How an aging $38,000 Nissan Frontier stacks up against newer trucks from Ford, Chevy, Jeep, and Toyota

Matthew DeBordMay 12, 2020, 22:21 IST

Business Insider

I tested a roughly $38,000 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X midsize pickup truck from the 2020 model year — a glimpse at what an all-new 2021 Frontier could be like.
The 2020 Frontier loses the 4.0-liter V6, replacing it with a new, 3.8-liter V6 that makes 310 horsepower, a notable boost on the outgoing engine.
The Frontier is an aging stalwart in the now-competitive midsize segment, hanging in there against the Toyota Tacoma, but also going up against the Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, Jeep Gladiator, and Honda Ridgeline.
The Nissan Frontier Pro-4X is an oldie but a goodie — it's a rather no-nonsense pickup that delivers off-road capability at an appealing, bargain price.
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Let's face facts before we go any farther: in the newly competitive midsize pickup-truck market, the Nissan Frontier is a player on almost entirely what it isn't.

Bluntly, the Frontier is old and cheap, while the other trucks are new and less cheap.

Now, before you get to thinking that I'm dissing Nissan, hear me out. There's a place for a pickup without pretense. A pickup that lives to serve. A pickup that reminds you of the virtues of low-tech and that isn't as crudely purposed as some of the more rugged trim options available on the Toyota Tacoma.

I've driven every midsize pickup money can buy, so I'm qualified to judge the Frontier on its merits, limited though they might be. And here's the thing: plenty of times when I go pickup-truck shopping, the Frontier tops my list. It satisfies needs without much fuss.

Nissan loaned me an approximately $38,000 version of the 2020 truck — it was a pre-production vehicle, and this is not officially priced — but it was a top-line Pro-4X trim, and I did my best to put it through its paces.

Here's how it went:

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So what's the verdict?

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

Bluetooth device-pairing, navigation, and USB charging and connectivity are all present and accounted for.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The infotainment system runs on an almost comically small 5.8-inch screen, complete with some awesome, tiny buttons. As bad as that sounds, the system still gets the job done.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The infotainment system runs on an almost comically small 5.8-inch screen, complete with some awesome, tiny buttons. As bad as that sounds, the system still gets the job done.

Buttons, knobs, and soothing orange light! Such is the throwback sweetness of the Frontier's center stack.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Frontier is often knocked for its plastic-y, unadorned interior. But if you intend to beat the livin' bejeebus out of this thing, you might appreciate the no-nonsense attitude.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Frontier is often knocked for its plastic-y, unadorned interior. But if you intend to beat the livin' bejeebus out of this thing, you might appreciate the no-nonsense attitude.

A sunroof adds some razzmatazz to this otherwise low-key truck.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The four-wheel-drive system — which on my tester was robust — is controlled by an easy-to-find, easy-to-use knob.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

You would have to work hard to find a more basic steering-wheel-and-instrument cluster combo in all of motoring. Frankly, it's a wonderful thing, easy to understand and not at all distracting.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

You would have to work hard to find a more basic steering-wheel-and-instrument cluster combo in all of motoring. Frankly, it's a wonderful thing, easy to understand and not at all distracting.

The passenger side gets a grab bar, but the driver has to use the steering wheel to heave themselves in and out of the cab.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

... And a bit of Pro-4X monikering stitched into the seats are part of the the overall interior package,.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

Some specialized floor mats ...

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The rear bench seats are moderately roomy, but legroom isn't terribly good.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Graphite Leather/Pro-4X interior was really just as nice as the fetching exterior. The seats were genuinely comfortable — and heated!

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The old five-speed automatic — yes, you read that right, just five gears — has been supplanted by a nine-speed mill. Note the start-stop button, for with there was ample real estate on the center console.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The old five-speed automatic — yes, you read that right, just five gears — has been supplanted by a nine-speed mill. Note the start-stop button, for with there was ample real estate on the center console.

The 3.8-liter V6, making 310 horsepower with 281 pound-feet of torque, is the big difference between the 2020 version of the Frontier and the 2019 truck. The latter rocked a 4.0-liter V6 that made a mere 261 horsepower.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The 3.8-liter V6, making 310 horsepower with 281 pound-feet of torque, is the big difference between the 2020 version of the Frontier and the 2019 truck. The latter rocked a 4.0-liter V6 that made a mere 261 horsepower.

