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By Bob GolfenAZCentral.com
January 29, 2005
A conspiracy? Industrial spying? Or just a pair of automakers on top of their games and sensing that the time to change had come. Frontier and Tacoma, respectively, gain size and weight, moving up into something more akin to midsize than compact. The bigger size is designed to appeal to a larger audience, with big and midsize pickups making gains over the past few years while compacts languish. Some history: Nissan (then Datsun) and Toyota popularized small pickup trucks in the 1970s, when the two Japanese companies first made significant inroads to the U.S. market. The pickups stayed popular, too, as everything from workaday haulers and personal transportation to off-road toys and custom showpieces. Frontier is the first of the enlarged duo to come my way, bigger in every dimension and similar in several respects to the full-size Nissan Titan. The heavy chassis is a smaller version of Titan's, complete with fully boxed frame rails for stiffness and durability. The family resemblance is strong, though Frontier looks less in-your-face than Titan. The new Frontier drives like a big truck, which should please those who favor the burly characteristics but could put off those who prefer the better ride and handling of cars and crossover SUVs. The test truck was a sporty NISMO version, named for Nissan's newly established performance arm. It was fully equipped for rough duty with a hefty suspension, huge off-road tires and heavy shielding underneath. Except for one thing: It had two-wheel instead of four-wheel drive. I don't really know what to make of this. Just the thing for backcountry roads, I suppose, but stay off the boulder-strewn trails of central Arizona. You'll get stuck. What it is An all-new Nissan Frontier, longer, wider and roomier than its predecessor. The test truck was a two-wheel-drive King Cab equipped with a NISMO off-road performance package. Performance The beefy 4-liter V-6 is based on engines found in Nissan's 350Z, sedans and minivan, and churns a potent 265 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque. The Frontier had loads of power for quick acceleration, steep grades and towing. The aluminum V-6 was somewhat harsh but not bad for a pickup truck. High-tech features that help provide the pull over a wide range of engine speeds include continuously variable valve timing and variable induction control. Standard engine is a 154-horsepower four-cylinder. I say skip it. Frontiers come with various combinations of engines and five-speed or six-speed manual transmissions and five-speed automatic. The test truck came with automatic, which proved to be responsive. Full mileage was fair. Drivability The NISMO performance package seems like a pretty serious suspension upgrade from the standard setup, if the buffeting ride is any indication. The compromise seems pretty obvious: Stiff springs and Bilstein off-road shock absorbers provide rugged suspension performance but also suspension harshness on city streets and highways. Of course, that's a matter of taste and temperament. Plenty of trucks guys like that rough stuff. Cornering is OK, with typical light-pickup looseness in the rear, and the steering is somewhat vague. Turning radius is wider than expected, and the Frontier was more of a pain in tight parking lots than expected. On a nasty dirt road loaded with rocks and ruts, the Frontier NISMO felt tough and sporty. That really is its element. Standard NISMO brakes are four-wheel discs with anti-lock. Styling The Nissan truck look, a carryover style adapted to the new Titan and Frontier, looks better on the smaller pickup. Muscular fender flares are attractively macho, along with the huge off-road tires and the slightly raised body height. Frontier comes either as a King Cab or Crew Cab, the regular short cab eliminated from the lineup. Interior The King Cab is wide and spacious, with something of the feel of a full-size truck. That's for the people in the two front seats. However, anyone attempting to ride in the miniscule jump seats in the back had better be really small or really tolerant. Or both. Crew Cab models should be significantly better. Otherwise, the King Cab adds some decent stowage space behind the seats, accessible through clamshell rear doors. The sporty NISMO additions add some flair to the Frontier interior, with sport seats and sharp-looking blue and gray colors. The dashboard is straightforward with clear gauges and controls. The NISMO version comes fully equipped with comfort and convenience goodies. Pricing Frontiers start out at $15,500 for a basic four-cylinder King Cab, with the two-wheel-drive NISMO starting at $22,000. Options included an upgraded audio system, $550; and side air bags, $550; plus shipping, $560. The total of $23,660 seems reasonable considering the level of style, equipment and capabilities. Bottom line The new version of the popular pickup is both roomier and more capable, with the powerful V-6 adding to the appeal. The hard-riding NISMO should be considered only for those who like to drive off the asphalt. Nissan Frontier NISMO Vehicle type: Two passenger (plus two jump seats), four-door pickup truck, rear-wheel drive. Base price: $22,000. Price as tested: $23,660. Engine: 4-liter V-6, 265 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, 284 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm. Transmission: Five-speed automatic. Wheelbase: 125.9 inches. Curb weight: 4,339 pounds. Towing capacity: 6,300 pounds. EPA mileage: 16 city, 20 highway. Highs: * Bigger size * Roomy interior * Powerful engine Lows: * Harsh NISMO ride * Vague steering * Worthless jump seats
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