2020 Nissan Frontier

History/Overview

For 2020 (and even 2021), Nissan's midsize truck will soon be the only pickup offering available in Canada, with the large Titan soon to be discontinued here – after the 2021 model year however – as full-size truck sales are simply not high enough. And, unlike our neighbours south of the border, the Frontier that will be sold until the arrival of the new generation will be the "old" Frontier with the 4.0-litre V6 engine (for most versions), unlike the 2020 American model which benefits from the recent 3.8-litre V6.

Available Versions

Available in King Cab or Crew Cab (with four regular doors) versions, the Nissan Frontier also offers two engines: a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder good for 152 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque, or a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated V6 which is more generous, as evidenced by its 261 horsepower and optimal torque of 281 lb-ft. The vast majority of Frontiers sold here are equipped with the five-speed automatic transmission, but it's possible to order a six-speed manual transmission on the Pro-4X trim and exclusively with the King Cab. As is customary with several midsize truck models, Nissan also offers two bed lengths.

Standard Features

The Nissan Frontier range is quite extensive, with the pickup available in S, SV, Pro-4X, Midnight Edition and SL versions. Only the SV, Midnight, Pro-4X and SL trims can benefit from the more spacious cab.

Inside the Frontier S, the equipment is very basic, as the model is geared toward commercial fleets. It still includes a seven-inch screen, air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, two 12V outlets, under-seat storage in addition to the backup camera.

A step up, the Frontier SV notably gets a drive mode selector in the 4x4 trim, with the 4x2 being less expensive obviously. Also note that the Frontier SV already receives the V6, which is more fuel-hungry certainly, but also stronger for towing tasks, while a hill start and descent assist system is also added to the 4x4 trim.

The Pro-4X edition is without a doubt the most interesting in the range, due to its enhanced appearance, but also for its improved off-road capabilities. The equipment is also more complete with Bilstein shocks, embroidered cloth seats and the NissanConnect system with navigation and mobile apps.

The Midnight Edition is based on a Frontier SV, but with an all-black theme. Finally, at the top of the range, we find the Frontier SL, more luxurious with its power-assisted leather upholstery.

Fuel Economy

Nissan's fuel consumption estimates for the Frontier are those of a truck whose origins date back to 2005. In short, the Frontier consumes quite a bit. The 4-cylinder model records an average of 13.7 L/100 km in the city and 10.7 L/100 km in two-wheel drive trim, while with the V6 engine, the pickup records 14.7 L/100 km in the city and 10.3 L/100 km on the highway. When the four-wheel drive system is added to the equation, the average climbs to 15.1 L/100 km in the city and 11.5 L/100 km on the highway with the manual transmission and 15.8 L/100 km in the city and 11.5 L/100 km on the highway with the automatic.

Competition

The Nissan Frontier has been challenged from all sides for several campaigns, with the pickup having to compete with the GM duo (Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon), the Ford Ranger, the Jeep Gladiator, the Toyota Tacoma and the Honda Ridgeline.