@@MrTheguywiththemoney You shouldnt buy anything anyone recommends. You have to understand that every single one of us has bias even if we try not to. Also you dont know how much research they really did on particular vehicle or truck. For example Andrey said in a different video this new nissan has the most torque in its class when thats obviously not true. You should only buy based on your own recommendation after youve spent a couple weeks of research.
@Nd4SpdSe yeah it can be outdated. Old cheap materials and styling inside and out, incandescent lighting, same old headlights and taillights, none of the safety and technology offerings from the other brands.
Rugged- at a recent car show, Nissan showed a 2WD manual, 4cyl, still owned by the original owner who's a delivery driver and has over 1 million miles on it. Also, dual metal wall bed unlike some of the other midsize that now use a plastic liner as the 2nd wall. I was with a group in various trucks in the mountains north of Craig, CO a couple years ago, on an icy trail in October. Had to keep backing off so I wouldn't over run the trucks in front of me when going up the mountain (Cooper AT3's, didn't even have M+S tires). Watched the half a dozen trucks in front of me slipping, fish tailing and generally having problems climbing the whole time. The ol' Pro-4X didn't have those issues. In fact, I went about 1/2 mile further up the mtn than anyone else. Only thing xtra I wish it had come with is a back up camera.
People: Gosh, the engine and transmission are so old school, and it's such a dated chassis! Nissan: Sooo... Keep the truck a truck and a proper workhorse, but give the engine and transmission a refresh. Gotcha. Honestly I like this approach by Nissan. The chassis is beloved by all. The main gripe people had with it other than it "Looking outdated" is Miles/Gallon and the Transmission during towing. This is good stuff.
@Paul von Helger They say same platform,not the "newer Navara", so probably mostly new sheetmetal and interior, and this new powertrain, might be similar to what Toyota did to the Tacoma a few years back.
Problem with 8, 9 and 10 speed autos is they "hunt" for gears too much this truck doesn't need 9 gears that's just keeping up with the Joneses. A 6 speed would be just fine. The 5 speed in this truck though is bullet proof so we will see how this 9 speed holds up
I have 2018 Pro-4X. This is by far the best truck I've ever owned. My work has me driving 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport - and in direct comparison following are noted. 1. MPG - Pro-4X has the worst - I navigate through LA traffics and highways - average about 80~120 miles per day. Overall I get about 20 MPG with my loads. Toyota is slightly better at 22~24. 2. Weekend outing - Both are good trucks. But Nissan does everything just better - Its rear suspension holds against the roughest terrain that California can throw at it. 3. Ride quality - Better than Toyota. Tacoma feels tight and roof line hampers view (I'm only 5"8 and if you are over 6"2, you will hit your head on roof on off road in Tacoma). I am not saying Tacoma is bad, but Frontier is better. Both are good for long trip driving. 4. Reliability - Both are good - both have same problem of hearing squeaks (easily fixed with lube oil). Tacoma has some bugs with its infotainment system Entune crap, and so did with Pro-4X...Pro-4X actually do not have infotainment system. It will play your MP3 on your phones but don't expect more out of it - which is enough for me. 5. Power - Nissan beats Tacoma hands down. It is very responsive at cost of your MPG. I'm happy with Pro-4X. Its rock solid, hassle free and fast. If you can get it in a right price, get it.
My uncle had a 1990 Nissan hardbody with over 480,000 miles on it when it was totaled on the 10 fwy in L.A. That's one of the reasons I went with Nissan.
I'm usually a chevy guy, but I like simplicity. I want a rugged interior, I don't like having a millions sensors. That's why I ended up picking a frontier over every other truck in the market. My first Nissan. A lot of people think it's outdated, but I don't think so. I think it's just not overcomplicated, a little work truck built to do truck stuff.
I think Nissan is dropping this engine into the old model just to do a trial run for a year to see what the issues are with it. Real-world testing for the upcoming new model. Pretty slow for a mid-size truck. I wouldn't buy the first year of a completely redesigned engine. Gas mileage seems good. Let's hope they do a good job on the re-design of the Frontier.
Or because the new and old model will have the same frame. You have to remember Nissan is tight on money. Spending engineering to put an engine in for 1 year is not something a company with money issues would do unless they were going to be solar for the next gen.
Not a trial run. They are for sure using this engine. They are doing this because it will be easier to get the new engine production online and tweaked for the new body style. A new engine + all new truck is a lot of switch over.
That’s exactly what they’re doing, it’s so much easier to switch the body and frame first and keep the old running gear like all the other car companies do, this shows how little confidence Nissan actually has in this engine and transmission.
Or maybe we are just reading way too much in to this. Maybe this will help Nissan work out any bugs in the drivetrain before they drop it into an all new redesigned truck. ANY manufacturer will have some bugs to work out.
The turning radius leaves something to be desired but I’m very satisfied overall, this thing works and keeps working, reasonably priced and easy to work on yourself, it wont turn into a shitboat like a dodge ram after ten or 12 or so years.
I wish midsize trucks were more popular over here in America. I don’t understand the reason that a lot of Americans use full size trucks as daily drivers and say “it’s more capable” but are you really using it up to it’s capable limits driving home from the grocery store?
We LOVE our second Nissan Frontier black midnight edition 4x4, and loved the first also. The most massively underrated truck on the planet for the money. Between the two almost 250k without a breakdown. Oil changes, basic maintenance and tires. Also a complete beast in the snow.
I recently test drove all the mid size pickups except the Ridgeline, with my son who is truck shopping. I was expecting to experience some serious truck envy compared to my 2016 pro4x. Never happened. The only issue I have with my truck is the mpg. The Toyo has much better mpg, and I expected to really want one. But the Toyo also drives like a car, the power and torque requires higher rpm. The Nissan gives it to you right at the start. It's a truck, and it should behave like a truck. Frontier is one of the most underrated vehicles around.
Obviously you didn't test drive a Ford Ranger. It absolutely crushes the midsize competition in performance, in the real world and on paper. You don't want a pickup to have drastically higher horsepower versus pound feet of torque. That setup is intended for passenger cars, not pickups. You want your torque numbers slightly higher than your horsepower in a pickup, to achieve real world performance.
Last year I rented a brand new frontier SV with the 4.0v6 4x4. Drove it from Missoula MT to Fargo ND and then back to Missoula. Cruise set at 88mph in Montana and 80mph North Dakota.. I averaged 22mpg on the highway and 20mpg in town. The truck had 100 miles on it when I got it I liked it 👍
I bought my 2011 Frontier SV V6 in mid 2011. I needed to haul household garbage and most of all a 105 mile round trip commute for work. It now has 287,000 miles with only regular maintenance. It has good power although the engine sounds “buzzy” when you push it. Downsides? Average MPG has been 16.5 overall. The cargo space is VERY small. Put a 15” tool box on the bed and the most you can carry is two trash cans. Over all I think I got my Money’s worth.
