2017 Nissan Frontier Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMike SchmidtSenior Manager, Vehicle Testing Operations

　　Mike Schmidt has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. He has written nearly a thousand car-related articles and has been responsible for the upkeep of countless test fleet vehicles over the course of his career. Mike is a senior manager of vehicle testing operations at zzdcar and got his start working behind the scenes on the car manufacturer side of the business. Mike spent many a weekend working on the family car with his dad and was promoted from flashlight holder to tool gopher at a young age. He's had an appreciation of cars ever since.

　　

What’s new

　　The 2017 Nissan Frontier largely is unchanged. A new S Work Truck package adds a spray-in bedliner, bed rail caps, splash guards and rubber floor mats. Base S trims now have body-colored rear bumpers instead of chrome.

　　

Vehicle overview

　　The midsize pickup segment was effectively in stasis for about a decade, with its handful of trucks coasting along year after year with only minimal updates. Even if a particular truck grew stale, so did its competitors. That changed when General Motors completely redesigned its midsize trucks in 2015 and Toyota followed suit for 2016. As a result, Nissan is at a distinct disadvantage with its unaltered 2017 Frontier.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Nissan Frontier S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (2.5L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$183/mo  for Frontier S

　　Frontier S

　　S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (2.5L 4cyl 5M) - $18,390 MSRPS 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (2.5L 4cyl 5A) - $22,260 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 6M) - $24,100 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $25,150 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB w/Prod. End 02/17 (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $27,650 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $28,040 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (2.5L 4cyl 5M) - $22,960 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (2.5L 4cyl 5A) - $24,010 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $24,720 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) (Most Popular) - $25,950 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 6.1 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $26,670 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB w/Prod. End 02/17 (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $27,320 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $27,610 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB w/Prod. End 02/17 (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $28,750 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $29,140 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB w/Prod. End 02/17 (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $29,170 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $29,560 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB w/Prod. End 02/17 (4.0L 6cyl 6M) - $29,700 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 6M) - $30,090 MSRPDesert Runner 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $25,400 MSRPDesert Runner 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $26,830 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 6M) - $32,340 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $32,580 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $33,390 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $32,710 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB w/Prod. End 02/17 (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $35,160 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $35,550 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB w/Prod. End 02/17 (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $36,410 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) - $36,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$218/mo

　　Avg. Compact Truck

　　Its age is especially evident inside the Frontier. Controls are antiquated, materials lackluster and cabin noise levels excessive. Together these characteristics give a bare-bones look and feel that those competing models have risen above. Still its ride quality is surprisingly good, and in Pro-4X trim, it performs off-road with confidence. And it gets all of the practical details right, such as cargo tie-downs, a spray-in bedliner and a sliding bed extender. If you're just looking for these basics, the Frontier still holds its own in this class.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　We wouldn't blame you for skipping over the 2017 Nissan Frontier. Fuel economy trails behind that of newer rivals, and its interior is outdated. But if you're just looking for the basics or desire a truly capable off-roader, the Frontier still holds its own in this class.

　　

Driving

　　In Pro-4X trim, the Frontier is just as capable in the dirt as its peers despite a lack of significant updates in the past decade. But on the pavement, the Frontier's lack of refinement, in all trims, really puts the truck at a disadvantage compared to its competition.

　　

Comfort

　　We found the Frontier had a surprisingly comfortable ride quality on the road. Limited seat and steering-wheel adjustability on most trims made for an awkward driving position. And even on the Frontier crew cab, the rear seats lack legroom.

　　

Interior

　　The interior looks dated, and the liberal use of hard plastics doesn't help. Still, most of the controls and switches are easy to use.

　　

Utility

　　The Frontier gets the basics of being a work truck right. It has a clever cargo tie-down system in the bed, available spray-in liner, bed extender and optional 5-foot and 6.1-foot lengths. And properly equipped, four-cylinder models can tow up to 3,500 pounds and V6s as much as 6,500 pounds.

