Nissan Frontier Review

The Frontier is a mid-sized truck made by Nissan. Fully redesigned in 2005, the Frontier shares much of its parts with the Titan and other Nissan trucks. The Frontier’s 4.0L V6 265 horsepower engine is one of the best in its class. Producing much more horsepower than other V6 engines, even some V8s, makes the Frontier a capable cargo hauler and off-road vehicle. Its F-Alpha platform also gives it rigidity and strength when you’re tackling the tough terrain. Considered by many to be the #1 choice in its class, buyers might want to also look at the highly acclaimed Toyota Tacoma.

See also the main fact sheet for the Nissan Frontier.

High Points

 * Powerful 265hp V6 engine
 * Roomy cabin
 * Versatile Utili-Track cargo bed

Low Points

 * No standard cab available
 * Turning radius larger than preferred
 * 5-Speed automatic transmission shifts hard under heavy acceleration

Performance and Handling
The Nissan Frontier is built on the company's F-Alpha platform, which is shared with the Titan, Armada, Pathfinder, and Xterra. This F-Alpha architecture gives the Frontier a solid foundation that can be tuned for hauling cargo, traversing rough trails and for providing a comfortable ride around town or at expressway speeds.

The Nismo off-road model is as capable at highway speeds as it was driving through nearly two feet of rushing water flowing from creeks. The Nismo's trail capabilities include a 31.5-degree approach angle. Technology further enhances its worthiness off the beaten trail. Hill Descent Control walks the vehicle down steep descents. Hill Start Assist holds your position when you lift your foot off the brake while heading uphill. Limited-slip traction control helps redirect engine torque to the non-slipping drive wheels on low traction surfaces. It operates on the rear wheels on 2WD Nismo models and on all four wheels on 4WD models.

On the road, Nissan's Vehicle Dynamic Control can help the driver avoid accidents. It's set up to allow a little more sideslip than some electronic stability control systems. Similar electronic stability control systems from other manufacturers often intervene too quickly to suit advanced drivers, but Nissan's VDC reminds us of the system in Porsches, effectively helping the driver maintain control without feeling it has taken over.

The speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering provides good feedback. The Frontier was stable and sure even when driven aggressively around curves. The four-wheel disc brakes use big brake rotors for efficient cooling in repeated hard use.

The Frontier's 4.0-liter V6 engine is rated at 265 horsepower at 5600 rpm, which makes it the most powerful V6 in the mid-size pickup class. It provides 45 more horsepower than the largest engine available in the Chevrolet Colorado, 29 more horsepower (and while using regular fuel) than the V6 in the Toyota Tacoma, and 5 more horsepower than even the strongest V8 available in the Dodge Dakota.

Gas Mileage
As seen on Autos.com, in the compact truck MPG rankings, the 2007 Nissan Frontier is in 2nd place with 22/25 MPG, though this rating is for its little-discussed 4 cylinder engine.

Safety
The Frontier received a 5/5 score to receive NHTSA's highest rating for side-impact (front and rear seat) crash-test safety. Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

The Nissan Frontier comes standard with the following features:


 * Dual-stage Front Airbags
 * Side Curtain Air Bags with Rollover Sensor
 * Side Seat Air Bags
 * Crumple Zones
 * Side-impact Door Beams
 * 3-point Seat Belts
 * LATCH child seat safety system

Reliability and Maintenance
The Nissan New Vehicle Limited Warranty's coverage is 36 months/36,000 miles. Powertrain coverage is 5 years/60,000 miles. If your vehicle is inoperative due to failure of a warranted part, towing service to the nearest authorized Nissan dealer is reimbursable for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Interior and Comforts
The Nissan Frontier interior was designed to be as versatile as its cargo bed. Climbing in is aided by grab handles on either side of the interior windshield support (A-pillar), with an additional grab handle in the interior roof just above the passenger-side door.

The front seats are comfortable yet supportive. The driver grasps a nicely sized steering wheel with a rim that has a tab-like enlargement on each side, right where you want to rest your thumbs to maintain a proper 9 and 3 o'clock driving position. The gauge array is large and complete, and has been dressed up a bit with satin-chrome outlines around the dials and air vents. Controls for heating and ventilation systems have large knobs that are easy to find and to use. Similarly, the knob for switching between 2WD, 4WD, and low-range 4WD is easily accessible.