I wouldn’t consider direct injection to be an improvement in terms of longevity. The old 4.0 was perfected over the years...practically bulletproof. DI motors universally have the issue of carbon build up in the combustion chamber. Some of the better engineered ones have added fuel injectors for the express purpose of cleaning the valves so this doesn’t happen as quickly...I’m not sure if this new Nissan 3.8 has that design, but let’s be honest...Nissan as of late has a terrible track record with quality on recently designed products.
DI is also harder to get a desirable idle characteristic. Adding port injection allows cleaning of the runners but also allows for much better idle characteristics. DI is much better for making power though, even more with forces induction. It’s surprising that they didn’t go with both.
The lack of port injection for carbon control would rule it out for me. Real world experience by other manufacturers has shown that it is required for longevity.
Yep. Ford has both di and pi yet we get this new 3.8 from nissan which is not an upgrade from the 4.0 and now it has di but not pi. Maybe they designed it in such a way that carbon build up is a very small issue, who knows. Other than that the only good thing about this new drive train is the 9spd.
I wouldn't be too worried about the direct injection part of it. Nissan has had direct injection engines in Japan for more than 10 years. and since 2011 in the US with the 5.6L engines that were put in a couple different Infiniti vehicles.
I just purchased the new 2021 Frontier SV last week and I absolutely love it. The engine is very powerful and the transmission is very smooth shifting through the gears effortlessly 👌 anybody sitting on the fence thinking about purchasing this truck should pull the trigger and get it. You definitely won't be disappointed!
Keep in mind that CAT Scales are consistently -500 lbs off from true weights! That way, any truck that weighs anywhere near maximum axle weights will show as being overweight. The truck drivers are guaranteed to pass at weigh stations if they are 500 lbs underweight of the maximum 40,000 lbs allowed for normal trucks with 53 ft trailers. I used to run the truck scales at a plant nearby where we kept our scales calibrated to the same weight standards as Georgia weigh stations along the Interstates. I've had many truck drivers compare their CAT Scale printouts with ours and the difference was consistently -500 lbs. So, any time you get weighed at a CAT Scale, add 500 LB to get your true weight!
If they are guaranteed certified they only have to be within 1% accurate that's 800 on certified scales 500lbs is not an issue that anyone including the ticket writers would write. I calibrate load cells for a living, certified ones!
I own a 16’ SV crew cab that was likely a rental before, the simplicity is my favorite part, its very cheap to maintain and very easy to work on yourself
When looking at mileage in the real world, you need to take into account 1. MPG decreases with altitude 2. Base mileage testing is without heat or air 3. Testing is done on a dyno, or flat level ground w no wind resistance. 4. Combined is 55% city and 45% highway If you get within 1 MPG of the rating in Colorado, that's pretty darn good.
The MPG isn't even that impressive though, I can get 20mpg at 80mph in 5.0L V8 4X4 F-150 and that's with two extra cylinders and almost 100hp more that's pushing a larger heavier vehicle down the road.
@@scottgas1299 From what i logged on my scanner: throttle on the old 4.0L engine was limited to 60% in first gear until about 35mph, and then between 35 and 40mph the throttle gradually opened from 60 to 100%.
I feel like pairing the 9 speed to the 4L would have been easier, and netted the same improvements. Edit: Wish they offered a 6 speed manual with this new engine.
I have the same truck with the VQ, last tank was 21.1 mpg, one before was 19.5. I trend from about 18 to 22 real world. When I drove it back home when I bought it I managed a 26 mpg fill up. All verified at the pump ;)
My 2020 SV model is not getting those numbers (more like 18-19 MPG) and about 3 MPG less than the trip computer. I am pretty much at sea level. (Florida)
Has Nissan figured out how to build a radiator that doesn't leak coolant into the trans cooler? Also, it's a brand new truck that looks 20 years old and costs as much as a full size.
Thanks for the great video! I really like my 2015 Frontier king cab,, 4.0L, SV, 4X4. I bought it new. Yesterday I achieved my best MPG so far on a trip. 26MPG. 49,000 miles on it so far. Never a problem with my truck. Previously Id get 24 MPG on a trip.
I like that truck. Bought it twice over a Taco. Hope the new one isn’t bloated like all the other brands. It’s the only long bed that can fit in my garage.
26mpg wouldnt surprise me. my 07 frontier 4.0 5auto was getting 21mpg@63mph on the 59 mile drive home from work today. and thats with a ladder rack, a 32 foot ladder, a 20 foot ladder, and a little giant strapped to the top and the bed loaded with roofing material and tools.
Minimal improvement in the same old truck. I wonder why they had to design a whole new engine just for that. I bet they could get the same results by bolting up that 9-spd to the old 4.0L.
I think the new fronter is going to be somewhat related to the old frontier so they put it in early. I'm sure they didn't waste a ton of money just to fit a new engine in a frontier that's going to be completely changed next year. So the old and new frontier will probably share frames or something.
I think I would have preferred they bolted it to the 4.0L that engine is tried and true. But at 70MPH on the 5 speed auto its spinning at 2000 RPM + MPG at those speeds would come in around 17-18. So this is a marked improvement but it seems like its more the tranny than the engine.
I drove my v6 2011 Frontier crew cab from Pensacola, Florida to South Dakota. It was great for the long haul. Total mileage for the trip was about 4,500 miles. I got great gas mileage, averaged about 22 mpg’s. Normal everyday driving which is part city and part country I get about 20 mpg. Love this truck. I’ll buy a new one when mine dies, which will be a while.
@@ohboy2592How exactly is 310 hp "low" in a small truck? Have you forgotten that was once decent for a v8? My 87 d21 has 106 hp and hauls anything I put in the bed.
Love this truck, I own a 2020 pro-4x and love the day to day driving experience. The wide leather seats are a totally under appreciated aspect of driving this guy. Sure, competitors can tow/haul a few more lbs but if we’re talking $$$, new powertrain/older styling for $35k and 0.09% APR, I have zero complaints. Factor in the Covid bump on my used trade-in and I’m more than comfortable to ride my frontier into the sunset.
That's what nobody here seems to understand lol. This new engine/trans will be very close, or slightly better, than the other trucks in its class when tested at sea level.
Skyline RS400 I timed almost exactly 10 seconds in a 2018 SV 4x4 at 4,500ft. I timed it with a dragy. Felt quicker than that but idk. Turbos and electric motors sure help a lot up here.
Just some food for thought. When Andre pumps fuel in the truck, the gallons are 2.659. This is BEFORE the 30 second wait and additional fuel is put in. If you divide 2.659 by 66 miles, that's 24.8 MPG. The truck was showing 24.6 - within 2 tenths. Now yes, I understood the additional fuel is put in after a 30 second wait, but, the accuracy of the pumps and how the truck figures may be more accurate actually. Just throwing it out there.
The Frontier was class leading when it was introduced many, many years ago. I'm pretty sure that is why Ford discontinued the Ranger soon afterward. Not doing a complete redesign but simply updating the tech has kept it relevant and very affordable. I always liked this generation Frontier and it's still excellent value considering the bloated price of the competition. After all, it is just a truck. A great work truck. I really, really can't stand the "Gentleman's Truck" b.s. that is so popular.
