Nissan Frontier Highlights
If you’re not one for a lot of frills, the Nissan Frontier is the right fit. You could say its platform is aged, but some things are better with time, like cheese and wine. Just remember that means you don’t get all the latest and greatest onboard electronics.
Instead of some sleek, modern exterior, you get a truck that looks like a proper truck. It’s meaty, chiseled and tough on the exterior. You can get all sorts of accessories to make it look even more rugged.
This aged nature also means the Frontier cab is basic, cheap even. You get plenty of hard plastics, seats that feel more like slabs and a few funky controls.
Excellent Value
When money is an issue, the Nissan Frontier can make your dollar stretch pretty far. The four-cylinder engine isn’t even worth considering, but upgrading to the 4.0-liter V6 won’t cost you an arm and a leg, unlike some options. You have on tap 261 horsepower and 281 lb.-ft. of torque with the V6, which should be sufficient for most.
Depending on the model you get, a 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission is an option. Of course, that means no hill descent control, because you must have an automatic for that.
While you do get plenty of power, don’t expect a comfortable ride. The stiff suspension makes for a choppy time on broken-up roads and rough trails. That means passengers might need to visit the chiropractor after a long trip.
Nissan offers few standalone optional equipment for the Frontier. That means going with bundled packages. The good news is they don’t cost much, which adds to the value of this option.
Desert Runner
It’s worth mentioning the trail-oriented model for the Frontier, since I covered similar options for the other two. With the Desert Runner model, you gain Bilstein off-road performance shocks, which actually help smooth things out, and make rock crawling more doable.
Aside from the Bilstein shocks, you get some styling flourishes, fog lights and that’s about it. In other words, I’d be cautious about how hard you push the thing on truly rugged terrain, because it’s more about image than substance.
Which Truck Is Best?
If you’re looking for a winner in the three-way Nissan Frontier vs Toyota Tacoma vs Chevrolet Colorado battle, it may depend on what you’re looking for in a truck.
If you’re looking at just hardcore performance, the Chevy Colorado with the diesel engine comes out on top. It delivers monstrous torque the other two can’t match, plus great fuel economy. That comes at a steep cost, so if you’re highly cost sensitive the Nissan Frontier will give you the biggest bang for your buck.
As far as longevity, the Toyota Tacoma comes out on top. Is that worth the extra cost? That’s a question you must answer.
As for the interior, it’s a tie between the Tacoma and Colorado. Each have some impressive features and comforts, but neither is a perfect package. Mixing the two together would be great, but that’s not an option.
