2016 Nissan Frontier Road Test and Review

2016 Nissan Frontier ・ Photo by Nissan

There are two things you need to know about the Frontier, Nissan’s entry in the compact/midsize pickup market: One, it is the least-expensive truck in the segment, and two, it is the oldest. The latter shouldn’t bother you too much: Though the Frontier does without the latest-and-greatest high-end gizmos, the fact is that pickup trucks don’t change much over the years, and the Frontier is still a solid worker. It’s the former that is the chief advantage: If you have work to do and a tight budget, the Frontier delivers lots of brawn for the buck.

Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number, Baby

Let’s start with the obvious: The Frontier is old. Really old. The current vehicle (known to Nissan fans and internals by the code name “D40”) was introduced in late 2004 as a 2005 model, and while Nissan has made some updates here and there, the truck really hasn’t changed much in the last decade. Meanwhile, Toyota has just updated the Frontier’s chief rival, the Tacoma, for 2016, while General Motors’ Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon were all new for 2015. Were the Frontier a family car, we’d chide it for being an ancient design, but does age really matter when we’re talking about pickup trucks? Not as much as you might think.

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Compact Or Mid-Size? Turns Out They’re Mostly The Same

Pickup trucks are beasts of burden, and aside from the Honda Ridgeline—a truck that resolutely marches to the beat of a different drummer—even when they change, they don’t change very much. Witness the market leader, the Toyota Tacoma: Though freshly redesigned for 2016, the new one is very similar to the outgoing model.

No surprise, then, that when you compare the Frontier’s hard points, they don’t differ much from the competition. The Frontier is slightly smaller than the Toyota Tacoma, with most of the difference in the cab: Lengthwise, the Frontier’s available short and long beds are both within an inch of the Tacoma’s, and they are quite a bit wider (3 to 5 inches depending on where you measure). Same with the General Motors twins: Though pitched as midsize trucks, they offer about the same bed area as the Frontier.

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Can A Frontier Haul As Much As Other Trucks?

How much work can the Frontier do compared to its newer rivals? With a V6 engine under the hood, payload is close, though the Frontier still trails slightly: Its payload maxes out at 1469 lb., while a V6-powered Tacoma can carry up to 1540 lb. and a six-cylinder Colorado can haul 1580 lb. as can the V6-only Honda Ridgeline. With 4-cylinder power, the Frontier rapidly loses ground: It can haul only 931 lb., while the 4-cylinder Tacoma can haul 1620 lb. and the Chevy Colorado can carry 1450 lb. (or 1508 lb. if the Colorado’s 4-cylinder happens to be the diesel). Note that payload capacity for all of these trucks depends on several factors including cab type, wheelbase length, and installed equipment, so be sure to check the spec sheet carefully to ensure that the truck you buy has the capacity you need.

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Can A Frontier Tow As Much As Other Trucks?

The Frontier’s towing capacity ranges from 3500 to 6500 lb., depending on how the truck is equipped; the Tacoma is similar, towing between 3500 and 6800 lb., while the Honda Ridgeline tops out at 5000 lb. It’s here that the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon pull ahead: V6 models with a trailering package can tow up to 7000 lb. and the diesel-powered version can tow up to 7700 lb. Furthermore, diesel-powered GMs include an integrated trailer brake, something not found in Nissan, Toyota, or Honda’s competing trucks. When towing, another element to consider is the wheelbase (the length between the front and rear axles). A longer wheelbase increases stability and allows a truck to safely tow a longer trailer. The Frontier is offered in 125.9-in. and 139.9-in. wheelbase versions, not much different from the Toyota Tacoma (127.4/140.6) and Chevrolet Colorado (128.3/140.5). The Ridgeline is offered only with a 125.2-in. wheelbase.

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Hardware: Dated But Viable

Power for the Frontier comes from either a 2.5-liter 152-horsepower 4-cylinder engine or a 4.0 liter with 261 hp. These are stout engines that deliver lots of pulling power, but they haven’t been updated much in the past few years, and they lack the fuel-saving trickery found in the newer designs from the Frontier’s rivals. Even so, the Frontier’s EPA fuel economy estimates compare more favorably to the competition than you might think: They range from 19 mpg city/23 mpg highway for the 4-cylinder 4x2 manual down to 15/21 for V6 automatics. Four-cylinder 4x2 Tacomas are actually slightly less efficient with a manual transmission, and automatics are only a little better, but the Tacoma V6 4x4, at 18/23, trounces the Frontier. The Honda Ridgeline is even more fuel efficient (18-19 city, 25-26 highway), as are the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon with the diesel engine, though this is an expensive option. Most pickups have simple suspensions, ands this is where the Frontier lacks some finesse. To its credit, the Frontier rides comfortably and the 4x4 models are aggressive off-roaders despite the lack of sophisticated electronics offered in the Toyota Tacoma. But in terms of on-road handling, the Frontier feels clumsy and responds slowly to steering and brake inputs—very much like a truck designed way back in 2005.