Exactly. That's why I bought it. Plus I was a previous Nissan owner so it felt okay to me. It's more of a classic design like a Jeep Wrangler. It doesn't really need a redesign. Heck, the F-150 has the same basic profile, they've just added higher trim levels and the aluminum construction, but it's the same basic rectangular profile since 2004.
Agreed. While there are a few things I don't like about it it's exactly what a truck should be, A TRUCK. The dash design and stero could have been improved but that's really the only gripes I have with it. But overall my Pro-4X is a great truck and I wouldn't take one of the others. I don't think I'd even trade it for one with this new engine/transmission.
I see two things. The reason why you didn't see a huge difference in acceleration is due to the torque of the new engine being the same as the old. The extra gears in the transmission did more to help your acceleration as it kept you in the engine's happy place. The extra horsepower is little more than your ability to keep a load moving once it's up to speed on hills. I think you would see more of a difference on the Ike between the old and new engines. As for the discrepancy on the weight. I think you're forgetting that the rating will include passengers. So, two 150ish pound passengers, gives you your approximately 300 pound difference.
We have the frontier in England, it's called the Navara Thing is you Americans get the one that looks the same as 2004, we get an all new truck that came out in 2016 which is also the basis for the mercedes benz x class
@Whiskey Earned they could have at least sent the facelift bumpers, fenders, hood and lights over to freshen up the look I was scrolling through the videos and saw this branded as new 2020 and I was thinking really? That old heap?
@@scott8238 Well the look of the truck made me think this was some old 2009 pos that I'm used to seeing around England all dented and rusted, didn't think America still had the ancient body style As for the frame, it's the same F Alpha platform from 04 to now, I was on about the cosmetics
@Paul von Helger Frontier is basically the previous generation Navara (D40). Platform is international and did duty in various models across the world.
Hi all. I just purchased a 2020 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Midnight edition and just love it. It has so much power and the 9 speed transmission is just right. I know it's a very dated design but it's just what we were looking for and the price was just right. This truck is for overlanding purposes and I'm sure it will do just fine for several years to come. I can't wait to lift it and make it more off road worthy.
I would love to see what the accerlation is at a normal elevation. With the old engine, the truck went 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds or better. Closer to 7.0 seconds if you remove the wide open throttle restriction. Speaking of that, I wonder if this truck still has that WOT restriction. I would guess that it probably does, but who knows.
@@AyGrom Throttle-by-wire 4.0L Nissan Frontiers and xterras are limited to 60% throttle until about 40mph in first gear. The Titans and Armadas are also limited, but i am not sure how much, and it might just be the 2wd versions of those vehicles. easy fix with a tuner. I use the bully-dog tuner because you can enable wide open throttle, and leave everything else stock tuning. Btw, i have recently drove one of the Frontiers with the new engine, and i can confirm that does indeed have significant WOT restriction in first gear, and possibly part of second gear as well (first gear is very short). unfortunately i didn't log any data to get more precise numbers.
Bradford Ramm everyone wants better mpg and numbers on paper. But it’ll come at the cost in $ and reliability which is just what happens with new tech. I had a ‘11 pathfinder and ‘15 frontier. Nearly identical but the frontier ( a higher trim package) had cheaper interior. Nissan has been way behind on this for a while.
Nd4SpdSe I 100% agree I had an SV value truck package and it had just enough stuff. Now I have a sr5 tundra and it’s got all I need. Leather is the only nice the only thing I’d like to have. My wife’s Acura has navigation and heated seats and power lift gate and all that and I don’t care about any of it.
Definitely not the prettiest truck compared to most 2020 midsize trucks, but for the price and reliable reputation of the Frontier it’s a great value buy.
Nissan did this to test if it receives good feedback before they deploy it on their next Frontier model. They're also testing the waters on whether a more powerful gasoline engine could replace a diesel engine. They used a v6 to meet the torque level of a 4cyl diesel engine, all in the effort to give the car a powerful engine in order to be more "relaxed" than a 4cyl gasoline which would surely need a lot of foot digging to ring out the power needed to go about truck duties. Having a more powerful engine allows the driver to receive the output they need without squeezing the throttle too much, taking advantage of useable low-end torque as they intend to do this with the effect of the stoichiometric advantage-- not having to ring out rpms too high. Soon, manufacturers will turn to torqier gasoline engines to replace and avoid the much more complex and nature-bound problem of diesel engines and their problem with emissions, as well as the equipment that do make them more finicky just to meet environmental standards (dpfs, cats, egrs, etc.). As much as I do love diesel engines, it just seems that this is the way the industry is going for the sake of reliability and most importantly, emmissions regulations.
I have a 2021 King Cab S. I just did a trip from Baton Rouge to Jackson,MS. I was able to achieve 25.82 mpg through the hand calculation. I kept speeds at around 65mph, and didn't really use A/C. The truck was empty except for me and a 50lbs tool box in the cab. Definitely happy with the mpg. I'm looking forward to maybe getting 26-27 mpg once the truck is broken in.
My 2015 frontier did a 6.6 0to60 with afe exhaust and k&n air filter! I am a lot closer to sea level than you! Altitude kills acceleration times! Thanks for the video! Good Job!
That truck is what we in the UK called the Nissan Navara, but the model we had about 10 years ago, they have since changed it twice if I am not mistaken, that interior reminds me of a Nissan my Mother had in 2011, the steering wheel is identical, that's the first time I have not been jealous of a car you have in the US! Seriously, search Nissan Navara UK spec and see for yourselves.
Nissan couldn’t even change the grille or anything? The Tundra is the king of putting a different color of lipstick on the same old truck. Heck, put on some white wagon wheels, stripes and a headache bar, and resurrect the Hardbody from the 80s. That would sell.
GVWR discrepancy isnt unique to Nissan Ford does it too with their 2.7 and 5.0l equipped f-150s. It's just far more complex to figure due to the F-150 having 3 different chassis, two different rear ends, and about three or four coil spring rates for the front. One note, curb weight includes a full tank and a 150 lb driver. Still, that should be a 1200 lb payload rating.
@@TheSmittysGarage No not necessarily- power to weight ratio changes the fuel economy as well. Most people who vk56 swap experience an increase in fuel economy when they keep their foot off the gas.
Yet another great review. Always well done. Absolutely nothing wrong with the frontier, great upgrade on the engine and transmission plus a very reasonable price. Will be interesting to see the new model.
It's a pig. Can achieve 20 MPG running 80 mph down the interstate in Fords V8 5.0L with 4WD. A much more capable pickup and 100 more horsepower than this pathetic pig.
@@alienation-k1x Ford inflates there MPGs if u only trust the instant MPGs aren't accurate as he showed with checking the math that Ford is probably getting 18 in reality so get off your high horse
alienation Nissan is ugly but I know it’s a better truck because everyone and everything I read said it is not the ford they hate it but Nissan is so dam ugly
For those worried about the new transmissions reliability, its not a jatco unit, its a Mercedes 9G-Tronic automatic. Mercedes has a long history of making solid reliable transmissions and selling them to other manufacturers such as the 5G-Tronic that was used across Chrysler vehicles in the 2000s. It's built in jatcos factory but its a mercedes design
I am impressed with the fuel 'mileage' numbers,...and also the cruising RPM numbers too. I also really liked how comfortable my 2010 4.0 was on long drives. I can only hope and wish that the new body style will maintain the comfortable seating etc. as well as be able to keep or improve on those fuel consumption levels. I am not quite ready yet to buy a new daily driver vehicle , so I will be waiting with more than idle curiosity to see what Andre & Company can find out on the 'NEW' Frontier as time marches on. Thanks for this one, Andre!
I think Nissan did the upgrades for the wrong reasons (going with a bigger engine). And a word of advice for TFL trucks review. I think this review and many out there lacks the main components leading a customer to purchases a mid-size truck. I would buy a mid-size truck for its fuel consumption, turning radius, durability (transmission type, engine timing belt vs chain..etc), serviceability, operation comfort and usability. None of these issues were clearly highlighted against its peers. And to a lesser degree for the 4WD the off-road capabilities (clearance, differential lock, etc). Speed of the truck will not cross my mind when buying one.
Hey can you guys do a comparison of the 2019 f150 5.0 and the ranger 2.3 since there is only 1400 lb difference in the tow capability of these two. Test them on the Ike Gauntlet.
Disappointed Nissan has cut out the extra gauges below the speedo and tach, I always loved how they gave that extra information. I guess oil pressure and voltage aren’t important to know, they will give you a light when something is wrong.
Did it do any searching for gears? I test drove the Tacoma a week or so ago, and it was searching for gears going down the highway. It was really annoying, I won’t be getting in automatic in a Toyota that’s for sure. But I am going to wait until the 2021 Frontier’s come out, to test drive them.
I agree going to wait on 2021 dbl cab LB Frontier myself, I am still driving a 06 Tacoma OR Acc Lb, the new Tacomas have a lot of problems 2nd gen didn't have.
The real question though: When is 0-60 ever useful? How about 30-60 or 40-75? Not hating, btw, I love my Fronty(Muffler delete-side dump behind passenger door-Nismo 6 SPD) She pulls hard, and is a blast to drive, especially in the wet...
I've had 2 frontiers. 1 extra cab 2008 on 33s its was really sweet looking off road like a champ. Then got married puppies bought a 2012 crew cab left it stock. I could creep on highway get 25 mpg, but avg 22. They are billy goats off road very torque rich at least with old engine. Fun to drive around, but dang, that interior was dull and cheap as crap. Seats are actually very wide and great for very long trips, back..... well sitting in a church pew Congress to mind. Need to make them recline lol more. Hopefully nissan can get out of the tail spin they've been in. And get their truck line ups more ad space and keep a fresher face then 16 years, frontier, and 6 years late titan. Great work Andrea, you bring the excitement every time
Seems like an interesting improvement to me. Increased HP and MPG.As for the haters ain't nothing Nissan does gonna be good enough for them. Although if their favorite brand did the same they would be loving it. Now hopefully they sell it at a somewhat/relatively affordable price.Then sell enough to stay in the truck business. Competition in the market is good for consumers.
Justin Luttrell Well lets be honest. The F150 is a tin can on a frame. I think the most you can outift it is around 5k pounds. The lightest configuration is around 4k pounds. The Ford V8 also makes 2 times the power as the Frontiers motor so really there is no question.
@@MikeW1981 Sorry my bad. The torque figures. The V8 Fords make about 400 and his truck weighs about the same or less as a frontier. This goes for the same as all midsized trucks. Of course, a bigger engine and roughly the same weight is going to be fast duh. I have a 2012 3.5 EcoBoost and a Frontier. The ford is much faster just do to the sheer power it has in reserve for towing. It's always been like this for Midsized trucks and Full-sized alike. More power = More speed especially if they weigh the same lol
Would like to see the mileage if it was setup like my 2010 Pro-4X which gets about 20.2 on the highway. AEM dry flow filter All synthetic oils. Soft tonneau cover. Bulldog tune for efficeincy.
This testing was done in CO a mile above sea level. Ranger, being turbocharged does have a big advantage at altitude. At sea level Ranger will do it in about 6.8, whereas the Frontier will do it in 7.6. Ranger is still the champ for 0-60 in this segment.
Willie Lmao the Ford Ranger is the worst midsized. The old ass Nissan outsells the Ranger..... I'd rather not have to take the tire off to change the oil but that's just me. Ford rules the full-sized segment but in the midsized, they have no chance.
Great review..... Having more gears is nice, but the performance numbers aren't much better. Hook them tail to tail with a chain and see which one has more grunt. I bet the 4.0 would win that.
@@rkalla cold air should get 15 hp 15 torq exhaust maybe 5 hp 5 torq pedal commander would clean up throttle and maybe fuel economy some like 1mpg maybe bullydog tuner gets into ecu and picks up another 15 hp and 15 torq which in all honesty if it's 310 and high 200s torq you should get about 330 300 ish in mods for under 1k that's pretty good given fact Texas and bama flat Landers can probably see 25 to 27mpg lifted see 15 to 17
@@jshapiro34 all of that stuff will add ZERO power. Cold air intake wont do shit. Modern intakes are already perfect cold air intakes. They're not a restriction. Exhaust wont even give you 5 hp. The only way to get power there is to remove the cat. The only other benefit an exhaust can give is minor weight savings. A tune would be the best for power but this engine will see max 15 to 20hp. Transmission tuning would help too.
Wow they squeezed a whopping 2 more horsepower over the 3.6 in the Colorado/Canyon for this engine for the crown title of "class leading". Bravo Nissan.
In my experience (I have a 2016 SV), the difference between the All-terrain tires on the frontier and the all-season tires is worth about 2 mpg. I had the BF Goodrich Rugged Terrain tires for a while, OEM were the Long Trails, then went with the Hankook Dynapro all-seasons. Get this in the SV instead of the Pro-4X, which is good enough for most people, and you'll get closer to 24-25 highway mpg.
I have a 2019 Frontier SV King cab (bought new) with the Hankook Dynapros and I've never been able to get better than 21 mpg no matter how I drive it. Most of the time it's in the 16-18 mpg range. I blame the 5 spd auto...overdrive spins the engine way too fast. Engine is turning about 1900 rpm at 65 mph...engine has plenty of torque to do the same thing at about 1600 rpms. That would give you an extra 2-3 mpg for sure. A six spd auto would have been nice. I even looked into changing the axle gear ratios, but there is no better option available than what I already have. All that said I do really like my Frontier, but fuel mileage is disappointing.
on my 5.6L pathfinder the on-board estimate is within a tenth on nearly every fill-up. Obviously the problem here is their silly 2-click method. checking at the pump is accurate enough when you are filling 15-20 gallons, but when it's only 3....not even close. you have to give or take 1/4 gallon at least! which would give us an accuracy range of 21mpg to 24.9mpg. and with a wide range like that the test is hardly worth doing.
I trust TFL way more than Motortrend or Car and Driver.
Yeah, until you buy something they recommend and it turns out to be a POS
@@MrTheguywiththemoney This comment makes no sense but neither does your username.
@@MrTheguywiththemoney You shouldnt buy anything anyone recommends. You have to understand that every single one of us has bias even if we try not to. Also you dont know how much research they really did on particular vehicle or truck. For example Andrey said in a different video this new nissan has the most torque in its class when thats obviously not true. You should only buy based on your own recommendation after youve spent a couple weeks of research.
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If it's not the wagon version of a sedan, then Car and Driver doesn't like it. Or a 3-series. Has to be a 3-series. As a wagon.
It’s such a rugged simple truck. Outdated yes. But I kinda love it. In my opinion it’s really what a small truck should be.
it helps that it's the only truly small truck left. even it's way bigger than the small trucks of the 80s and 90s.
@Nd4SpdSe yeah it can be outdated. Old cheap materials and styling inside and out, incandescent lighting, same old headlights and taillights, none of the safety and technology offerings from the other brands.
Interior is trash but I love the size of it. Perfect truck.
I like my 13
Rugged- at a recent car show, Nissan showed a 2WD manual, 4cyl, still owned by the original owner who's a delivery driver and has over 1 million miles on it. Also, dual metal wall bed unlike some of the other midsize that now use a plastic liner as the 2nd wall.
I was with a group in various trucks in the mountains north of Craig, CO a couple years ago, on an icy trail in October. Had to keep backing off so I wouldn't over run the trucks in front of me when going up the mountain (Cooper AT3's, didn't even have M+S tires). Watched the half a dozen trucks in front of me slipping, fish tailing and generally having problems climbing the whole time. The ol' Pro-4X didn't have those issues. In fact, I went about 1/2 mile further up the mtn than anyone else.
Only thing xtra I wish it had come with is a back up camera.
People: Gosh, the engine and transmission are so old school, and it's such a dated chassis!
Nissan: Sooo... Keep the truck a truck and a proper workhorse, but give the engine and transmission a refresh. Gotcha.
Honestly I like this approach by Nissan. The chassis is beloved by all. The main gripe people had with it other than it "Looking outdated" is Miles/Gallon and the Transmission during towing. This is good stuff.
It will be refreshed next year. So if you like it like that better buy it this year.
@Paul von Helger They say same platform,not the "newer Navara", so probably mostly new sheetmetal and interior, and this new powertrain, might be similar to what Toyota did to the Tacoma a few years back.
And the turning radius. THE TURNING RADIUS FOR GODS SAKE. I hope that improves it’s terrible
Rayet Merlin it’s not an "approach" it’s Nissan being lazy.
Problem with 8, 9 and 10 speed autos is they "hunt" for gears too much this truck doesn't need 9 gears that's just keeping up with the Joneses. A 6 speed would be just fine. The 5 speed in this truck though is bullet proof so we will see how this 9 speed holds up
I have 2018 Pro-4X. This is by far the best truck I've ever owned.
My work has me driving 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport - and in direct comparison following are noted.
1. MPG - Pro-4X has the worst - I navigate through LA traffics and highways - average about 80~120 miles per day. Overall I get about 20 MPG with my loads. Toyota is slightly better at 22~24.
2. Weekend outing - Both are good trucks. But Nissan does everything just better - Its rear suspension holds against the roughest terrain that California can throw at it.
3. Ride quality - Better than Toyota. Tacoma feels tight and roof line hampers view (I'm only 5"8 and if you are over 6"2, you will hit your head on roof on off road in Tacoma). I am not saying Tacoma is bad, but Frontier is better. Both are good for long trip driving.
4. Reliability - Both are good - both have same problem of hearing squeaks (easily fixed with lube oil). Tacoma has some bugs with its infotainment system Entune crap, and so did with Pro-4X...Pro-4X actually do not have infotainment system. It will play your MP3 on your phones but don't expect more out of it - which is enough for me.
5. Power - Nissan beats Tacoma hands down. It is very responsive at cost of your MPG.
I'm happy with Pro-4X. Its rock solid, hassle free and fast. If you can get it in a right price, get it.
My uncle had a 1990 Nissan hardbody with over 480,000 miles on it when it was totaled on the 10 fwy in L.A.
That's one of the reasons I went with Nissan.
Wow, excellent comparison! Thanks👍
My experience as well. It does what a truck should. At 6'2" I am comfortable. Cost of ownership is much lower then trucks with higher MPG.
Have you owned a Dodge Ram? Much better truck IMO if you're mostly doing on-road work.
Husky Dinosaur ram is garbage
I'm usually a chevy guy, but I like simplicity. I want a rugged interior, I don't like having a millions sensors. That's why I ended up picking a frontier over every other truck in the market. My first Nissan. A lot of people think it's outdated, but I don't think so. I think it's just not overcomplicated, a little work truck built to do truck stuff.
I had a 2017 frontier, i bought it knowing it was outdated, but Nissan got it right.
I think Nissan is dropping this engine into the old model just to do a trial run for a year to see what the issues are with it. Real-world testing for the upcoming new model. Pretty slow for a mid-size truck. I wouldn't buy the first year of a completely redesigned engine. Gas mileage seems good. Let's hope they do a good job on the re-design of the Frontier.
Or because the new and old model will have the same frame. You have to remember Nissan is tight on money. Spending engineering to put an engine in for 1 year is not something a company with money issues would do unless they were going to be solar for the next gen.
@@dillonh321 The frame is the strongest in the midsize segment currently so they will just tweak it slightly.
Not a trial run. They are for sure using this engine. They are doing this because it will be easier to get the new engine production online and tweaked for the new body style. A new engine + all new truck is a lot of switch over.
That’s exactly what they’re doing, it’s so much easier to switch the body and frame first and keep the old running gear like all the other car companies do, this shows how little confidence Nissan actually has in this engine and transmission.
Or maybe we are just reading way too much in to this. Maybe this will help Nissan work out any bugs in the drivetrain before they drop it into an all new redesigned truck. ANY manufacturer will have some bugs to work out.
The Frontier needed only one update, imo... the interior. That's it!
no. its what a truck is supposed to be. simple. not leather high tich interior bullshit
They updated the redline :)
The turning radius leaves something to be desired but I’m very satisfied overall, this thing works and keeps working, reasonably priced and easy to work on yourself, it wont turn into a shitboat like a dodge ram after ten or 12 or so years.
I wish midsize trucks were more popular over here in America. I don’t understand the reason that a lot of Americans use full size trucks as daily drivers and say “it’s more capable” but are you really using it up to it’s capable limits driving home from the grocery store?
We LOVE our second Nissan Frontier black midnight edition 4x4, and loved the first also. The most massively underrated truck on the planet for the money. Between the two almost 250k without a breakdown. Oil changes, basic maintenance and tires. Also a complete beast in the snow.
I recently test drove all the mid size pickups except the Ridgeline, with my son who is truck shopping. I was expecting to experience some serious truck envy compared to my 2016 pro4x. Never happened. The only issue I have with my truck is the mpg. The Toyo has much better mpg, and I expected to really want one. But the Toyo also drives like a car, the power and torque requires higher rpm. The Nissan gives it to you right at the start. It's a truck, and it should behave like a truck. Frontier is one of the most underrated vehicles around.
