2006 Nissan Frontier Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

This compact pickup truck offers two cab styles, both with four doors. King Cabs have small rear-hinged back doors that don't open independently of the fronts. Crew Cabs have four conventional doors. Kings have flip-up rear seats and a 6.1-ft-long cargo bed. Crews have a rear bench seat and a 5-ft bed. Both come as SE, LE, and NISMO models with a 265-hp V6. King Cabs add a base XE model with a 154-hp 4-cyl. Manual transmission is standard: a 5-speed with the 4-cyl, a 6-speed with the V6. A 5-speed automatic is optional. All Frontiers are available with rear-wheel drive or with 4WD that includes low-range gearing but should not be left engaged on dry pavement. ABS is standard. Front side airbags and curtain side airbags for both seating rows are optional. So is traction/antiskid control. The NISMO is named for Nissan's motorsports arm and comes with heavy-duty off-road equipment. A factory spray-in bedliner is available, as is Nissan's Utili-Track cargo-bed system with adjustable tie-downs. Leather upholstery is an exclusive option for LE Crew Cabs and includes heated power front seats.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Pickups offer a true-truck design in a relatively modest package. They are best suited for personal or light-duty use rather than commercial use, heavy hauling, or towing.

Our Best Buy is Toyota Tacoma. Our Recommended picks include Dodge Dakota and Honda Ridgeline.

New or significantly redesigned models include Isuzu i-280/i-350 and Mitsubishi Raider.

News

Frontier's 2006 redesign should stay pretty much as is for the next couple of years. At most, look for a few new options and maybe a special "package" model or two.

2006 Nissan Frontier Road Test

Pros	Cons

Acceleration (V6)	Interior materials

	Maneuverability

	Rear-seat room

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	4.8

Only V6 models made available for test so far. Class-leading horsepower makes them strong from a stop and around town, especially the lighter King Cabs. Automatic transmission kicks down quickly for good midrange passing punch. Maximum towing capacity is 5000 lb.

Fuel Economy

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	4

Test automatic-transmission 4WD Crew Cab averaged 14.5 mpg. Nissan recommends regular-grade fuel for both engines.

Ride Quality

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	4.3

Firm, but absorbent. Sharp ridges register, but don't jar. Typical trucklike bounding, jiggle over bumps is quickly quelled. Various tire sizes make little difference to comfort.

Steering/Handling/Braking

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	3.9

Nicely balanced for a pickup truck. Steering weighty, direct, but slow enough to frustrate in tight U-turns and parking spots. Body lean evident in corners but well-controlled, and Frontier never feels tippy.

Quietness

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	4.4

V6 growls at full throttle, but isn't unduly loud. Wind rush evident over 60 mph, rises sharply with speed. Tires drone on coarse pavement, and NISMO's all-terrain tires whine at highway speeds.

Controls

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	5.8

Simple, handy layout. Controls within easy reach, but feel light and plasticky. Hard plastic abounds on dashboard, console, door panels, and looks low-buck; other cabin materials predictably workmanlike.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	5.2

Good six-footer head and leg room. Seats comfortable, but need more side bolstering to hold front passengers in place through turns. Wide-base windshield pillars can hinder visibility to front corners; good views to rear corners, directly aft.

Room/Comfort (rear)

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
2	3	3	2.5

King Cab's rear seats best used for small cargo; only preteens will fit. Crew Cab has more space, but leg room still kid-size with front seats even halfway back, and head room is tight for six-footers--especially beneath sunroof housing.

Cargo Room

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
3	3	3	3.7

Both cab types provide useful space behind front seats. Some thoughtful small-item storage up front, though console's shallow tray needs a rubber mat to keep objects from sliding around.

Value within Class

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6	6.2

Frontier carves out a nice niche for itself in the compact-pickup market with a powerful V6, middle of the pack size, and options that appeal to off-road enthusiasts. Ride and handling are also good for the class, but interiors disappoint with too much tacky plastic and subpar rear-seat room.

Total Score

2WD SE King Cab, V6 auto.	4WD LE Crew Cab, auto.	4WD NISMO Crew Cab, auto.	Class Average
45	46	46	44.8

Scores for all Compact Pickup Trucks

Low Score		32
Average Score		44
High Score		60

2006 Nissan Frontier Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 02/02/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

2WD XE King Cab extended cab, manual	$15,900	$15,038	$605

2WD XE King Cab extended cab, automatic	$16,950	$16,030	$605

2WD SE King Cab extended cab, manual	$19,100	$18,064	$605

2WD SE King Cab extended cab, automatic	$20,150	$19,057	$605

4WD SE King Cab extended cab, manual	$21,800	$20,389	$605

4WD SE King Cab extended cab, automatic	$22,850	$21,372	$605

2WD SE Crew Cab, manual	$20,950	$19,813	$605

2WD SE Crew Cab, automatic	$22,000	$20,806	$605

4WD SE Crew Cab, manual	$23,650	$22,120	$605

4WD SE Crew Cab, automatic	$24,700	$23,102	$605

2WD LE King Cab extended cab, automatic	$22,650	$21,184	$605

4WD LE King Cab extended cab, automatic	$25,350	$23,445	$605

2WD LE Crew Cab, automatic	$24,350	$22,774	$605

4WD LE Crew Cab, automatic	$27,000	$24,970	$605

2WD NISMO King Cab extended cab, automatic	$22,450	$20,997	$605

4WD NISMO King Cab extended cab, manual	$24,100	$22,289	$605

4WD NISMO King Cab extended cab, automatic	$25,150	$23,260	$605

2WD NISMO Crew Cab, automatic	$24,500	$22,915	$605

4WD NISMO Crew Cab, automatic	$27,200	$25,155	$605

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, front-seat active head restraints, tire-pressure monitor.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Power steering, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, fold-flat passenger seat, center console, cupholders, rear jump seats (King Cab), rear-hinged rear doors (King Cab), tachometer, visor mirrors, variable-intermittent wipers.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Tailgate lock, painted front bumper, chrome rear bumper.

Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires

Full-size spare tire, 235/75R15 tires.

SE adds to XE:

Powertrain

4.0-liter V6 engine, 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, split folding rear seat (Crew Cab), front-hinged rear doors (Crew Cab), AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, map lights, cargo-box light.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system (Crew Cab), rear privacy glass, sliding rear window, bedliner (Crew Cab), chrome front bumper.

Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires

Front tow hook, 265/70R16 white-letter tires, alloy wheels, 4WD adds: 4-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case.

LE King Cab adds to SE:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, height-adjustable driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, trip computer, illuminated visor mirrors.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Bedliner, step rails, fog lights.

Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires

265/65R17 tires.

LE Crew Cab adds to LE King Cab:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass, outside-temperature indicator, automatic headlights.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Roof rack, body-colored bumpers.

NISMO adds to SE:

Powertrain

Traction control, locking rear differential.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, height-adjustable driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, trip computer.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Fog lights.

Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires

Skid plates, off-road suspension, 265/75R16 white-letter tires, 4WD adds: 4-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case, 4-wheel traction control.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Preferred Pkg.
XE	$1,500	$1,301
Air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM/CD player, sliding rear window, rear privacy glass.

Power Pkg.
SE King Cab	$1,000	$867
SE Crew Cab	$1,150	$998
XE	$950	$825
Cruise control, interior air filter (SE), power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry. XE requires Preferred Pkg.

Audio Pkg.
LE/NISMO King Cab	$550	$478
AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, steering-wheel radio controls, theft-deterrent system w/alarm. NISMO requires Utility Bed Pkg.

Traction Pkg.
4WD LE	$700	$607
4WD NISMO automatic	$500	$433
Traction control, antiskid system, hill ascent/descent control.

Utility Bed Pkg.
NISMO King Cab	$700	$607
Bedliner, bed-rail caps, Utili-Track, tie-down cleats. Std. NISMO Crew Cab, LE.

Leather Pkg.
LE Crew Cab	$1,700	$1,474
Leather upholstery, heated front seats and mirrors, 8-way power driver seat, 4-way power passenger seat. Deletes fold-flat passenger seat. Requires power sunroof.

Rockford Fosgate Pkg.
LE/NISMO Crew Cab	$850	$738
Rockford Fosgate AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, steering-wheel radio controls. NISMO requires power sunroof.

Powertrain
Active Limited-Slip Braking System
SE, LE	$300	$260
Traction control. SE requires Power Pkg.

Safety
Side-Impact Airbag Pkg.
LE Crew Cab, LE King Cab, NISMO, SE, XE	$550	$478
Front side airbags, curtain side airbags. LE requires Active Limited-Slip Braking System or Traction Pkg.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Power sunroof
SE/LE Crew Cab	$700	$607
NISMO Crew Cab	$900	$780
NISMO includes roof rack. SE requires Power Pkg.

Cruise control
XE	$250	$217
Requires Preferred Pkg.

Satellite radio
LE, NISMO	$350	$304
King Cab requires Audio Pkg. Crew Cab requires Rockford Fosgate Pkg.

Floormats
LE Crew Cab, LE King Cab, NISMO, SE, XE	$90	$68


Appearance and Miscellaneous
Bed extender
LE Crew Cab, NISMO, SE, XE	$260	$194
NA LE King Cab.

Sliding bed extender
LE/NISMO King Cab, Crew Cab	$300	$320


Bedliner
King Cab	$430	$309
Std. LE, Crew Cab.

Sliding bed divider
LE, NISMO	$270	$202
NISMO King Cab requires Utility Bed Pkg.

Sliding floor tray
LE, NISMO	$220	$159
NISMO King cab requires Utility Bed Pkg.

Hard tonneau cover
SE, LE, NISMO	$1,060	$858


Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
Tow-hitch receiver
SE, LE, NISMO	$410	$314

2006 Nissan Frontier Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Nissan Frontier extended cab	Nissan Frontier crew cab

Wheelbase, in.	125.9	125.9

Overall Length, in.	205.5	205.5

Overall Width, in.	72.8	72.8

Overall Height, in.	68.7	70.1

Curb Weight, lbs.	3675	4226

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	--	--

Standard Payload, lbs.	1583	1482

Fuel Capacity, gals.	21.1	21.1

Seating Capacity	5	5

Front Head Room, in.	39.7	40.0

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.4	42.4

Rear Head Room, in.	38.3	38.7

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	25.4	33.6

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I4	dohc V6

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.5 /152	4.0 /241

Horsepower @ rpm.	154 @ 5200	265 @ 5600

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	173 @ 4400	284 @ 4000

Availability	Standard	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed manual	22/25	--/--

6-speed manual	--/--	17/21

5-speed automatic	19/24	16/20

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Nissan Frontier extended cab	Nissan Frontier crew cab

Front Impact, Driver	3	4

Front Impact, Passenger	3	4

Rollover Resistance	4	4

Side Impact, Driver	NA	5

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	NA	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	5/60,000	--

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	3/36,000	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: USA

Drivewheels: 4-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive

< 2006 Nissan Frontier Photos

Also in the 2006 Nissan Frontier Review:

Nissan Frontier

Nissan Frontier Road Test

Nissan Frontier Prices & Equipment

Nissan Frontier Specs & Safety

Nissan Frontier Photos

Nissan Frontier Full Review

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