Let's pop the hood and take a look.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The step bumper eases climbing in and out.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

Bed rails allow various implements to be mounted to secure gear, like bikes.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

... On both sides of the bed.

Matthew DeBord/Insider

There are also movable tie-points along rails ...

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The tailgate is chunky — a sturdy hunk of engineering.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The sprayed-on bed liner is just the beginning of the extras.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

At five feet, the bed is on the smaller side, but for the target off-roading market, that shouldn't be much of a disadvantage.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

Just in case the stickers aren't enough for you, Pro-4X gets the chrome treatment.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Frontier nameplate at the rear reminded me of this truck's big brother, the full-size Titan. That's large lettering!

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

Look closely behind the Hankooks and you'll see the tough leaf-spring suspension. Also out-of-sight are the skid plates that shield the oil pan, gas tank, and transfer case.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

Look closely behind the Hankooks and you'll see the tough leaf-spring suspension. Also out-of-sight are the skid plates that shield the oil pan, gas tank, and transfer case.

... Stoutly treaded tires and 16-inch alloy wheels.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Pro-4X trim level opens up a range of offroading features. These include the obvious stickers, but also a locking rear differential, Bilstein high-pressure shocks and ...

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Pro-4X trim level opens up a range of offroading features. These include the obvious stickers, but also a locking rear differential, Bilstein high-pressure shocks and ...

My tester was equipped with some optional roof rails.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Frontier presents a nice, sporty stance. It looks wrong in a suburban parking lot; it should instead be out in the wilderness.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

Say hello to the least dramatic headlights of any pickup currently on the road!

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

It's so solid you could call it dull — and the mellow satin chrome on the grille supports that assessment.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Frontier remains a handsome pickup, but minus any of the more bold, full-size-pickup details that characterize the GMC Canyon, for example, or the brash brand evocation of the Jeep Gladiator.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Frontier remains a handsome pickup, but minus any of the more bold, full-size-pickup details that characterize the GMC Canyon, for example, or the brash brand evocation of the Jeep Gladiator.

In some ways, the Frontier remains the thinking-person's midsize pickup. If you want your truck to do truck stuff in a capable manner, then the Frontier continues to combine affordability and competence.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

In some ways, the Frontier remains the thinking-person's midsize pickup. If you want your truck to do truck stuff in a capable manner, then the Frontier continues to combine affordability and competence.

The Frontier is essentially the second-generation of a vehicle that's been around since the 1980s. This version dates to 2004, with an update for 2009 and most recently for the 2020 model-year truck I tested.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The Frontier is essentially the second-generation of a vehicle that's been around since the 1980s. This version dates to 2004, with an update for 2009 and most recently for the 2020 model-year truck I tested.

The Toyota Tacoma was formerly the Frontier's main rival in the midsize market. And like the Frontier, the Tacoma has remained more true to its roots than more recent arrivals, save the Gladiator.

Toyota Tacoma. Matthew DeBord/BI

The Toyota Tacoma was formerly the Frontier's main rival in the midsize market. And like the Frontier, the Tacoma has remained more true to its roots than more recent arrivals, save the Gladiator.

In 2017, Honda redesigned its once-kinda-rad Ridgeline to be a more domesticated pickup, a sort of 21st-century El Camino.

Honda Ridgeline. Honda

The Jeep Gladiator also brought back a Jeep with a bed in the back. It was hotly anticipated and has some serious off-roading capability.

Jeep Gladiator. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The new Ford Ranger revived that famous nameplate in the US.

Ford Ranger. Matthew DeBord/BI

Here's the GMC version, the Canyon, in upscale Denali trim.

GMC Canyon Denali. Matthew DeBord/BI

The midsize pickup-truck segment has become wildly competitive, after automakers ignored it for years. The Chevy Colorado, seen here in ZR2 Bison trim, is a leader.

Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison. Matthew DeBord/BI

The 2020 Nissan Frontier I tested came in an Arctic Blue Metallic paint job that was rather fetching. My truck was a pre-production vehicle, but it would sticker at about $38,000, in Pro-4X trim. A base, no-frills Frontier is less than $20,000.

2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. Matthew DeBord/Insider

The 2020 Nissan Frontier I tested came in an Arctic Blue Metallic paint job that was rather fetching. My truck was a pre-production vehicle, but it would sticker at about $38,000, in Pro-4X trim. A base, no-frills Frontier is less than $20,000.

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How an aging $38,000 Nissan Frontier stacks up against newer trucks from Ford, Chevy, Jeep, and Toyota

So what's the verdict?

