Review
Introduction
Redesigned in 2005, the Nissan Frontier soldiers on into 2008 with only minor changes. Available as a King Cab with small rear-hinged doors and diminutive jump seats or as a crew cab with four full doors and a real back seat, the Frontier shares its beefy body-on-frame platform (dubbed F-Alpha) with the Nissan Xterra and Nissan Pathfinder. The Frontier is a solid and compelling entry in the small- to mid-size-truck segment currently occupied by the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Ridgeline. The Frontier stands out in its segment, thanks to its excellent 261-hp V-6 engine and its stellar steering and on-road handling. King Cab versions are available in five trim levels (XE, SE, SE V-6, LE, and NISMO). King Cab XE and SE versions get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder powerplant with an optional automatic transmission on the SE model. Four-cylinder models don’t offer 4WD. SE V-6, LE, and NISMO Frontier King Cabs all get the punchy 4.0-liter V-6 with 261 horsepower. The larger and pricier crew-cab Frontiers come with the V-6 standard and are available in SE, LE, or NISMO trim. The very basic XE and SE four-cylinder trim levels aren’t offered with the larger and more expensive crew cab. Four-wheel drive is available in all V-6 models.
Verdict
For a body-on-frame truck, the Frontier is a pleasant surprise. The structure is extremely solid, the steering is tight and accurate, and the acceleration from the V-6 models could be considered V-8–like. Four-cylinder models are a bit less impressive. Interior quality is above average for the segment, as many of the Frontier’s interior pieces are shared with the Nissan Xterra sport-utility vehicle. A Frontier crew cab came in second in a comparison test, besting a Toyota Tacoma, a Chevrolet Colorado, and a Dodge Dakota but losing out to the unibody and decidedly carlike Honda Ridgeline. If you want a body-on-frame, traditional compact- to mid-size pickup, the Frontier may be the truck for you.
Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Nissan Frontier.
What’s New for 2008
For 2008 the Frontier now offers a Technology package that includes an upgraded sound system with an auxiliary input jack, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth hands-free phone integration, XM satellite radio, and a vehicle theft immobilizer and alarm. The SE model with the four-cylinder benefits from a standard appearance package that further separates it from the XE; the base XE itself gets an optional Preferred package that bundles a few popular options together. Top-of-the-line NISMO Frontier models now come standard with the Utility Bed package that has a bed-organizing system and a factory-sprayed bedliner.
