While competition among full-size pickups is a never-ending game of "mine is bigger than yours," innovation in the compact truck segment moves at a slightly less frantic pace. Given that the Japanese introduced the compact truck in America, it's not surprising that they continue to lead the way in its development.
When Nissan introduced an all-new Frontier in 2001, it blended modern mechanicals with an industrial-tough design that left the competition feeling naked in its blandness. Along with eye-catching looks, the 2001 Frontier also introduced the first ever four-door crew cab body style in the compact segment along with the first supercharged V6 as well. In a comparison test against its peers, we praised the Frontier for its design and execution but panned it for tight rear quarters and a bouncy ride. Since then, Nissan has added class-exclusive features like a stability control system, a long-bed version of the crew cab and a high-end Rockford Fosgate audio system, but are they enough to push the Frontier to the head of the pack?
After putting a top-of-the-line crew cab model through its paces over the course of a week, there's no doubt that the Frontier is one of the better compact trucks in the class, but a few weak spots keep us from declaring it best in class just yet.
Decked out in full SC-V6 trim, our tester was a sharp-looking and comfortable truck, but such extravagance came at a price. With the addition of a Premium package that added the Rockford Fosgate audio system and leather seating, the bottom line came in at a pricey $29,057. A high price to pay for a compact truck, but one that gets you all the bells and whistles you would expect on such a vehicle.
After a slight refresh of the interior last year, the Frontier certainly looks like the most modern compact truck in the class. With two-tone gauges recessed into their own individual binnacles, the Frontier looks more like a sports car inside than a pickup truck. Build quality was excellent on our particular vehicle as the numerous plastic panels were straight and solid. We would prefer the radio was set a little higher in the dash and sturdier knobs for the climate control system, but from a functionality standpoint, the Frontier has few faults.
The leather seating that comes as part of the optional Premium package proved to be as comfortable as it was good-looking. After a one-day turnaround trip from L.A. to Phoenix, we experienced none of the usual soreness that tends to creep in after several consecutive hours behind the wheel. There's plenty of room for the driver and front passenger, but as we've said before, the Frontier crew cab has the smallest rear seats of any crew cab truck in the class so don't expect rear-seat passengers to stay happy for long.
Since the added rear-seat capacity is subtracted directly from the cargo bed, standard models have a relatively meager cargo capacity. To remedy this situation, Nissan introduced a long-bed version of the crew cab for those who need the extra room but don't want to go all out for a full-size truck. At 74.6 inches, the Frontier's long bed is nearly two feet longer than the standard version and almost a foot longer than the cargo box of the midsize Dodge Dakota crew cab.
The extra room came in handy as our interstate road trip took us to Arizona to retrieve a recently purchased motorcycle. Angling the bike in the bed allowed us to fit it in with room to spare and the tailgate up — a feat that most compact crew cab beds just wouldn't allow. Another added benefit of the long bed is a stretched wheelbase that results in a smoother ride. Previous tests had us complaining about the bouncy ride, but between the extra 15 inches of wheelbase length and some soft off-road tires, we found the Frontier much more agreeable this time around.
Less agreeable is the output from our test truck's supercharged V6. With a displacement of 3.3 liters and the added muscle of a supercharger, you would think that this Frontier would be awash with power but that's hardly the case. While there's plenty of off-the-line kick and good power around town, it feels weak at higher speeds and never generates the kind of low-end pull that a truck needs. We also experienced dismal mileage — just 12.7 miles per gallon — despite the fact that the majority of our miles were racked up on the highway with cruise control on.
Once up to speed, the Frontier cruises quietly and tracks well. Steering feel is still on the heavy side, but it's less noticeable at higher speeds. The steering wheel stereo controls that come as part of the Premium package came in handy on our long-distance drive, as they allowed for quick toggling of the CD changer and radio. The high-powered Rockford Fosgate audio system is easily the more potent system available in a compact truck, producing tight bass and crisp highs that will please all but the most demanding audiophiles.
While the Frontier has a few faults, whether they constitute grounds for crossing it off your list is debatable. As the only crew cab long bed, the Frontier offers a unique combination of passenger and cargo room that is hard to beat. If you need the extra space but don't want to step up to a full-size, the Frontier is a practical solution that won't cost an arm and a leg provided you go easy on the options. If, however, cargo room is less important than passenger space, and you prefer the strong pull of a torque-rich V6, the Frontier's competitors may prove to be more satisfying drives.