Defroster vents on the A-pillars are designed to quickly clear side windows in winter or humid weather conditions. Sun visors have extenders to help cover the full width of the side windows. A deep dotted matrix behind the interior rear-view mirror helps protect the driver's eyes when driving into the sun. A covered storage tray sits on top of the center part of the dashboard. The Frontier has a pair of glove boxes, with additional storage in the door pockets and center console. Three power outlets are provided. Cup holders have removable inserts so they can handle large beverage containers.

Passengers riding in the back seat of the Crew Cab shouldn't be complaining about being cramped, not with 33.6 inches of legroom. Adults riding in the two forward-facing rear seats in the King Cab might not be eager for a long drive, but still have more than two feet to stretch their legs.

Storage containers are built into the nearly flat rear floor beneath the rear seats in both cab styles, and the seat bottoms can be flipped up to provide additional cargo space.

Exterior
The Nissan Frontier has a bold, aggressive stance, just like its big brother, the full-size Nissan Titan, though in less intimidating dimensions. The Frontier's wheelbase is more than a foot shorter than the Titan's but its overall length is some two feet shorter. This means the Frontier's wheels are closer to its corners, enhancing not only its stance on the road but its clearance for dealing with obstacles while away from pavement.

Frontier uses a bold grille design noticed by other drivers as it emerges and enlarges in their rear-view mirrors. Body-colored steel fender flares contribute to the Frontier's presence. All Frontiers have four-door access to their passenger compartments. King Cabs have rear-hinged auxiliary doors while Crew Cabs have four forward-hinged doors much like those on a sedan or sport-utility vehicle.

Frontier cargo beds are 18 inches deep and 44.4 inches wide between the inner fenders of the rear wheels, as well as 58.8 inches wide at the tailgate and 61.4 inches wide between the tops of the bed rails. Beds are 73.3 inches long on King Cabs and 59.5 inches long on Crew Cabs. All Frontiers have tailgates equipped with a door-style lock.

A spray-on bed liner and Nissan's Utili-Track cargo security system come factory-installed on Crew Cab and LE King Cab models. Utili-Track includes special C-section rails: two in the bed floor, one along each top inner edge of the bed side rails, and one in the top of the bed header panel. Sliding cleats can be locked into position within the rails to secure a variety of cargo shapes, sizes and configurations. It's a great system and Nissan offers accessories that lock into it.

Styles and Options
The Nissan Frontier is available in 4 trims: XE King Cab, SE King Cab/Crew Cab, NISMO King Cab/Crew Cab, and LE King Cab/Crew Cab.

With the exception of the XE, which is only available in a two-wheel drive King Cab, all of the trims are available in a varying combination of two- or four-wheel drive, manual or automatic transmission, and either King Cab or the larger Crew Cab. Additionally, while all of them share many of the same standard features, each of them offers a different set of optional features:

Standard Features

 * 4-wheel anti-lock braking system
 * Electronic brake-force distribution
 * Tire pressure monitoring system
 * Locking tailgate
 * Second row underseat storage
 * Sun visors, cup holders, and 3 12-volt DC power outlets

XE King Cab

 * 2.5-L 154-HP 4-cylinder engine
 * 5-speed manual transmission
 * 15" steel wheels
 * Forward facing rear flip-up seats

SE King Cab/Crew Cab

 * 4.0-L 265-HP V6 engine
 * 6-speed manual transmission
 * 16" aluminum alloy wheels
 * Utili-track bed channel system in Crew Cab
 * Chrome front bumper

NISMO King Cab/Crew Cab

 * 4.0-L 265-HP V6 engine
 * 5-speed automatic transmission
 * 16" aluminum alloy wheels
 * Bilstein off-road shocks
 * Electronic locking rear differential
 * Skid plates
 * Fog lights

LE King Cab/Crew Cab

 * 4.0-L 265-HP V6 engine
 * 5-speed automatic transmission
 * 17" aluminum alloy wheels
 * Fog lights
 * Roof rack for Crew Cab
 * Utili-track bed channel system
 * Power windows and locks

Main Competitors

 * Chevrolet Colorado - side-by-side comparison
 * GMC Canyon - side-by-side comparison
 * Toyota Tacoma - side-by-side comparison
 * Ford F-150 - side-by-side comparison
 * Honda Ridgeline - side-by-side comparison
 * Dodge Dakota - side-by-side comparison