For a few years, it seemed major automakers had given up on the midsize truck segment. Now, however, with the re-emergence of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, and the introduction of an all-new Toyota Tacoma for 2016, one of the staples of the field, the Nissan Frontier, finds itself lagging behind the competition. Can its reasonable off-road performance and lower starting price win shoppers over, or is this just a truck desperate for a redesign?
If you’re looking for a truck that drives like… well, a truck, then the Frontier isn’t a bad choice. Still living on a 12-year-old platform, the Frontier’s road manners don’t measure up well with the new era of pickups, and the engine and transmission only add to the workman-like charm of what’s quickly becoming an outdated product.
The Frontier Pro-4X’s 4.0-liter V6 features variable valve timing and direct injection, and it makes a reasonable 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque, but those numbers show up later in the power band than we’d like. All in all, this engine paired with the Frontier’s 5-speed automatic transmission delivers 15 mpg city/ 21 highway.
If you’d rather your truck not coddle you with the latest and greatest interior features, the Frontier should suit you just fine. Hard plastics and unforgiving seats earn negative attention in the cabin.
Price distinguishes the Frontier from the pack in a positive way. Nissan’s small pickup starts at $18,290, and the price of the Pro-4X Mike tested was $36,525. In comparison, neither the GM twins nor the Tacoma have starting MSPRs below $20K. For more information on the 2016 Nissan Frontier, read Mike’s full review on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/bw3RK
Presenter: Michael Perkins Producer: Carl Nenzen Loven
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Trucks \u0026 Suvs • Trucks
Content
1.6 -> The compact midsize truck segment had been largely ignored of late,
5.8 -> after experiencing a bit of a heyday in the 90s. But both Toyota and GM have
10.3 -> redesigned their offerings, putting forth fresh versions of the Tacoma,
13.6 -> the Colorado, and the Canyon—leaving the Nissan Frontier languishing on a
17.67 -> 12-year-old platform.
21.8 -> Hi, I'm Mike Perkins from CarGurus, and this is the 2016 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X—
27.3 -> a midsize truck that'll remind you what driving a truck used to feel like.
41.5 -> What's really hard to swallow is that the Frontier has been redesigned in other
45.399 -> markets, it's just not being sold here. This one's still based on the old
50 -> F-Alpha platform—the same as they used in the Xterra, the Pathfinder, and even the
55.2 -> Infiniti QX56. But the Pathfinder went to the D platform in 2012, and the Infiniti QX56—
63.2 -> they went and dropped it back in 2010. 12 years is just a very
68.3 -> long time in the automobile world. To be honest, the Frontier just feels every bit of it.
77 -> But it's not just the platform. The engine, the transmission, the steering,
82.6 -> the interior, the materials, the noise—it all just feels old. Take the engine:
89.679 -> this is a 4-liter V6. It's really just a stroked version of the 3.5-liter V6 that
94.8 -> was in the 2001 Pathfinder. It's just as old as the platform and it feels it, too—
102.8 -> despite having modern features like variable valve timing and intake, direct
107.9 -> injection, and hollow camshafts. It's torquey down low but that's mostly due
113.8 -> to the 5-speed automatic's gearing, as the 281 pound-feet of torque don't arrive
118.09 -> until 4000 rpm, and you'll have to wait around until 5600 rpm for the 261 horses
124.149 -> to show up.
125.4 -> Compare that to the Tacoma, which has the 3.5-liter V6 delivering more horsepower and
130.2 -> nearly as much torque, albeit at even higher rpms, and the difference comes down to
134.53 -> economy. With the Tacoma's 6-speed transmission, you can expect 18 city
139.239 -> miles per gallon and 23 highway. Here, it's just 15 and 21. Hell, the Challenger
144.849 -> Scat Pack, with nearly 500 horsepower in torque, even managed 25 miles per gallon
149.62 -> on the highway and could match the Frontier's city rating—if you don't mind
153.879 -> comparing apexes to overdrives.
158.7 -> Now the Colorado and the Canyon—they do even better, beating the Tacoma and the
162.92 -> Frontier on power and economy. Plus, there's a diesel option for them this
167 -> year. But where the Frontier wins is price. While this one starts at $18,000, to get into a
172.7 -> Colorado you're talking about around $20,000, and a Tacoma, nearly $24,000. Now here in the
179.63 -> PRO-4X trim with the Luxury package— which gets you these heated power leather seats,
184.7 -> the heated power mirrors, the power moonroof, and the roof rack—you're talking around $37,000. And
190.46 -> a similarly equipped Tacoma is going to be about $40,000, so you're definitely
195.1 -> saving some money for your sacrifice.
198 -> However, things like the tie-down cleats in the back, the spray-in bedliner, and
203.42 -> the bed extender—those are all standard here, whereas they're options you're going to have to
207.6 -> pay for elsewhere.
218.8 -> What it comes down to is whether or not you're willing to live with the
221.97 -> sacrifice. Now a lot of people would argue that a pickup truck doesn't need
225.81 -> to have the latest and greatest when it comes to styling—and for the most part,
229.53 -> I'd agree. But all these hard plastics—they just, they begin to wear after a little
235.1 -> while. So does the heavy steering and the thirsty engine, but my biggest complaint
240.15 -> by far is these seats. These're the most uncomfortable seats I've tested—truck or
246.3 -> otherwise—and I'm not even really sure why they have to be this way. They're hard and
252.36 -> they're short and they don't have anywhere near enough articulation.
255.7 -> Why can't this go back any further? There's plenty of room back there. And when I'm
260.609 -> sitting here in the driver's seat,
261.93 -> I feel like I'm in an an old British sports car with the steering wheel
265.02 -> nearly in my lap. And if I sit up straight, my head's nearly out of
269.49 -> the moonroof. Now I know I'm tall at 6'4", but this is the only car I've tested where I've had
275.5 -> this issue—including subcompacts like the Scion iM.
287.3 -> But let's say none of this bothers you—there's still a lot to like here. I mean,
291.839 -> just because this is a generation or two or three old, that doesn't mean it's not
296.939 -> worth checking out. After all, the last generation's batch of trucks are still quite good.
302 -> And this PRO-4X trim is a serious off-road contender. Performance
306.689 -> 4x4 suspension, a locking rear diff, skid plates, and off-road tires—
312.809 -> although those are very noisy on the road and don't do much to help with the
317.3 -> heavy steering or the braking distance, which is pretty poor at 134 feet.
325.3 -> It's the same story with this 5.8-inch touchscreen with the navigation and
330.2 -> the Nissan Connect—it's just old. I mean, everything about it just feels a few
338.2 -> steps behind the competition, and that's fast becoming unacceptable in a world
342.65 -> where people expect their cars to be a further extension of their digital world.
351.6 -> So what does this mean? Well, if the latest in technology and styling isn't a
356.6 -> high priority for you, it means that the Frontier is a great way to get a very
360 -> capable truck for less money than the competition. But before you make
363.86 -> that decision, I urge you to go out and drive the Tacoma or the Colorado or the Canyon and
368.5 -> see just how much of an improvement they are. For some, it is going to be a world
372.5 -> of difference and worth that extra cash at the outset. But a lot of you, I think,
376.729 -> will be very happy with the Frontier. In fact, I suspect a lot of you already are.
381.6 -> Tell me, have you driven all three? What did you think?
385 -> Hey, thanks for watching. Is the Frontier your favorite truck? Just let me know why
389.8 -> in the comments.
390.59 -> Otherwise, for more great car reviews, just subscribe to the channel. And to read
394.009 -> my full review of the 2016 Nissan Frontier, just click the link in the description.