　　

Technology

　　The latest technology, including a NissanConnect touchscreen interface, Bluetooth audio connectivity, hands-free text messaging and smartphone app integration, is available on most Frontier models. But the same can be said of its competitors.

　　

Which Frontier does zzdcar recommend?

　　In our opinion, the 2017 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X is the truck to get. Sure, the four-cylinder gets slightly better fuel economy. It is also true that the less aggressive tuning and tires of other trims ride smoother, are quieter and are generally more pavement-friendly. But the Pro-4X benefits from that torquey V6, which makes us happy. And of all trims, its off-road worthiness makes it the most competitive against its peers, which were all recently redesigned. And you still get the utility of a truck, with features such as a spray-in liner and bed extender plus a maximum tow capacity of 6,290 pounds.

　　

2017 Nissan Frontier models

　　The 2017 Nissan Frontier is a midsize truck offered in numerous configurations, depending upon your preference. It offers an extended-cab (King) or crew-cab body style and 5-foot or 6.1-foot bed length. The engine options are a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (152 horsepower, 171 pound-feet of torque) or a 4.0-liter six-cylinder (261-hp, 281 lb-ft), and both can be hooked up to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. There are five trim levels: S is the base model; the SV, with an upgraded interior; the Desert Runner, which adds off-road-oriented features but with two-wheel drive; the four-wheel-drive-only Pro-4X; and the top-tier SL, which is the best-optioned overall.

　　Your first step into the Frontier is in base S trim, with two-wheel drive, extended cab, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission. It has 15-inch steel wheels, rear privacy glass and four-way manual-adjusting cloth bucket seats up front. Select the automatic transmission to get air-conditioning, cruise control, steering-wheel audio controls, Bluetooth phone connectivity, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. These items can be added to the manual version via the S Preferred package. Meanwhile, crew cabs with the S trim add the V6 engine, 16-inch steel wheels, a sliding rear window and a six-speaker audio system as standard.

　　In SV form, you get the above (though the V6 engine is optional for SV extended-cab models), along with 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, power windows, locks and mirrors, a tilt-only steering wheel, upgraded cloth upholstery, a sliding rear window, a 5-inch NissanConnect touchscreen interface with Bluetooth audio connectivity and smartphone-integrated apps, a USB port, a media player interface, satellite radio and an additional 12-volt power outlet. Options include a sunroof on the crew cab, and for the V6-powered SV, a Value Truck package that adds foglights, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a sliding bed extender, a spray-in bedliner, adjustable cargo tie-downs, a Class IV trailer hitch, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and two extra speakers on extended cabs.

　　The Desert Runner is a two-wheel-drive V6 only, in either cab configuration, and it builds on the base SV equipment list. It adds special styling details, foglights, high-performance shock absorbers, off-road tires and an eight-way manually adjustable driver seat. The SV Value package equipment isn't available with this trim.

　　For serious off-roaders, there is the four-wheel-drive-only Pro-4X. This trim features knobby off-road tires, specially tuned shocks, a locking rear differential, skid plates, automatic headlights, a 5.8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio and voice controls, the eight-way-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a first aid kit. It includes everything in the SV Value Truck package except the trailer hitch and bed extender, which are optional. Crew cabs also get a 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system. The Pro-4X Luxury package, only available on automatic-equipped crew cabs, adds a sunroof, a roof rack with crossbars, heated mirrors, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats and a rear-seat center armrest.

　　The top-level SL is only available as a crew cab with the automatic transmission. It loses the Pro-4X's off-road-oriented equipment but retains most of the items in the Pro-4X Luxury package, including a sunroof for long-bed SLs (the sunroof is a stand-alone option for short-bed SLs). Additional standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels and side steps that ease access to the cab. The trailer hitch and bed extender remain optional on the Frontier SL.

　　

2017 Frontier Highlights

Type: Crew CabKing CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: SSVDesert RunnerPRO-4XSLS

　　

Base MSRP	$24,100
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$203/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	6,630 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles