Nissan Industry Analysis Paper

The 2018 Nissan Frontier: An Aging But Competitively Priced Pickup

The 2018 Nissan Frontier may look new from the outside, but don’t be fooled. The mid-size pickup hasn’t been truly new — as in built on a new platform — since the current generation debuted back in 2005. The Frontier is essentially the same truck it was when it stepped on the scene 14 years ago, but is that such a bad thing? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re in the market for a mid-size pickup and are considering the 2018 Nissan Frontier, here’s everything you need to know.

What’s Under The Hood: A V6 You Have To Have

The 2018 Nissan Frontier features two engines. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder produces 152 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque. The more powerful

Heck, even if you value fuel economy, the V6 is the engine to go with. The 2018 Frontier with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine gets 19 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, while the 3.0-liter six-cylinder returns 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. These figures are below average for the segment.

Compared to the competition, the ‘18 Frontier has the weakest set of engines in its class. The Toyota Tacoma, and Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon both offer four-cylinders that produce more power, with the GM trucks offering a turbo-diesel four that makes an impressive 369 lb-ft of torque. The Frontier’s V6 is also bottom of the barrel when it comes to power.

The Frontier has a maximum towing capacity of 6,710 pounds and a max payload capacity of 1,480 pounds. Those figures are also back of the pack. Actually, that’s not true. The Frontier does out-tow the 2018 Honda Ridgeline by a sizable amount (6,710 pounds to 5,000 pounds). If you’re interested in raw power and capabilities, you’re better off looking

Things change when you climb inside, however. Nissan’s mid-size truck is easily the least luxurious in its class. The Frontier received a substantial bump in the standard features department for 2018, with Bluetooth, a backup camera, five-inch infotainment screen and cruise control all added to the list of standard features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available, but Siri Eyes Free does come standard.

Standard features on pricier trim levels include leather-appointed and heated front seats, rear parking sensors, a 5.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dual-zone automatic climate control, navigation and a 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system. Oddly enough the Frontier only offers one optional package, which isn’t available on all trim levels. The Value Truck Package rings in at $1,890 and adds heated front seats, a spray-in bedliner, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, rear parking sensors, a sliding bedliner extender, fog lights, dual-zone climate control and Nissan’s Utilit-Track cargo