2020 Nissan Frontier Review

　　

2020 Nissan Frontier Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The Nissan Frontier is a midsize pickup that competes with trucks such as the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Tacoma. This current-generation truck is quite old — its last full redesign was during the second George W. Bush administration — but it is getting a few updates for 2020.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Nissan Frontier S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) 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

　　$184/mo  for Frontier S

　　Frontier S

　　S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $26,790 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $27,900 MSRPS 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $29,680 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $31,290 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $27,670 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $28,800 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $30,560 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $31,410 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $31,990 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $32,410 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $37,490 MSRP

　　vs

　　$218/mo

　　Avg. Compact Truck

　　The most important development is that Nissan has outfitted the 2020 Frontier with a new 3.8-liter V6 engine making 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. This V6 is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that's similar to the one in its Titan and Titan XD full-size trucks. The combination replaces both previously available powertrains in the Frontier, a weaker 4.0-liter V6 and four-cylinder paired to a choice of two manual transmissions or a five-speed automatic.

　　Inside, the Frontier is a throwback in more ways than one. Compared to other midsize trucks, it has a rudimentary interior with limited small-item storage. It feels well built — there are tight panel gaps, and our test truck didn't have any squeaks or rattles — but none of the interior surfaces feel as if they're made from high-quality materials. What's more, it's missing many of the modern amenities that are either standard or optional on competitors. Looking to get a truck with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility, multiple USB ports and adaptive cruise control? You're out of luck here.

　　Overall, the 2020 Nissan Frontier isn't as appealing as its rivals. The new V6 engine is nice, but there are too many other drawbacks compared to the Chevrolet Colorado, Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Gladiator and Tacoma. The main reason to consider the Frontier is if you're simply looking for an inexpensive, no-frills midsize truck.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Frontier drive? The 3.8-liter V6 engine makes strong power. The shifts from the nine-speed auto are quick and smooth, and the truck scoots around town with relative ease. Maximum acceleration, though, is pretty average. Our test Frontier sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, which is about the same as a V6-equipped Chevy Colorado or Toyota Tacoma.

　　The Frontier's brakes feel soft, and there's a long pedal travel before they start to work. The combination gives the driver little confidence in hard braking scenarios. The steering is extremely vague, communicating very little about what's happening with the front tires. And while the Frontier's handling is likely within the limits of what you'd expect from a pickup, midcorner bumps upset the rear end, more so than in rivals. Off-roading capability is pretty good, though, thanks to some added equipment from the Pro-4X trim, including a locking rear differential and skid plates.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Frontier? This Frontier seems harsh even up against rough-and-tumble rivals such as the Jeep Gladiator and the Tacoma. The front seats lack sufficient bolstering and don't have much lumbar support. The back seats are even flatter, with a pretty upright position that would make road trips uncomfortable. The ride quality is poor as well, with many sharp and harsh bumps making their way into the cabin.

　　By truck standards, it's relatively quiet inside the Frontier, with the most prominent noise generated from wind moving over the large sideview mirrors. The climate control system works well, with the A/C cooling things down quickly on a hot day. The heated seats, however, are less impressive. They don't get very warm and after the initial warm-up period, they fizz out to mediocre pretty quickly.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? For the driver, the Frontier has a spacious feel and good forward visibility. The tall side windows and large windshield offer an expansive view of the road. The cabin controls, while small and dated, are easy to find and operate.

　　The large side mirrors provide a good view of the adjacent lanes, but the large front pillars and rear headrests obstruct your view through turns and directly behind pretty significantly. Getting into the front seat, even in the off-road-oriented Pro-4X model, is surprisingly easy thanks to wide-opening doors. Getting into the rear seat isn't as easy — we had to duck quite a bit.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? There isn't much tech in the Frontier to speak of. What does exist falls well below class standards. There's only one USB port in the cabin, and if you use it to connect your smartphone, there's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration on the other end. Bluetooth is an option, but during our test, the Bluetooth audio connection dropped out several times.

　　Navigation is present on the Pro-4X's 5.8-inch touchscreen, but you'll need to type in most of your destinations since the voice controls have a hard time understanding most addresses or any natural language. Driver aids are also absent in the Frontier, with no adaptive cruise, forward collision, blind-spot monitoring or other high-tech systems to speak of. The rearview camera worked just fine, but the display is small and low-resolution.

