| Model year | 2009 |
| Make | Nissan |
| Model | Frontier |
| Style | PRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A) |
| Base MSRP | $28,980 |
| Options on test vehicle | PRO-4X Value Truck Package ($1,970 includes leather upholstery, eight-way driver and four-way passenger power front seats, heated front seats, heated mirrors, rear fold-down armrest, Bluetooth, eight-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system with two subwoofers, steering wheel control, six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.); Moonroof and Roof Rack ($900); Side and Curtain Airbag Package ($550); Traction Package ($500 -- includes Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control and stability control); Floor Mats ($105). |
| As-tested MSRP | $33,785 |
| Drive type | Four-wheel drive |
| Engine type | V6 |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 3,954cc (241 cu-in) |
| Block/head material | Aluminum/aluminum |
| Valvetrain | Double overhead camshaft |
| Compression ratio (x:1) | 9.7 |
| Redline (rpm) | 6,250 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 261 @ 5,600 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 281 @ 4,000 |
| Transmission type | 5-speed automatic |
| Transmission and axle ratios (x:1) | I: 3.842; II: 2.353; III: 1.529; IV: 1.000; V: 0.839; R: 2.764; Final: 3.357 |
| Suspension, front | Double wishbone |
| Suspension, rear | Solid live axle |
| Steering type | Speed-proportional power steering |
| Steering ratio (x:1) | 20.4:1 |
| Tire brand | BF Goodrich |
| Tire model | Rugged Trail T/A |
| Tire type | All-terrain |
| Tire size, front | P265/75R16 |
| Tire size, rear | P265/75R16 |
| Wheel size | 16-by-7 inches front and rear |
| Wheel material | Allou |
| Brakes, front | Ventilated disc |
| Brakes, rear | Ventilated disc |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 5.4 |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 8.3 |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 12.6 |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 16.2 @ 85.0 |
| 0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 8.0 |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 33 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 128 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 55.1 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | 0.71 |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | 43.4 |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 74.5 |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 68.2 |
| Acceleration comments | A wallop of torque initiates huge traction control and shutting it off produces runaway wheelspin. Finding the right balance is key to a good run. Upshifts are quick and smooth, but feel widely spaced. Hey, matched-rev downshifts, too?!? |
| Braking rating | Good |
| Braking comments | Big knobby tires and 4,500 pounds...what did you expect? That said, 128 feet is pretty good, but fade did present itself after runs 3 and 4. Pedal is a little squishy and feels like it has a lot of idle stroke, just as it should for an off-road truck. |
| Handling rating | Poor |
| Handling comments | On the skid pad, there's only a sliver of dynamic advantage with stability control off here, so what's the point? It howls around torturing the tires either way. In the slalom, again, this is silly. Stability control doesn't really shut off (but traction control does) so doing less ends up producing better results. Steering is admirably precise for an off-road truck and the slow ratio makes sense. |
| Elevation (ft.) | 1,121 |
| Temperature (°F) | 51.69 |
| Wind (mph, direction) | N/A |
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | 15 city/19 highway |
| Edmunds observed (mpg) | 14.55 |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 21.1 |
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 4,461 |
| Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) | 4,567 |
| Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) | 49.9/50.1 |
| Length (in.) | 205.5 |
| Width (in.) | 72.8 |
| Height (in.) | 70.1 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 125.9 |
| Track, front (in.) | 61.8 |
| Track, rear (in.) | 61.8 |
| Turning circle (ft.) | 43.3 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 42.4 |
| Legroom, rear (in.) | 33.6 |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 40.0 |
| Headroom, rear (in.) | 38.7 |
| Shoulder room, front (in.) | 58.3 |
| Shoulder room, rear (in.) | 58.3 |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Max. cargo volume, seats folded (cu-ft) | 27.1 |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 5 years/Unlimited miles |
| Roadside assistance | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Free scheduled maintenance | Not available |
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Optional side airbags |
| Head airbags | Optional head airbags |
| Knee airbags | Not available |
| Antilock brakes | 4-wheel ABS |
| Electronic brake enhancements | Electronic brakeforce distribution |
| Traction control | Standard |
| Stability control | Optional |
| Tire-pressure monitoring system | Tire-pressure monitoring |
| Emergency assistance system | Not available |
| NHTSA crash test, driver | 4 stars |
| NHTSA crash test, passenger | 4 stars |
| NHTSA crash test, side front | 5 stars |
| NHTSA crash test, side rear | 5 stars |
| NHTSA rollover resistance | 4 stars |
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