The lifeguards of Los Angeles County's beaches currently drive new yellow Nissan Frontiers. This is a change from the classic BayWatch days, when buxom babes Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra drove Ford Rangers. No doubt Nissan has pulled a major coup here; when it comes to compact pickups, product placement doesn't get much better than the star-studded beaches of Malibu.
We here at Edmunds.com drove a 2001 Frontier. While we lack the perfect skin and Olympian athlete-like bodies of the lifeguards, we can offer more commentary than just, "Uhh, dude, yeah, I like the Frontier because, like, my red pontoon thingy fits in back."
Nissan gave the Frontier a moderate update in 2001. Most noticeable to the casual observer is the more aggressive styling. Working from the existing Frontier platform and panel structure, the designers started with the front end and integrated a new bumper, grille, headlights and fog lamps. There are also larger fender flares along the sides and a new tailgate cover in back.
From 50 feet away, the styling updates do make the truck look tougher. And there's no question that it's more dramatic than the previous year's truck. But when we got closer, enthusiasm waned. To our editors, many of these new pieces look tacked on. For instance, the fender flares that look like meaty metal flanges secured by heavy-duty hex nuts in photos are actually plastic panels with plastic hex-shaped covers. If you thwack one of the fender flares with a finger, it rings out like an empty bleach bottle. Manly, eh?
Fortunately, there is some extra muscle to go along with the bulked-up body. For the first time, the Frontier can be ordered with a supercharged engine, and it's available on the two-wheel-drive Desert Runner SC, the four-wheel-drive King Cab SC, and the 2WD and 4WD Frontier Crew Cab SC. Designed in conjunction with and manufactured by Eaton Corp., the M62 roots-type supercharger is factory-installed and fully warranted. With the addition of the supercharger, the Frontier's 3.3-liter SOHC V6 produces 210 horsepower. Torque output depends on the transmission ordered. With the four-speed automatic, torque is rated at 246 pound-feet, while five-speed manual trucks (such as our test truck) make 231 lb-ft.
The key benefits of the supercharger include immediate throttle response, increased torque across the complete engine operating range and a relatively small effect on fuel economy (less than 10 percent). The Eaton supercharger, designed specifically for the 2001 Frontier V6, sits atop the normal intake system. Inside the rotor housing are a pair of three-lobe rotors. Drive is supplied to the supercharger pulley from the engine crank pulley (widened for supercharger applications).
As the engine turns, the supercharger rotors draw air into the inlet port, through the rotor housing and then through the outlet port into the intake manifold. Repetition of the cycle creates a pumping effect, which forces an increased amount of air into the engine. This helps raise both the air pressure and density in the intake manifold, which when mixed with the proper amount of fuel results in a more powerful combustion stroke and more engine power.
The Frontier supercharger is designed to operate under "boost" conditions (6 to 7 psi) under wide open throttle (WOT) conditions. During normal driving, a bypass valve (a solenoid-operated vacuum valve controlled by the Frontier's electronic control module) diverts the excess air back into the supercharger inlet where it is recirculated, with the engine operating like a naturally aspirated Frontier V6. This helps maintain overall fuel economy with power on demand.
From Nissan's flashy television spots for this truck, you'd think it was the second coming of the twin-turbo 300ZX. And indeed, it is faster than the normally aspirated 170-hp Frontier. But when we took it to the test track, some air was let out of its sails, so to speak. Our truck went from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds. That's pretty good for a truck, but it's also about the same length of time that a frugal Honda Civic needs to reach 60 mph. We should also note that this acceleration time was obtained when ambient air temperature was a supercharger-friendly 54 degrees Fahrenheit. When we tested another Frontier Crew Cab SC, this time with an automatic transmission and a temperature of 72 degrees, acceleration took 10.1 seconds. The Frontier SC doesn't have an intercooler, so high temperatures take a noticeable toll on performance. Towing capacity is the same as the regular V6: 3,500 pounds for the manual and 5,000 pounds for the automatic.
Based on performance, the price increase for a supercharged Frontier might not seem worth it, but it does come with an upgraded interior and more standard features to dampen the hit. The interior of all 2001 Frontiers features a new instrument cluster, new seat fabric, a new steering wheel and enlarged knobs and switches. The steering wheel is the best upgrade of the bunch, as its thicker rim provides a pleasant feel. Too bad Nissan couldn't figure out a way to increase rear legroom on the Crew Cab model; the back seat is still too cramped for adults.
Supercharged models come equipped with power windows, door locks and outside mirrors, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with P265/55R17 tires, body-colored fender flares, titanium-faced gauges and a 100-watt AM/FM/CD audio system. Optional on SC models is the Supercharger Value Package. The Supercharger Value Package offers leather seating surfaces, a vehicle security system, a pop-up sunroof, a tilt wheel, cruise control and a six-disc in-dash CD changer. Our test truck had the value package, as well as the optional bed extender and under-the-rail bed liner, bringing the price to $26,555.