Bluetooth device-pairing, navigation, and USB charging and connectivity are all present and accounted for.

The infotainment system runs on an almost comically small 5.8-inch screen, complete with some awesome, tiny buttons. As bad as that sounds, the system still gets the job done.

Buttons, knobs, and soothing orange light! Such is the throwback sweetness of the Frontier's center stack.

The Frontier is often knocked for its plastic-y, unadorned interior. But if you intend to beat the livin' bejeebus out of this thing, you might appreciate the no-nonsense attitude.

A sunroof adds some razzmatazz to this otherwise low-key truck.

The four-wheel-drive system — which on my tester was robust — is controlled by an easy-to-find, easy-to-use knob.

You would have to work hard to find a more basic steering-wheel-and-instrument cluster combo in all of motoring. Frankly, it's a wonderful thing, easy to understand and not at all distracting.

The passenger side gets a grab bar, but the driver has to use the steering wheel to heave themselves in and out of the cab.

... And a bit of Pro-4X monikering stitched into the seats are part of the the overall interior package,.

Some specialized floor mats ...

The rear bench seats are moderately roomy, but legroom isn't terribly good.

The Graphite Leather/Pro-4X interior was really just as nice as the fetching exterior. The seats were genuinely comfortable — and heated!

The old five-speed automatic — yes, you read that right, just five gears — has been supplanted by a nine-speed mill. Note the start-stop button, for with there was ample real estate on the center console.

The 3.8-liter V6, making 310 horsepower with 281 pound-feet of torque, is the big difference between the 2020 version of the Frontier and the 2019 truck. The latter rocked a 4.0-liter V6 that made a mere 261 horsepower.

Let's pop the hood and take a look.

The step bumper eases climbing in and out.

Bed rails allow various implements to be mounted to secure gear, like bikes.

... On both sides of the bed.

There are also movable tie-points along rails ...

The tailgate is chunky — a sturdy hunk of engineering.

The sprayed-on bed liner is just the beginning of the extras.

At five feet, the bed is on the smaller side, but for the target off-roading market, that shouldn't be much of a disadvantage.

Just in case the stickers aren't enough for you, Pro-4X gets the chrome treatment.

The Frontier nameplate at the rear reminded me of this truck's big brother, the full-size Titan. That's large lettering!

Look closely behind the Hankooks and you'll see the tough leaf-spring suspension. Also out-of-sight are the skid plates that shield the oil pan, gas tank, and transfer case.

... Stoutly treaded tires and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Pro-4X trim level opens up a range of offroading features. These include the obvious stickers, but also a locking rear differential, Bilstein high-pressure shocks and ...

My tester was equipped with some optional roof rails.

The Frontier presents a nice, sporty stance. It looks wrong in a suburban parking lot; it should instead be out in the wilderness.

Say hello to the least dramatic headlights of any pickup currently on the road!

It's so solid you could call it dull — and the mellow satin chrome on the grille supports that assessment.

The Frontier remains a handsome pickup, but minus any of the more bold, full-size-pickup details that characterize the GMC Canyon, for example, or the brash brand evocation of the Jeep Gladiator.

In some ways, the Frontier remains the thinking-person's midsize pickup. If you want your truck to do truck stuff in a capable manner, then the Frontier continues to combine affordability and competence.

The Frontier is essentially the second-generation of a vehicle that's been around since the 1980s. This version dates to 2004, with an update for 2009 and most recently for the 2020 model-year truck I tested.

The Toyota Tacoma was formerly the Frontier's main rival in the midsize market. And like the Frontier, the Tacoma has remained more true to its roots than more recent arrivals, save the Gladiator.

In 2017, Honda redesigned its once-kinda-rad Ridgeline to be a more domesticated pickup, a sort of 21st-century El Camino.

The Jeep Gladiator also brought back a Jeep with a bed in the back. It was hotly anticipated and has some serious off-roading capability.

The new Ford Ranger revived that famous nameplate in the US.

Here's the GMC version, the Canyon, in upscale Denali trim.

The midsize pickup-truck segment has become wildly competitive, after automakers ignored it for years. The Chevy Colorado, seen here in ZR2 Bison trim, is a leader.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier I tested came in an Arctic Blue Metallic paint job that was rather fetching. My truck was a pre-production vehicle, but it would sticker at about $38,000, in Pro-4X trim. A base, no-frills Frontier is less than $20,000.