What Is It?
2005 Nissan Nismo Frontier
What's Special About It?
This is the first U.S.-bound model from Nissan that will carry the Nismo name. Nismo is Nissan's in-house performance division similar to Toyota's TRD label. When it comes to the all-new Frontier, the Nismo name indicates serious off-road performance. It will be available in both extended and crew cab body styles and either two- or four-wheel drive when it goes on sale later this year. Every Nismo Frontier gets a specially tuned suspension, heavy-duty Bilstein shocks, 16-inch wheels wrapped in oversize BFG tires and full underbody skid plate protection. Four-wheel-drive models get a standard four-wheel limited-slip traction system, Hill-Descent Control (HDC) and Hill-Start Assist (HSA) while two-wheel-drive models will get a two-wheel limited-slip traction system. All Nismo models will use the Frontier's 4.0-liter V6 engine that produces a healthy 265 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque.
What's Edmunds Take?
Now that the Frontier has the goods to compete with the best trucks in the segment, it only makes sense that it would finally get the Nismo treatment. Although it's nothing more than your typical off-road package, giving it an identifiable name should help the Frontier when it comes to snagging buyers who might have otherwise gone for a TRD Tacoma. We would have liked to have seen a little more aggressive package, but it's definitely a good start for what we expect will be a rash of new Nismo models to come. — Ed Hellwig
2005 Nissan Nismo Frontier
What's Special About It?
This is the first U.S.-bound model from Nissan that will carry the Nismo name. Nismo is Nissan's in-house performance division similar to Toyota's TRD label. When it comes to the all-new Frontier, the Nismo name indicates serious off-road performance. It will be available in both extended and crew cab body styles and either two- or four-wheel drive when it goes on sale later this year. Every Nismo Frontier gets a specially tuned suspension, heavy-duty Bilstein shocks, 16-inch wheels wrapped in oversize BFG tires and full underbody skid plate protection. Four-wheel-drive models get a standard four-wheel limited-slip traction system, Hill-Descent Control (HDC) and Hill-Start Assist (HSA) while two-wheel-drive models will get a two-wheel limited-slip traction system. All Nismo models will use the Frontier's 4.0-liter V6 engine that produces a healthy 265 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque.
What's Edmunds Take?
Now that the Frontier has the goods to compete with the best trucks in the segment, it only makes sense that it would finally get the Nismo treatment. Although it's nothing more than your typical off-road package, giving it an identifiable name should help the Frontier when it comes to snagging buyers who might have otherwise gone for a TRD Tacoma. We would have liked to have seen a little more aggressive package, but it's definitely a good start for what we expect will be a rash of new Nismo models to come. — Ed Hellwig
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