This is about the same price Toyota asks for a loaded Tacoma Double Cab and Ford for its Explorer SportTrac. But Nissan's 2001 upgrades have merely leveled the field rather than dominated it. The Frontier possesses some appealing attributes, but other trucks out there might be more deserving of your attention.
We here at Edmunds.com drove a 2001 Frontier. While we lack the perfect skin and Olympian athlete-like bodies of the lifeguards, we can offer more commentary than just, "Uhh, dude, yeah, I like the Frontier because, like, my red pontoon thingy fits in back."
Nissan gave the Frontier a moderate update in 2001. Most noticeable to the casual observer is the more aggressive styling. Working from the existing Frontier platform and panel structure, the designers started with the front end and integrated a new bumper, grille, headlights and fog lamps. There are also larger fender flares along the sides and a new tailgate cover in back.
From 50 feet away, the styling updates do make the truck look tougher. And there's no question that it's more dramatic than the previous year's truck. But when we got closer, enthusiasm waned. To our editors, many of these new pieces look tacked on. For instance, the fender flares that look like meaty metal flanges secured by heavy-duty hex nuts in photos are actually plastic panels with plastic hex-shaped covers. If you thwack one of the fender flares with a finger, it rings out like an empty bleach bottle. Manly, eh?
Fortunately, there is some extra muscle to go along with the bulked-up body. For the first time, the Frontier can be ordered with a supercharged engine, and it's available on the two-wheel-drive Desert Runner SC, the four-wheel-drive King Cab SC, and the 2WD and 4WD Frontier Crew Cab SC. Designed in conjunction with and manufactured by Eaton Corp., the M62 roots-type supercharger is factory-installed and fully warranted. With the addition of the supercharger, the Frontier's 3.3-liter SOHC V6 produces 210 horsepower. Torque output depends on the transmission ordered. With the four-speed automatic, torque is rated at 246 pound-feet, while five-speed manual trucks (such as our test truck) make 231 lb-ft.
The key benefits of the supercharger include immediate throttle response, increased torque across the complete engine operating range and a relatively small effect on fuel economy (less than 10 percent). The Eaton supercharger, designed specifically for the 2001 Frontier V6, sits atop the normal intake system. Inside the rotor housing are a pair of three-lobe rotors. Drive is supplied to the supercharger pulley from the engine crank pulley (widened for supercharger applications).
As the engine turns, the supercharger rotors draw air into the inlet port, through the rotor housing and then through the outlet port into the intake manifold. Repetition of the cycle creates a pumping effect, which forces an increased amount of air into the engine. This helps raise both the air pressure and density in the intake manifold, which when mixed with the proper amount of fuel results in a more powerful combustion stroke and more engine power.
The Frontier supercharger is designed to operate under "boost" conditions (6 to 7 psi) under wide open throttle (WOT) conditions. During normal driving, a bypass valve (a solenoid-operated vacuum valve controlled by the Frontier's electronic control module) diverts the excess air back into the supercharger inlet where it is recirculated, with the engine operating like a naturally aspirated Frontier V6. This helps maintain overall fuel economy with power on demand.
From Nissan's flashy television spots for this truck, you'd think it was the second coming of the twin-turbo 300ZX. And indeed, it is faster than the normally aspirated 170-hp Frontier. But when we took it to the test track, some air was let out of its sails, so to speak. Our truck went from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds. That's pretty good for a truck, but it's also about the same length of time that a frugal Honda Civic needs to reach 60 mph. We should also note that this acceleration time was obtained when ambient air temperature was a supercharger-friendly 54 degrees Fahrenheit. When we tested another Frontier Crew Cab SC, this time with an automatic transmission and a temperature of 72 degrees, acceleration took 10.1 seconds. The Frontier SC doesn't have an intercooler, so high temperatures take a noticeable toll on performance. Towing capacity is the same as the regular V6: 3,500 pounds for the manual and 5,000 pounds for the automatic.
Based on performance, the price increase for a supercharged Frontier might not seem worth it, but it does come with an upgraded interior and more standard features to dampen the hit. The interior of all 2001 Frontiers features a new instrument cluster, new seat fabric, a new steering wheel and enlarged knobs and switches. The steering wheel is the best upgrade of the bunch, as its thicker rim provides a pleasant feel. Too bad Nissan couldn't figure out a way to increase rear legroom on the Crew Cab model; the back seat is still too cramped for adults.
Supercharged models come equipped with power windows, door locks and outside mirrors, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with P265/55R17 tires, body-colored fender flares, titanium-faced gauges and a 100-watt AM/FM/CD audio system. Optional on SC models is the Supercharger Value Package. The Supercharger Value Package offers leather seating surfaces, a vehicle security system, a pop-up sunroof, a tilt wheel, cruise control and a six-disc in-dash CD changer. Our test truck had the value package, as well as the optional bed extender and under-the-rail bed liner, bringing the price to $26,555.
This is about the same price Toyota asks for a loaded Tacoma Double Cab and Ford for its Explorer SportTrac. But Nissan's 2001 upgrades have merely leveled the field rather than dominated it. The Frontier possesses some appealing attributes, but other trucks out there might be more deserving of your attention.
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