When Nissan introduced an all-new Frontier in 2001, it blended modern mechanicals with an industrial-tough design that left the competition feeling naked in its blandness. Along with eye-catching looks, the 2001 Frontier also introduced the first ever four-door crew cab body style in the compact segment along with the first supercharged V6 as well. In a comparison test against its peers, we praised the Frontier for its design and execution but panned it for tight rear quarters and a bouncy ride. Since then, Nissan has added class-exclusive features like a stability control system, a long-bed version of the crew cab and a high-end Rockford Fosgate audio system, but are they enough to push the Frontier to the head of the pack?
After putting a top-of-the-line crew cab model through its paces over the course of a week, there's no doubt that the Frontier is one of the better compact trucks in the class, but a few weak spots keep us from declaring it best in class just yet.
Decked out in full SC-V6 trim, our tester was a sharp-looking and comfortable truck, but such extravagance came at a price. With the addition of a Premium package that added the Rockford Fosgate audio system and leather seating, the bottom line came in at a pricey $29,057. A high price to pay for a compact truck, but one that gets you all the bells and whistles you would expect on such a vehicle.
After a slight refresh of the interior last year, the Frontier certainly looks like the most modern compact truck in the class. With two-tone gauges recessed into their own individual binnacles, the Frontier looks more like a sports car inside than a pickup truck. Build quality was excellent on our particular vehicle as the numerous plastic panels were straight and solid. We would prefer the radio was set a little higher in the dash and sturdier knobs for the climate control system, but from a functionality standpoint, the Frontier has few faults.
The leather seating that comes as part of the optional Premium package proved to be as comfortable as it was good-looking. After a one-day turnaround trip from L.A. to Phoenix, we experienced none of the usual soreness that tends to creep in after several consecutive hours behind the wheel. There's plenty of room for the driver and front passenger, but as we've said before, the Frontier crew cab has the smallest rear seats of any crew cab truck in the class so don't expect rear-seat passengers to stay happy for long.
Since the added rear-seat capacity is subtracted directly from the cargo bed, standard models have a relatively meager cargo capacity. To remedy this situation, Nissan introduced a long-bed version of the crew cab for those who need the extra room but don't want to go all out for a full-size truck. At 74.6 inches, the Frontier's long bed is nearly two feet longer than the standard version and almost a foot longer than the cargo box of the midsize Dodge Dakota crew cab.
The extra room came in handy as our interstate road trip took us to Arizona to retrieve a recently purchased motorcycle. Angling the bike in the bed allowed us to fit it in with room to spare and the tailgate up — a feat that most compact crew cab beds just wouldn't allow. Another added benefit of the long bed is a stretched wheelbase that results in a smoother ride. Previous tests had us complaining about the bouncy ride, but between the extra 15 inches of wheelbase length and some soft off-road tires, we found the Frontier much more agreeable this time around.
Less agreeable is the output from our test truck's supercharged V6. With a displacement of 3.3 liters and the added muscle of a supercharger, you would think that this Frontier would be awash with power but that's hardly the case. While there's plenty of off-the-line kick and good power around town, it feels weak at higher speeds and never generates the kind of low-end pull that a truck needs. We also experienced dismal mileage — just 12.7 miles per gallon — despite the fact that the majority of our miles were racked up on the highway with cruise control on.
Once up to speed, the Frontier cruises quietly and tracks well. Steering feel is still on the heavy side, but it's less noticeable at higher speeds. The steering wheel stereo controls that come as part of the Premium package came in handy on our long-distance drive, as they allowed for quick toggling of the CD changer and radio. The high-powered Rockford Fosgate audio system is easily the more potent system available in a compact truck, producing tight bass and crisp highs that will please all but the most demanding audiophiles.
While the Frontier has a few faults, whether they constitute grounds for crossing it off your list is debatable. As the only crew cab long bed, the Frontier offers a unique combination of passenger and cargo room that is hard to beat. If you need the extra space but don't want to step up to a full-size, the Frontier is a practical solution that won't cost an arm and a leg provided you go easy on the options. If, however, cargo room is less important than passenger space, and you prefer the strong pull of a torque-rich V6, the Frontier's competitors may prove to be more satisfying drives.
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