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The Nissan Frontier is a true mid-size pickup. Re-engineered just last year, the Frontier shares much of its inner architecture with the full-size Nissan Titan.
A powerful 4.0-liter V6 comes on all but the base model. Nissan's V6, rated at 265 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque, tops any straight-5 or V6 the competition has to offer, and rivals the output of the Dodge Dakota's optional V8. Pair this with its strong chassis, and the Frontier offers up to 6500 pounds of towing capacity and 1500 pounds of payload. Yet it's maneuverable and easy to park.
Frontier is available with rear- or four-wheel drive, and in either King Cab or Crew Cab configurations. King Cabs come with two forward-facing rear seats and a 73.3-inch standard bed. Crew Cabs feature a roomy passenger compartment with amenities much like those you'd expect in a sport-utility vehicle, yet still provide a truck bed nearly five-feet long, even with the tailgate in its upright and locked position.
Frontier offers a Nismo (Nissan Motorsports) model, with special shock absorbers and tires, underbody component-protecting skid plates and an active traction system with technologies such as hill descent control and hill start assist.
Frontier was redesigned and launched as an all-new model for 2005 and there are no significant changes for 2006.
The Nissan Frontier is built on the company's F-Alpha platform, which is shared with the Titan, Armada, Pathfinder, and Xterra. This F-Alpha architecture gives the Frontier a solid foundation that can be tuned for hauling cargo, traversing rough trails and for providing a comfortable ride around town or at expressway speeds. For the Frontier, the frame was shortened so the mid-size truck fits into a standard garage.
The Nismo off-road model we drove seemed as capable at highway speeds as it was driving through nearly two feet of rushing water flowing from creeks across Texas ranch roads. The Nismo's trail capabilities include a 31.5-degree approach angle.
Technology further enhances its worthiness off the beaten trail. Hill Descent Control walks the vehicle down steep descents. Hill Start Assist holds your position when you lift your foot off the brake while heading uphill. Limited-slip traction control helps redirect engine torque to the non-slipping drive wheels on low traction surfaces. It operates on the rear wheels on 2WD Nismo models and on all four wheels on 4WD models.
On the road, Nissan's Vehicle Dynamic Control can help the driver avoid accidents. It's set up to allow a little more sideslip than some electronic stability control systems, and we prefer this approach. Similar electronic stability control systems from other manufacturers often intervene too quickly to suit advanced drivers, but Nissan's VDC reminds us of the system in Porsches, effectively helping the driver maintain control without feeling it has taken over.
The speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering provides good feedback. The Frontier was stable and sure even when driven aggressively around curves. We found the brakes effective. The four-wheel disc brakes use big brake rotors for efficient cooling in repeated hard use.
The Frontier's 4.0-liter V6 engine is rated at 265 horsepower at 5600 rpm, which makes it the most powerful V6 in the mid-size pickup class. It provides 45 more horsepower than the largest engine available in the Chevrolet Colorado, 29 more horsepower (and while using regular fuel) than the V6 in the Toyota Tacoma, and 5 more horsepower than even the strongest V8 available in the Dodge Dakota. (The Dakota V8s develop more torque, however, important if you plan to pull a trailer.)
Nissan's six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmissions are well-matched to the V6 engine, allowing the driver to exercise all of that power.
The Frontier XE's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates 154 horsepower, which is certainly adequate. In fact, it's 85 percent of the power produced by the 3.3-liter V6 available in the previous-generation Frontier.
The Nissan Frontier, all-new for 2005, boasts the most powerful V6 engine in its class, useful innovations such as the Utili-Track cargo securing system and spray-in bedliner, a comfortable cab and attractive styling. We think it's one of the best trucks in this class, sharing that mantle with the Toyota Tacoma.
New Car Test Drive correspondent Larry Edsall filed this report from Austin, Texas.
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