　　

Towing and Storage

6.5/10

　　How are the towing and storage? The Frontier is smaller than every one of its rivals. In crew-cab form, it's 7 inches shorter than the Colorado and nearly 13 inches shorter than the Gladiator. That means less space for cargo on the inside and a smaller bed. Small-item storage is limited, and even fitting large items in the back seat was tough due to the optional Rockford Fosgate subwoofer under the rear seat.

　　The Frontier's bed side rails and movable tie-down cleats are helpful for securing cargo. Towing and hauling capabilities are enough to get by but they're on the low end in the midsize truck segment. Maximum payload capability is 1,460 pounds, and towing capacity is 6,720 pounds when properly equipped.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? With four-wheel drive, the Frontier gets an EPA estimate of 19 mpg combined. That's on par with other midsize trucks with a V6 engine and automatic transmission. On our 115-mile evaluation route, which is a mix of city and highway driving, our Pro-4X test truck averaged 18.1 mpg, which is not as good as we expected.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Frontier a good value? Depending on the trim level you choose, the Frontier can be priced a bit lower than most of its rivals. But with the truck's base four-cylinder engine no longer on offer, much of the Frontier's "basic-but-cheap" status goes out the window.

　　When you spec it up to match even the lowest of rival trims, the Frontier has less available equipment and an antiquated interior. Build quality is good, with no squeaks or rattles from the interior, but the materials feel and look cheap — and you've got to look at those on a daily basis.

　　Similar to the competition, the Frontier offers a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and three years/36,000 miles of roadside assistance. The roadside assistance covers flat tires, fuel delivery, jump-starts and lockouts.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　If you want something basic, the Frontier is a good choice. Go ahead — drive over speed bumps, take rain puddles at full clip, do it all. But in the city, on curving roads or anywhere that isn't an off-road park with lots of mud, it's not enjoyable to drive. This truck looks and feels like it time-warped in from 2005.

　　

Which Frontier does zzdcar recommend?

We think the SV is the best all-arounder of the Frontier's lineup. It gives you the most flexibility for configuration (it's the only trim to offer the 6.1-foot cargo bed, for instance) and it's more affordably priced than the decked-out Pro-4X.

　　

2020 Nissan Frontier models

The 2020 Nissan Frontier is available in King Cab (extended cab) or four-door crew-cab body styles in S, SV and Pro-4X trim levels. The standard bed length is 5 feet; Nissan offers a 6.1-foot bed for the crew-cab SV. All Frontiers are powered by a 3.8-liter V6 (310 horsepower, 281 lb-ft of torque) that's connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is an option.

　　S

　　The S trim is a basic work truck with few features that include:

　　Remote keyless entry 7-inch infotainment touchscreen Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity Four-speaker audio system (six speakers for crew cabs) One USB inputSV

　　The SV adds only a few cosmetic and convenience features that include:

　　Alloy wheels Sliding rear window Power-adjustable mirrors Premium cloth upholsteryThe SV is eligible for a few option packages:

　　Value Truck package Foglights Rear parking sensors Dual-zone automatic climate control Cargo management with tie-down cleats Spray-in bedliner Sliding bed extender Class IV tow hitch receiver Auto-dimming rearview mirror Heated front seats Special Edition package 18-inch alloy wheels Unique exterior treatments Trip computer Midnight Edition package 18-inch black-painted wheels Black-painted exterior trim Pro-4X

　　The Pro-4X is only available as a four-wheel-drive crew cab. It adds several off-road and convenience features that include:

　　Roof rack Bilstein shock absorbers All-terrain tires Electronic locking rear differential Underbody skid plates Cargo management with tie-down cleats Spray-in bedliner Heated mirrors Rear parking sensors Sunroof Dual-zone automatic climate control Auto-dimming rearview mirror Leather upholstery Heated and power-adjustable front seats Navigation system Upgraded infotainment system 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system Satellite radio

　　

2020 Frontier Highlights

Type: Crew CabKing CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: SSVPRO-4XS

　　

Base MSRP	$27,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$184/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	6,620 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles