But starting this spring, Nissan dealerships all around the country will introduce the Nissan Frontier of the future. The brand-new 310-horsepower direct injection V6 will debut in 2020.
In This Article...
Nissan Frontier Pro-4X: New Sheetmetal Later, More Power Now
Trim levels for the 2020 Frontier are S, SV, and Pro-4X. Both the S and SV are available with rear- or four-wheel drive and in King Cab and Crew Cab body styles. My test vehicle is a Pro-4X, which is only offered as a Crew Cab and with four-wheel drive. The Pro-4X, which went from $34,475 to $38,745, is the most costly Frontier model.
The new material is now complete. Everything else remains the same, including the truck’s appearance, which features an angled front grille, short front and back overhangs, and substantial fender flares. The Frontier actually has a largely unchanged appearance from more than ten years ago. identical inside. It is made of strong plastics and has the same fundamental design as it did more than ten years ago. They weren’t terrible in 2010, but the Frontier is the only truck with an outdated inside. But concerning the cockpit, I will say this: People that use their Frontiers for work or for roughhousing around the woods don’t give a damn about the quality of the materials, etc. They are concerned with durable, useful cockpits. The cabin is quite functional, with plenty of nooks for things like water bottles and other items as well as a few excellent storage bins hidden under the back seats.
The driving feel is unquestionably dated, with the exception of the new engine and transmission. What alternative outcome is possible? The new V6 is a nice upgrade from the outdated 4.0-liter, has adequate power across the rpm range, and a smoother, quicker nine-speed transmission than the previous one.
Surprisingly, the Frontier Pro-4X can tow 6,290 pounds, which is 160 pounds less than it could last year. The Frontier SV Crew Cab 4×2 has the highest towing capacity at 6,640 pounds. Payloads for the 4X and S trims range from 1,020 pounds to 1,460 pounds. For comparison, the maximum towing capacity of the Chevy Colorado is 7,000 pounds, while the Ford Ranger can tow 7,500 pounds when properly outfitted.
Now the old school comes into play: On the freeway, the truck makes a lot of noise and bops around town with joy. The wind whirling over the antenna—yes, I said antenna—proves once again how outdated the vehicle is by making some of that noise The slowest steering I’ve experienced in a while, combined with the soft suspension and the considerable body motion it creates, are the main culprits of the handling feeling sloppy. The good news is that the truck is not overly bothered by Detroit potholes. Don’t mistake any of the aforementioned for complaining, by the way. A part of me admires the truck’s retro appeal, and if I were shopping for a small-ish work truck, I might consider the Frontier. Like operating a brand-new classic automobile.
There will be no more criticism of the Frontier’s over ten-year-old look because the new powertrain from the 2020 Frontier will continue over into a brand-new Frontier the following year. Act right away if you want a new or old Frontier.
Usman Raynal
Wes Raynal, who was born and reared in Detroit, has been a lifelong auto enthusiast.
Nissan Frontier’s same-old truck gets a new engine.
- A new 3.8-liter V-6 engine with 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque will power the 2020 Nissan Frontier. The normal nine-speed automatic transmission is compatible with it.
- The 2020 Frontier has a few additional small tweaks, but otherwise, it is largely the same vehicle as before.
- This engine will be found in the brand-new 2021 Frontier, which Nissan claims will debut the following year.
The engine and transmission from the upcoming truck will be installed in the aging 2020 Nissan Frontier for its final year on the market even though Nissan isn’t quite ready to unveil an entirely new model of its venerable Frontier mid-size pickup.
With 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, the new direct-injection 3.8-liter V-6 engine outperforms the outgoing 4.0-liter V-6 by 49 horsepower while maintaining the same amount of torque. The 3.8L engine and a nine-speed automated transmission are now standard on all 2020 Frontiers, taking the place of the 2.5-liter inline-four that was formerly the standard. We’re a little bummed that the Frontier no longer offers manual transmission as an option.
Four-wheel drive is an option, with rear-wheel drive remaining the default. The same extended-cab and crew-cab body designs are still available, and there are two different lengths of bed options for the crew cab. The S, SV, and Pro-4X trim levels are now available, simplifying the trim-level lineup, which formerly included the SL.
A few new standard features are the only other changes for the 2020 Frontier. All Frontiers now come with push-button start, a tilt steering wheel, power windows, and power locks. Keep in mind that this truck has been available since 2005 without a significant makeover.
Nissan promises a new model for the following year, so Frontier purchasers will have to make due with the new engine in an outdated vehicle for the time being.
This information was pulled from a poll. At their website, you might be able to discover the same material in a different format or more details.
OpenWeb was used to import this content. At their website, you might be able to discover the same material in a different format or more details.
This Heart Beats More Rapidly
Since the truck’s last makeover for the 2005 model year, the 2019 Frontier has had two engines available: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 4.0-liter V-6. The four-cylinder engine and the five-speed manual transmission are both gone for 2020, and the V-6 receives a significant upgrade. It now has a powerful 3.8-liter V-6 engine that cranks out 281 pounds-feet of torque and 310 horsepower. This is an increase of 49 horsepower over the previous 4.0-liter V-6, and it is mated to a new nine-speed transmission that was taken directly from the 2020 Nissan Titan full-size truck (albeit with different gearing and tuning).
