2021 Nissan Frontier Review

　　

2021 Nissan Frontier Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　A time capsule of a midsize pickup truck, the 2021 Nissan Frontier is essentially the same vehicle that first arrived in showrooms back in 2005. The rugged styling has aged remarkably well, but stepping into the plastic fantastic interior is like teleporting back to an era when Beyonce was still a member of Destiny's Child and Lance Armstrong "won" the Tour de France.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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) - $27,190 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $28,200 MSRPS 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $30,080 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $31,590 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $28,070 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $29,100 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $30,960 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $31,710 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $32,290 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $32,710 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) - $37,790 MSRP

　　vs

　　$218/mo

　　Avg. Compact Truck

　　In other words, the 2021 Frontier is downright ancient, and the low scores of our Expert Rating below reflects its age. A new 2022 Nissan Frontier is coming soon, however. That means, between now and the 2022 Frontier's arrival, you can likely land a great deal on the reliable workhorse that is the 2021 Frontier. It comes in extended-cab and crew-cab styles, and in three choices of trim. They all have a robust powertrain that debuted for the 2020 model year and will carry over into the next-generation Frontier.

　　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 automatic 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. The most prominent noise comes 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

5.5/10

　　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 the Bluetooth audio connection dropped out several times during our test.

　　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 about 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 with, 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. Our Pro-4X test truck averaged 18.1 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, which is a mix of city and highway driving — that's 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 basic 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?

Of the 2021 Nissan Frontier's three trim levels, we recommend the SV. It offers a wide range of configurability and available equipment, and you can add the Midnight Edition package to the SV for a blacked-out appearance.

　　

2021 Nissan Frontier models

Nissan offers the 2021 Frontier in extended-cab (King Cab) and crew-cab styles with a 5-foot or 6.1-foot cargo bed. A 3.8-liter V6 (310 horsepower, 281 lb-ft of torque) is standard, and it runs through a nine-speed automatic transmission and the rear wheels unless you choose the optional four-wheel-drive system.

　　S

　　Tight truck-buying budgets will demand consideration of the Frontier S. This basic work truck has:

　　16-inch steel wheels Rear tinted privacy glass Locking tailgate Cargo bed light Air conditioning Remote keyless entry Push-button engine start Tilt steering wheel Cruise control 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity Four stereo speakers One USB inputSV

　　Choose the Frontier SV for more equipment and more choice in upgrades. This version of the truck includes:

　　16-inch alloy wheels Exterior trim upgrades Power-adjustable exterior mirrors Sliding rear windowSeveral option packages are available for the Frontier SV:

　　Midnight Edition package Black 18-inch alloy wheels Black grille, bumpers and mirrors Black side-step rails Special Edition package Silver 18-inch alloy wheels Satin chrome grille Body-colored rear bumper Special Edition decals Trip computer Value Truck package Spray-in bedliner Cargo management system with tie-down cleats Sliding bed extender Class IV tow hitch receiver Foglights Rear parking sensors Dual-zone automatic climate control system Heated front seats Auto-dimming rearview mirror Compass and outside temperature display Security system Pro-4X

　　The Frontier Pro-4X is the off-roading version of the truck, and it comes only with four-wheel drive and a crew cab. It includes most of the contents of the SV Special Edition and SV Value Truck packages, plus:

　　Exclusive 16-inch alloy wheel design All-terrain tires Bilstein off-road shock absorbers Stronger rear axle Electronic-locking rear differential Underbody skid plates Automatic headlights Roof rack Heated outside mirrors Sunroof Leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seats First-aid kit Upgraded infotainment system Navigation system Satellite radio 10-speaker premium sound system

　　

2021 Frontier Highlights

Type: Crew CabKing CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: SSVPRO-4XS

　　

Base MSRP	$28,200
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