Obviously you didn't test drive a Ford Ranger. It absolutely crushes the midsize competition in performance, in the real world and on paper. You don't want a pickup to have drastically higher horsepower versus pound feet of torque. That setup is intended for passenger cars, not pickups. You want your torque numbers slightly higher than your horsepower in a pickup, to achieve real world performance.
Ranger - 4cyl/turbo 🤔
You can keep that !
@@alienation-k1x That's what the 4 liter has, 280 pound ft.
Last year I rented a brand new frontier SV with the 4.0v6 4x4. Drove it from Missoula MT to Fargo ND and then back to Missoula. Cruise set at 88mph in Montana and 80mph North Dakota.. I averaged 22mpg on the highway and 20mpg in town. The truck had 100 miles on it when I got it I liked it 👍
This is why I hope they don’t change too much on it - just update the stuff that’s gotten dated and let her rip.
I bought my 2011 Frontier SV V6 in mid 2011. I needed to haul household garbage and most of all a 105 mile round trip commute for work. It now has 287,000 miles with only regular maintenance. It has good power although the engine sounds “buzzy” when you push it. Downsides? Average MPG has been 16.5 overall. The cargo space is VERY small. Put a 15” tool box on the bed and the most you can carry is two trash cans. Over all I think I got my Money’s worth.
Buzzy? Your timing chain might be going out. Congrats on the 287k. I'm sitting at 135k in my 2011 sv
East_Tex_Will I think it’s fine, it’s sounded like that from the beginning.
@@east_tex_will8264 No; worn timing chain guides will sound like a supercharger on a cold start with the old 4.0L
I wouldn’t consider direct injection to be an improvement in terms of longevity. The old 4.0 was perfected over the years...practically bulletproof. DI motors universally have the issue of carbon build up in the combustion chamber. Some of the better engineered ones have added fuel injectors for the express purpose of cleaning the valves so this doesn’t happen as quickly...I’m not sure if this new Nissan 3.8 has that design, but let’s be honest...Nissan as of late has a terrible track record with quality on recently designed products.
Amen, unfortunately :(
DI is also harder to get a desirable idle characteristic. Adding port injection allows cleaning of the runners but also allows for much better idle characteristics.
DI is much better for making power though, even more with forces induction.
It’s surprising that they didn’t go with both.
The lack of port injection for carbon control would rule it out for me. Real world experience by other manufacturers has shown that it is required for longevity.
Yep. Ford has both di and pi yet we get this new 3.8 from nissan which is not an upgrade from the 4.0 and now it has di but not pi. Maybe they designed it in such a way that carbon build up is a very small issue, who knows. Other than that the only good thing about this new drive train is the 9spd.
I wouldn't be too worried about the direct injection part of it. Nissan has had direct injection engines in Japan for more than 10 years. and since 2011 in the US with the 5.6L engines that were put in a couple different Infiniti vehicles.
I just purchased the new 2021 Frontier SV last week and I absolutely love it. The engine is very powerful and the transmission is very smooth shifting through the gears effortlessly 👌 anybody sitting on the fence thinking about purchasing this truck should pull the trigger and get it. You definitely won't be disappointed!
How do you like your truck so far, any problems?
@@danialca597 I love it, no issues at all with it! Drives brilliant 👌
Looked at these over the weekend. Not a fan of the hood over the fender situation...
@@williamdavis4809 You must be a taco fan boy?
People have to remember this is in higher elevations too. So everything is slower then.
@Paul von Helger That's his point...
Everything except the Ford Ranger, which crushes it's midsize competition 0-60mph, at and above sea level.
@@alienation-k1x duh it has turbo
Yea because at 624ft/190m. My 17 4.0 will do 0-60 7.5s all day. That's with a GPS timerapp. TX U.S.A.
Also the mpg is lower at that elevation as well
Keep in mind that CAT Scales are consistently -500 lbs off from true weights! That way, any truck that weighs anywhere near maximum axle weights will show as being overweight. The truck drivers are guaranteed to pass at weigh stations if they are 500 lbs underweight of the maximum 40,000 lbs allowed for normal trucks with 53 ft trailers. I used to run the truck scales at a plant nearby where we kept our scales calibrated to the same weight standards as Georgia weigh stations along the Interstates. I've had many truck drivers compare their CAT Scale printouts with ours and the difference was consistently -500 lbs. So, any time you get weighed at a CAT Scale, add 500 LB to get your true weight!
If they are guaranteed certified they only have to be within 1% accurate that's 800 on certified scales 500lbs is not an issue that anyone including the ticket writers would write. I calibrate load cells for a living, certified ones!
I’d take one. I’ve had a few 4.0L as rentals and really dig the simplicity.
Exactly. I rented a couple then traded my Tacoma for 1. Im much happier.
I own a 16’ SV crew cab that was likely a rental before, the simplicity is my favorite part, its very cheap to maintain and very easy to work on yourself
I'm sooo glad I got my 2019 Pro 4x with a 6 speed manual.
Just waiting on improved TURNING RADIUS!! Otherwise love this truck!
It's a truck, drive over stuff if you gotta:)
thats the only thing that might hold me back from buying one. it has a wider turning radius than a 2-door f-150
Yea thats the only thing i find annoying about mine 😂
🤣 yeah man, I love my frontier but it turns like a tractor at times
Oof
When looking at mileage in the real world, you need to take into account
1. MPG decreases with altitude
2. Base mileage testing is without heat or air
3. Testing is done on a dyno, or flat level ground w no wind resistance.
4. Combined is 55% city and 45% highway
If you get within 1 MPG of the rating in Colorado, that's pretty darn good.
Speed also depends on drive gears. Everything is geared for mpg. Hence it’s slow.
The MPG isn't even that impressive though, I can get 20mpg at 80mph in 5.0L V8 4X4 F-150 and that's with two extra cylinders and almost 100hp more that's pushing a larger heavier vehicle down the road.
One mile above sea level destroys speeds on naturally aspirated motors, at sea level this truck will hit around 7 seconds 0-60.
@@nathanmcdonald610 Ford inflates there mpg numbers they did it with the Ecoboost too
@@nathanmcdonald610
First, no one in their right mind drives 80 mph to get better MPGs. Second, your F150 has a lighter (aluminum) cab.
@@scottgas1299 From what i logged on my scanner: throttle on the old 4.0L engine was limited to 60% in first gear until about 35mph, and then between 35 and 40mph the throttle gradually opened from 60 to 100%.
I owned and sold my 2007. It had and still has what I need in a truck. Seats, speedometer, aircon, reliability.
I feel like pairing the 9 speed to the 4L would have been easier, and netted the same improvements.
Edit: Wish they offered a 6 speed manual with this new engine.
Agreed.
@@biggestsign I wouldn't be surprised if it was
Aren't you forgetting something? The new 3.8 motor has at least 40 MORE hp than the 4.0 liter.
@@tomhurley6096 No, not forgetting that. A truck needs torque. If it was 40TQ more than I would have mentioned it.