Although it’s being coy about whether the 2021 model will also offer manual transmissions, Nissan claims that this is the new powertrain from the upcoming all-new, completely redesigned 2021 Frontier pickup, which we should see sometime late in 2020. Nissan made this decision because the engine development outpaced the truck development. Japanese automakers frequently do this; Toyota and Mazda are two examples. They install the new powertrain in the older model for a year to give it a head start on real-world testing and dependability.
In contrast to the previous Frontier, the new one starts its engine by pushing a button rather than turning a key. It starts up and then calms down into a quieter, more streamlined hum than the preceding engine. Put the flimsy shifter in drive, and you’ll accelerate and have more power right away. Due to the new powertrain’s lighter overall construction than the previous 4.0-liter and five-speed automatic, the Frontier has more oomph.
The Titan’s transmission is faultless and perfectly matched to the truck’s powerful 5.6-liter V-8. The transmission’s behavior in the lower speeds is hunting and imperfect in this instance, so everything is not right. It downshifts a little too aggressively as you coast to a stop, placing you in a lower gear than may be essential for smoothness. When you turn on the power again, it allows for faster acceleration, but the transition is not smooth, which causes some head bobbing within the cabin. As it swiftly transitions from the lower to the higher gears when stopping, starting from a halt also exhibits some rougher shifting.
Now, as it shifts out of third gear, everything becomes much smoother. With the truck loping along at just under 2,000 rpm at 75 mph and doing so in a newfound stillness that is surprisingly peaceful, it transforms the Frontier into a highway champion. Power is plenty, downshifts are swift for passing, and even though the truck’s torque rating wasn’t increased, it wasn’t really necessary. Even with its five-speed auto, the previous truck’s powertrain was a strong point, and the new one keeps it as a significant advantage.
Nissan produced a 2020 Frontier, right?
The 2020 Frontier, the final model year of the current generation, will offer class-leading horsepower1 along with enhanced fuel efficiency and emissions performance. In the spring of 2020, sales will begin.
Where is the Nissan Frontier for 2020 made?
What It Is: Nissan’s most popular pickup, now in its third generation. That’s right, indeed: Despite having undergone minimal alteration since the second generation’s introduction in 2004, the mid-size Frontier outsold the full-size Titan in the United States by more than 20,000 units in 2017.
What’s Important: The Frontier has long been a reliable showroom performer. However, the mid-size truck industry is becoming more competitive, and Nissan is already losing market share to the Chevy Colorado and the revamped Honda Ridgeline. Sales of Frontier are further threatened by a new Jeep pickup and the Ford Ranger’s comeback.
Platform: Nissan’s global Navara vehicle, the company’s small pickup in the rest of the world, is the apparent contender. However, it seems more plausible that Nissan is creating a brand-new Frontier platform that is closely similar to the Titan because both trucks will continue to be produced side by side at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi, facility. The body-on-frame Xterra SUV might also be revived as a result of the new Frontier.
Powertrain: A brand-new gas V-6 is anticipated, possibly representing another iteration of the unstoppable VQ-series engine. The Titan will share it, so it will produce close to 300 horsepower that will be sent through a seven-speed automatic transmission. There may be four cylinders in the base versions, but we doubt Nissan will incur the price of providing a diesel.
What Could Go Wrong: Nissan’s powertrain lineup is uninspiring except from the twin-turbo V-6 found in the GT-R. The next Frontier might suffer the same fate due to the company’s conservative attitude to product development, which causes certain redesigns to feel out of date when they are first introduced.
Not until 2020; prices will likely start in the low $20,000 bracket.
Is it worthwhile to buy a 2020 Nissan Frontier?
The Nissan Frontier used to be an affordable pickup, but with this new engine, the starting price has increased to roughly $26,000. The 2020 Nissan Frontier’s price premium might not be justified given that the 2019 model, which is recognized as a reliable work truck, starts at roughly $19k and features less technological and interior improvements.
What is the lifespan of a 2020 Nissan Frontier?
Yes, you can get a trustworthy vehicle with the 2020 Nissan Frontier. J.D. Power has given it a predicted dependability rating of 4.5 out of 5. With the right care and maintenance, a Nissan Frontier will often survive for more than 200,000 kilometers.
According to some Nissan Frontier owners, their vehicles traveled beyond 250,000 and 300,000 kilometers. So before purchasing a used Frontier model, be sure to check the car’s past. 2020 options can still have low mileage.
A new 3.8-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque was added to the 2020 Frontier. Therefore, we are interested in how it functions after being subjected to long-term testing. There haven’t been any complaints about the 2020 model yet on the CarComplaints forum.
Will Nissan ever make changes to the Frontier?
The most recent 2022 Frontiers only recently began leaving the plant, according to Autotrader, two weeks ago. With their angular features and striking appearance, they look great!
The basic 3.8-liter V6 engine in the new Frontier is dependable and rather quiet. It has 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, which are greatest in class.
A nine-speed automatic transmission is connected to the engine. There are options for 4-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive.
This pickup truck’s next generation will finally have more advanced technologies than its forerunners. It incorporates a collision-avoidance system and a 7-inch driver assistance display on the instrument panel. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included.
Compared to the previous model, the 2022 Frontier is about five inches longer. It remains one of the more compact midsize vehicles available, but avoiding bigger trucks may have advantages.