Acceleration

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
3	4	4	4.6

S/Cs are the fastest Frontiers, but still aren't much quicker than most V6 rivals. Test 2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed with automatic transmission did 9.3 sec 0-60 mph. Test V6 manual-transmission 2WD King Cab needed 11.2 sec. The 4-cyl models are sluggish.

Fuel Economy

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
3	2	2	4.1

Test supercharged Crew Cab long beds averaged 13.5-14.7 mpg. A 4WD King Cab with base V6 and manual transmission averaged 14.0 mpg. Nissan recommends premium-grade fuel for the supercharged V6, regular for the other engines.

Ride Quality

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
3	4	4	3.6

Among the more-comfortable small pickups, with little impact harshness on sharp bumps. Still, as with any truck, ride can be choppy on rough or broken surfaces, especially without a load. Crew Cab long bed's 131-inch wheelbase matches Dodge Dakota's as longest in class, and helps smooth ride motions some.

Steering/Handling/Braking

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
3	4	4	3.3

Cornering lean evident in any model, as is rear-end hop with an empty cargo bed. Supercharged models' stiffer sport suspension doesn't help handling much. Steering too heavy, annoyingly numb, and slow. Have not yet tested a Frontier with the antiskid option, but it seems a worthy plus.

Quietness

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
3	3	3	3.5

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

Controls

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	6

Industrial-looking dashboard matched by utilitarian cab decor with drab fabrics and too much cheap-looking plastic. Simple control layout works well enough, but main gauges are in deep coves and hard to read unless illuminated by engaging headlamps.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	4.1

Generous space for 6-footers, but standard seats too low for some, so available height-adjustment feature is welcome. Lower step-in for easier entry/exit than some rivals, but optional running boards impede the process.

Room/Comfort (rear)

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
2	3	3	1.9

King Cab's side-facing, fold-down rear jump seat is small and tough to access because the cab lacks the rear-hinged back doors available on many rivals. Even Crew Cab entry/exit is awkward and there's not much room once aboard; leg space adequate for adults only if front seats are well forward, and toe room is tight.

Cargo Room

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
3	3	3	3.1

Useful space behind front seats in both cab styles, but access harder in King Cabs due to lack of rear doors, though they do include a rear storage bin.

Value within Class

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
3	5	5	6

Frontier is a run-of-the-mill small pickup, feeling quite dated despite several years of mechanical upgrades and added features. King Cabs that are priced below most competitors' regular cabs, and the supercharged Crew Cabs with available antiskid system, are Frontier's main attractions.

Total Score

4WD XE-V6 King Cab, man.	2WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	4WD S/C Crew Cab long bed, auto.	Class Average
32	37	37	40.2

Scores for all Compact Pickup Trucks

Low Score		32
Average Score		40
High Score		56