2001 Nissan Frontier Road Test - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our road test for the 2001 Nissan Frontier includes a full evaluation of the 2001 Nissan Frontier from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2001 Nissan Frontier, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2001 Nissan Frontier help you decide if a 2001 Nissan Frontier is right for you.

2001 Nissan Frontier Road Test

Pros	Cons

Acceleration (supercharged V6)	Rear-seat room

Control layout	Acceleration (4-cylinder)

	Rear-seat entry/exit (King Cab)

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
2	3	4	4

Supercharged V6 gives Frontier a needed shot in the arm even though it feels little faster than the top V6s in most rival compact pickups. It does 0-60 mph in an estimated 9.2 sec and performs best with automatic transmission. Regular V6 took 11.2 sec 0-60 in our test of a manual-transmission 4WD King Cab.

Fuel Economy

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
5	3	3	4.5

Test manual SC 4WD Crew Cab averaged 15.1 mpg on the required premium fuel. Non-supercharged models use regular fuel, and we averaged 18.5 mpg with an automatic-transmission 4-cyl 2WD regular cab and 14 mpg with manual V6 4x4 King Cab.

Ride Quality

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
3	4	4	3.4

Among the better small pickups, with little impact harshness on sharp bumps but, as with any truck, ride motions are choppy on rough or broken surfaces.

Steering/Handling/Braking

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
3	3	4	3.3

Cornering lean is moderate in any model, but the rear end hops without a load and steering is light and numb.

Quietness

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
2	3	3	3.3

Supercharger hushes the V6 some, but all Frontier engines are noisy and gruff. Wind and tire ruckus also higher than the class norm.

Controls

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
5	5	5	5.9

Good layout, helped by recent move to all-rotary-dial climate controls. Though dashboard is hard plastic, it doesn't look cheap. Most testers prefer traditional foot-pedal parking brake to Frontier's pull-out umbrella-style lever.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
3	4	4	3.9

Generous space for 6-footers even in regular cabs, but seats are too low for some. Good entry/exit even on 4x4s, thanks to a lower step-in than some rivals.

Room/Comfort (rear)

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
0	2	3	1.3

Crew Cabs have better entry/exit than extended-cabs with rear-hinged doors, but it's still tight getting in and out and not very roomy. Rear-seat leg space adequate for adults only with front seats well forward. King Cab's two fold-down rear jump seats are small, tough to get to.

Cargo Room

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
1	3	3	2.5

Regular-cabs have typically limited in-cab storage, but Kings and Crews have useful cargo space.

Value within Class

XE reg. cab 2WD, 4 cyl auto.	SE King Cab 4WD, man.	SC Crew Cab 4WD, man.	Class Average
3	3	5	6.2

Changes for 2001 are mostly cosmetic, giving this basically solid but unexciting truck a fresh face. Crew Cab body style and supercharged V6 are Frontier's main attractions and are a combination worth considering.

Total Score