Driving Impressions

We drove the Frontier over a wide variety of terrain in the Nashville area and down a good cross-section of roads. We took smooth Interstates and lumpy, twisty backcountry roads through towns with names like Tullahoma and Wartrace. We think Frontier owners will be very pleased using them as daily drivers. The Frontier doesn't really do any one thing spectacularly well, but it does almost everything very well. Visibility is quite good, although the thick B-pillars present some blind spots. The ride is not truck-like, which we appreciated. Wind noise and road noise are minimal, impressive given the big P235R15 tires. After a full day of driving, we were none the worse for wear. This is a truck that is suitable for long-distance driving. The power-assisted recirculating ball steering provides the right amount of road feel. Although the rear suspension design is nothing new, there was no tendency for the tail to move around over the rough bits--a problem with pickup trucks and leaf-spring suspensions. The brakes also worked well. When we comment on air conditioners, it's usually because they're not up to par, but Nissan deserves credit for giving the Frontier a unit that can frost your Ray Bans. It was nearly 100 degrees and felt like 100 percent humidity in Nashville and we left our Frontier baking in the sun for quite some time, but we still had to turn the air conditioning down after just a few minutes. The only flaw in this otherwise delightful picture is the engine. Despite its relatively large displacement (2.4 liters) and sophisticated technology, it doesn't make much horsepower and torque. Nissan points out that it is the most powerful four-cylinder engine in the segment. But it feels slow off the line at full throttle, and easily looses momentum on grades. Passing on two-lanes was a decision not lightly made. And the engine is noisy. But we've been spoiled by the proliferation of V6 engines and Nissan's 3.3-liter V6 will make a big difference.

Final Word

The compact truck market is ultra competitive. The Frontier will be dueling with formidable opponents that include the Toyota Tacoma, Mazda B2500, Isuzu Hombre, Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota and Chevy S10. But the Nissan Frontier is well suited for the fight with good looks, a good ride, a generous set of standard features and enough options to suit serious trucksters. The only flaw is the lack of performance from the 4-cylinder engine. But one driver's insufficiency is another's just right. We look forward to trying this terrific truck with V6 power. When we do, we'll have to tune in to some serious country music.