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Where Frontier Shows Its Age

Styling is another area where the Frontier is showing its age. The 2016 Frontier doesn’t look much different from the 2005 model, having seemingly been exempted from the design theme changes that have affected (or afflicted) other Nissan models. Toyota’s newest Tacoma looks a lot like its big sibling, the Tundra, and yet there’s little resemblance between the Frontier and the bigger Titan pickup. Things don’t get much better inside—not that the Frontier’s design is poor, but the big, chunky shapes and switchgear definitely look dated. While competitors offer several interior colors and trim choices, most Frontiers offer just basic black, with some trim levels offering gray or beige. Most Frontiers come with cloth seats, though a few higher-end models get leather. The control layout is simple and logical, always a Nissan strong point, but a lack of interior storage is a reminder that the current Frontier went on sale almost three years before the first iPhone. And comfort suffers as well: Remember what we said about the Frontier’s dimensional differences coming out of the cab? Interior space is tighter than in other trucks, and the 4-door crew cab feels tight in the back seat. With many buyers using their pickups as daily drivers, this puts the Frontier at a disadvantage.

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A Dearth Of Doo-Dads

Another shortcoming is the lack of optional equipment. Nissan hasn’t entirely been resting on its laurels; the company updated the Frontier’s infotainment and climate control systems, so you can get features like Bluetooth phone connectivity, navigation, a rearview camera, and dual-zone automatic air conditioning. But if you’re looking for advanced driver aids—lane-departure correction, blind spot warning, automatic braking, that sort of thing—you won’t find them on the Frontier. That said, the Frontier’s age doesn’t seem to be reflected in its crash tests scores—at least, those few we could find. The government hasn’t crash tested the Frontier since they revised their ratings in 2011, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Frontier a Good rating (their best) in moderate-overlap front and side crashes—same as the Toyota Tacoma. The IIHS has not carried out their tough new small-overlap front crash or roof-crush strength tests on either the Frontier or any of its competitors.

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Where Frontier Really Pulls Ahead

Let’s sum up where we are so far: The chief disadvantages of the Frontier are styling and equipment; in terms of hardware and the ability to do actual work, it gives up little to its rivals. So where does the Frontier pull ahead? The answer is price. At $19,190 (including destination fee), the 4-cylinder extended (“King”) cab Frontier S 4x2 is the least-expensive pickup truck you can buy, undercutting both Chevrolet Colorado Base ($20,995) and the Toyota Tacoma SR ($24,560). To be fair, both the Chevy and Tacoma include air conditioning, which only comes as part of a $1200 option package (along with Bluetooth, cruise control, and a better stereo) on the base-model Frontier--but even with that package added, the Frontier is less expensive than a Colorado or a Tacoma. That said, most buyers don’t buy stripped-down trucks. We priced out a mid-level Frontier SV 4x4 with a V6 engine, 4-door crew cab, and long bed, and it came out to $29,780. A comparably equipped Toyota Tacoma SR5 priced out at $34,320, while a similar Chevrolet Colorado LT came out to $34,090, so the Nissan clearly retains its price advantage.

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Frontier: Still Relevant In The Great Middle Ground

The current Frontier will not soldier on forever; Nissan has already introduced an updated version, the D23, which is sold as the Navara in other countries. While Nissan has announced no plans for replacement, th company has told Autobytel that it's committed to staying in the small-to-midsize truck market. We expect an updated version of the Frontier at some point, though probably not in the very near future. For now, we think this elder statesman of the compact pickup market is still worthy of consideration. If you want a higher end truck, Toyota, Chevrolet, and Honda all have more toys for your consideration and consumption, but if you're on a tight budet, the Frontier delivers the lowest price, even after you've spent the extra money for a/c and Bluetooth. And if you are shopping in the Great Middle Ground—a decently equipped truck that isn’t afraid to roll up its sleeves and work—the Nissan Frontier fits the bill quite nicely.

Photo by Nissan