I have the same truck with the VQ, last tank was 21.1 mpg, one before was 19.5. I trend from about 18 to 22 real world. When I drove it back home when I bought it I managed a 26 mpg fill up. All verified at the pump ;)
Sounds like Nissan was right about their 10% better fuel economy figure than the outgoing engine. Not bad!
Put the k/n oil filter in and more mpg
@@brad4527 lmfao
@@brad4527 and don't forget the sticker adds another 50 horsepower
My 2020 SV model is not getting those numbers (more like 18-19 MPG) and about 3 MPG less than the trip computer. I am pretty much at sea level. (Florida)
Has Nissan figured out how to build a radiator that doesn't leak coolant into the trans cooler?
Also, it's a brand new truck that looks 20 years old and costs as much as a full size.
Yes in 2011
Nissan isnt the only ones with this issue lol
easy fix to change radiator
FULL SIZED?? What are you smoking??? Brand new this truck is 25k. A new fullsized in the same configuration is around 45k or more.
They fixed that years ago. You should check your facts before looking like an idiot with stupid false statements.
Thanks for the great video!
I really like my 2015 Frontier king cab,, 4.0L, SV, 4X4. I bought it new. Yesterday I achieved my best MPG so far on a trip. 26MPG. 49,000 miles on it so far. Never a problem with my truck. Previously Id get 24 MPG on a trip.
I like that truck. Bought it twice over a Taco. Hope the new one isn’t bloated like all the other brands. It’s the only long bed that can fit in my garage.
26mpg wouldnt surprise me. my 07 frontier 4.0 5auto was getting 21mpg@63mph on the 59 mile drive home from work today. and thats with a ladder rack, a 32 foot ladder, a 20 foot ladder, and a little giant strapped to the top and the bed loaded with roofing material and tools.
Minimal improvement in the same old truck. I wonder why they had to design a whole new engine just for that. I bet they could get the same results by bolting up that 9-spd to the old 4.0L.
Yea makes me nervous they messed with tried and tried platform for no huge win.
I'm wondering if they have the throttle restriction a little too heavy? It is a new engine and this year is a test mule more or less.
I think the new fronter is going to be somewhat related to the old frontier so they put it in early. I'm sure they didn't waste a ton of money just to fit a new engine in a frontier that's going to be completely changed next year. So the old and new frontier will probably share frames or something.
Because the new frontier comes out next year.
I think I would have preferred they bolted it to the 4.0L that engine is tried and true. But at 70MPH on the 5 speed auto its spinning at 2000 RPM +
MPG at those speeds would come in around 17-18. So this is a marked improvement but it seems like its more the tranny than the engine.
I drove my v6 2011 Frontier crew cab from Pensacola, Florida to South Dakota. It was great for the long haul. Total mileage for the trip was about 4,500 miles. I got great gas mileage, averaged about 22 mpg’s. Normal everyday driving which is part city and part country I get about 20 mpg. Love this truck. I’ll buy a new one when mine dies, which will be a while.
Is it dead yet?
My favorite Russian. Thank you Andre for this video.
he polish
@@user-fu4jl1es1b KURWA
I am a nissan fan and owner for years and i have been waiting on this truck
On 9th gear at around 1600 rpm at 70 MPH? That's pretty impressive.
Way to go Nissan!!
4.0 with 5 speed turns 1900. Not that much better with 4 more gears.
Oh Boy any lower and there is not enough power to hold gears.
callofdutyguy9 I agree. No need for 9 gears on a 6 cylinder with low hp and trq. More moving parts=more problems
@@ohboy2592How exactly is 310 hp "low" in a small truck? Have you forgotten that was once decent for a v8? My 87 d21 has 106 hp and hauls anything I put in the bed.
Love this truck, I own a 2020 pro-4x and love the day to day driving experience. The wide leather seats are a totally under appreciated aspect of driving this guy. Sure, competitors can tow/haul a few more lbs but if we’re talking $$$, new powertrain/older styling for $35k and 0.09% APR, I have zero complaints. Factor in the Covid bump on my used trade-in and I’m more than comfortable to ride my frontier into the sunset.
Your 2017 tester got 9+ 0-60 where as my dads 2011 Crewcab long bed, I have personally tested at just over 7 seconds. Man, being 1 mile high sucks.
That's what nobody here seems to understand lol. This new engine/trans will be very close, or slightly better, than the other trucks in its class when tested at sea level.
Yea my 17 sv 2wd 7.3 sec 0-60 in TX
Skyline RS400 I timed almost exactly 10 seconds in a 2018 SV 4x4 at 4,500ft. I timed it with a dragy. Felt quicker than that but idk. Turbos and electric motors sure help a lot up here.
Just some food for thought. When Andre pumps fuel in the truck, the gallons are 2.659. This is BEFORE the 30 second wait and additional fuel is put in. If you divide 2.659 by 66 miles, that's 24.8 MPG. The truck was showing 24.6 - within 2 tenths. Now yes, I understood the additional fuel is put in after a 30 second wait, but, the accuracy of the pumps and how the truck figures may be more accurate actually. Just throwing it out there.
Also, 66 miles as a test sample is woefully short. Try the same test, over an accumulated 1000 miles, with a truly broken-in motor.
The Frontier was class leading when it was introduced many, many years ago. I'm pretty sure that is why Ford discontinued the Ranger soon afterward. Not doing a complete redesign but simply updating the tech has kept it relevant and very affordable. I always liked this generation Frontier and it's still excellent value considering the bloated price of the competition. After all, it is just a truck. A great work truck. I really, really can't stand the "Gentleman's Truck" b.s. that is so popular.
Exactly. That's why I bought it. Plus I was a previous Nissan owner so it felt okay to me. It's more of a classic design like a Jeep Wrangler. It doesn't really need a redesign. Heck, the F-150 has the same basic profile, they've just added higher trim levels and the aluminum construction, but it's the same basic rectangular profile since 2004.
Agreed. While there are a few things I don't like about it it's exactly what a truck should be, A TRUCK. The dash design and stero could have been improved but that's really the only gripes I have with it. But overall my Pro-4X is a great truck and I wouldn't take one of the others. I don't think I'd even trade it for one with this new engine/transmission.
I see two things. The reason why you didn't see a huge difference in acceleration is due to the torque of the new engine being the same as the old. The extra gears in the transmission did more to help your acceleration as it kept you in the engine's happy place. The extra horsepower is little more than your ability to keep a load moving once it's up to speed on hills. I think you would see more of a difference on the Ike between the old and new engines. As for the discrepancy on the weight. I think you're forgetting that the rating will include passengers. So, two 150ish pound passengers, gives you your approximately 300 pound difference.
We have the frontier in England, it's called the Navara
Thing is you Americans get the one that looks the same as 2004, we get an all new truck that came out in 2016 which is also the basis for the mercedes benz x class
But in EU Navara has only diesel. With DPF, ad blue, EGR...
@Whiskey Earned they could have at least sent the facelift bumpers, fenders, hood and lights over to freshen up the look
I was scrolling through the videos and saw this branded as new 2020 and I was thinking really? That old heap?
