Cars.com photo by Aaron Bragman
Well, we were wrong. When we drove the new 2020 Nissan Frontier recently with its newly standard, updated V-6 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, we figured the pricing might not be all that different from the outgoing 2019 model. Turns out that’s not the case, as Nissan has just announced pricing for the 2020 model — and the cheapest 2020 version you can get is now $7,500 more expensive than the cheapest 2019 model. If you want a cheap Frontier, better act fast and find a 2019 four-cylinder model at your local dealer, because the last of the inexpensive small pickup trucks is about to say goodnight.
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Now, to be fair, that $7,500 gap is comparing a four-cylinder, manual-transmission-equipped 4×2 2019 model to a 3.8-liter V-6, automatic-equipped 4×2 2020, so for your extra coin, you’re automatically getting a more powerful truck with a fully updated powertrain (as well as push-button start, standard power locks and windows, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and manual tilting steering column). Nissan says that prices have actually gone up less than $2,000 model by model on average when comparing all trims, which is still a considerable sum and not quite indicative of what’s really going on here.
A few trim levels have been eliminated in the process of simplifying the lineup for the shortened 2020 model year. The King Cab is only available in S and SV trim, with optional four-wheel drive. The crew cab is only available in S, SV and Pro-4X trim with four-wheel drive optional on the S and SV (it’s standard on the Pro-4X), and the SV trim can be had in long-bed or short-bed configuration. Nissan is also offering some optional content to the SV trim at no additional charge: The previously optional Midnight Edition Package includes black exterior trim and 18-inch gloss-black wheels, while the Special Edition Package adds a trip computer, Satin Chrome grille, body-color rear bumper and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. What’s not here anymore? The Desert Runner and SL trims … and anything with a manual transmission.
Price comparisons are now V-6 2019 model to V-6 2020 model since the four-cylinder is also discontinued for 2020. All prices include a destination fee of $1,095, unchanged from 2019:
King Cab:
- Frontier S King Cab 4×2: $27,885 (this trim didn’t offer a V-6 for 2019)
- Frontier SV King Cab 4×2: $28,765, increase of $2,460
- Frontier S King Cab 4×4: $30,775 (this model didn’t even exist for 2019)
- Frontier SV King Cab 4×4: $31,655, increase of $1,750
Crew Cab:
- Frontier S crew cab 4×2: $28,995, increase of $1,600
- Frontier SV crew cab 4×2 short wheelbase: $29,895, increase of $1,750
- Frontier SV crew cab 4×2 long wheelbase: $32,505, increase of $1,750
- Frontier S crew cab 4×4: $32,385, increase of $1,600
- Frontier SV crew cab 4×4 short wheelbase: $33,085, increase of $1,750
- Frontier SV crew cab 4×4 long wheelbase: $33,505, increase of $1,750
- Frontier Pro-4X crew cab 4×4: $38,585, increase of $3,000
The new 2020 Frontier should go on sale in July, but we’re not sure how long it’s going to be on sale — the all-new 2021 Frontier is just around the corner, and we expect to see it probably sometime before 2020 is through.
More From Cars.com and PickupTrucks.com:
- 2017 Nissan Frontier Review: Cheap Trucks Do Exist
- This Nissan Frontier Costs Less Than $20,000: Should You Buy One?
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