the whole curve. The Mercedes Smart, for instance, is TINY and yet is stronger than a 1985 Cadillac Deville. It's all about the ingenuity here.