@@harleyrobertson73 How is this an old heap it sits on the titan frame and is a beast off road.
@@scott8238 Well the look of the truck made me think this was some old 2009 pos that I'm used to seeing around England all dented and rusted, didn't think America still had the ancient body style
As for the frame, it's the same F Alpha platform from 04 to now, I was on about the cosmetics
@Paul von Helger Frontier is basically the previous generation Navara (D40). Platform is international and did duty in various models across the world.
Really love how clean the interior looks. This will probably be my next truck.
Great job again! Would really like to see a shoot out between the PRO 4X against TRD and all the other brands.
Hi all.
I just purchased a 2020 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Midnight edition and just love it.
It has so much power and the 9 speed transmission is just right.
I know it's a very dated design but it's just what we were looking for and the price was just right.
This truck is for overlanding purposes and I'm sure it will do just fine for several years to come.
I can't wait to lift it and make it more off road worthy.
It's exactly this type of video that remaind me why i am subscribed. Just a complete review, great job!
Thanks for the review I have a 4.0 , 09 and I love this truck, good on gas and the 4.0 has plenty of power, can't beat these trucks for the price.
I would love to see what the accerlation is at a normal elevation. With the old engine, the truck went 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds or better. Closer to 7.0 seconds if you remove the wide open throttle restriction. Speaking of that, I wonder if this truck still has that WOT restriction. I would guess that it probably does, but who knows.
What is this restriction u speak of? Never heard of it.
@@AyGrom Throttle-by-wire 4.0L Nissan Frontiers and xterras are limited to 60% throttle until about 40mph in first gear. The Titans and Armadas are also limited, but i am not sure how much, and it might just be the 2wd versions of those vehicles. easy fix with a tuner. I use the bully-dog tuner because you can enable wide open throttle, and leave everything else stock tuning.
Btw, i have recently drove one of the Frontiers with the new engine, and i can confirm that does indeed have significant WOT restriction in first gear, and possibly part of second gear as well (first gear is very short). unfortunately i didn't log any data to get more precise numbers.
I'm running the bullydog tuner in my 12 with nothing but a drop in filter . 0-60 is 7.0 quarter mile 12.3
1600rpm at 70miles?! This is cool, very efficient engine
Not broke? Don’t fix it. Should of left it alone with maybe a slight interior/exterior upgrade.
Bradford Ramm everyone wants better mpg and numbers on paper. But it’ll come at the cost in $ and reliability which is just what happens with new tech. I had a ‘11 pathfinder and ‘15 frontier. Nearly identical but the frontier ( a higher trim package) had cheaper interior. Nissan has been way behind on this for a while.
Nd4SpdSe I 100% agree I had an SV value truck package and it had just enough stuff. Now I have a sr5 tundra and it’s got all I need. Leather is the only nice the only thing I’d like to have. My wife’s Acura has navigation and heated seats and power lift gate and all that and I don’t care about any of it.
It’ll crumple like a tin can in a small overlap crash
My 0-60 in my 21 is around 7.3 seconds, but I have the 2wd version.
I’m interested. I liked my frontier minus the mpg!
Definitely not the prettiest truck compared to most 2020 midsize trucks, but for the price and reliable reputation of the Frontier it’s a great value buy.
I have a '16 frontier. I would love to switch out my 5 speed for the new transmission
Nissan did this to test if it receives good feedback before they deploy it on their next Frontier model. They're also testing the waters on whether a more powerful gasoline engine could replace a diesel engine. They used a v6 to meet the torque level of a 4cyl diesel engine, all in the effort to give the car a powerful engine in order to be more "relaxed" than a 4cyl gasoline which would surely need a lot of foot digging to ring out the power needed to go about truck duties. Having a more powerful engine allows the driver to receive the output they need without squeezing the throttle too much, taking advantage of useable low-end torque as they intend to do this with the effect of the stoichiometric advantage-- not having to ring out rpms too high.
Soon, manufacturers will turn to torqier gasoline engines to replace and avoid the much more complex and nature-bound problem of diesel engines and their problem with emissions, as well as the equipment that do make them more finicky just to meet environmental standards (dpfs, cats, egrs, etc.).
As much as I do love diesel engines, it just seems that this is the way the industry is going for the sake of reliability and most importantly, emmissions regulations.
Thanks Andre and to the rest of TFL staff for keeping up the videos..you get a heart today♥
I have a 2021 King Cab S. I just did a trip from Baton Rouge to Jackson,MS. I was able to achieve 25.82 mpg through the hand calculation. I kept speeds at around 65mph, and didn't really use A/C. The truck was empty except for me and a 50lbs tool box in the cab. Definitely happy with the mpg. I'm looking forward to maybe getting 26-27 mpg once the truck is broken in.
Great review TFL. I hope the new engine and transmission prove be as reliable as the old combo.
I have owned 3 nissan frontiers. A 95 with 4 cyl and auto. A 97 v6 auto 4wd. A 98 or 99 (i forget) supercharged v6 auto, 4wd. And loved them all.
Great MPG results Nissan should have 9 speed behind the 4.0 l
Finally, someone gets it !
I wonder if you could do a retrofit and drop a 9 speed in. Or go a step further and put a 2 speed rear end in it.
whats mpg on the old one?
@@gry8ruth not worth all the hassle better just to trade it in
Gary Ruth if you can do it yourself yeah. But paying somebody it will cost 15k and it wont even work properly. Way to much shit to get right
My 2015 frontier did a 6.6 0to60 with afe exhaust and k&n air filter! I am a lot closer to sea level than you! Altitude kills acceleration times! Thanks for the video! Good Job!
It would be really interesting to see a leaderboard of 0-60 time, MPG results and weights compared to other trucks in the segment
The new Ford Ranger destroys the midsize competition in 0-60.
alienation also destroys in the fastest to need engine work
@@alienation-k1x they also fill the crank case up with gas to.js
That truck is what we in the UK called the Nissan Navara, but the model we had about 10 years ago, they have since changed it twice if I am not mistaken, that interior reminds me of a Nissan my Mother had in 2011, the steering wheel is identical, that's the first time I have not been jealous of a car you have in the US! Seriously, search Nissan Navara UK spec and see for yourselves.
Nissan couldn’t even change the grille or anything? The Tundra is the king of putting a different color of lipstick on the same old truck. Heck, put on some white wagon wheels, stripes and a headache bar, and resurrect the Hardbody from the 80s. That would sell.
They took a page from Toyota.
GVWR discrepancy isnt unique to Nissan Ford does it too with their 2.7 and 5.0l equipped f-150s. It's just far more complex to figure due to the F-150 having 3 different chassis, two different rear ends, and about three or four coil spring rates for the front. One note, curb weight includes a full tank and a 150 lb driver. Still, that should be a 1200 lb payload rating.
You want better acceleration? Drop the VK56 into it. :D
Unfortunately MPGs will get worse which sucks.
@@TheSmittysGarage No not necessarily- power to weight ratio changes the fuel economy as well.
Most people who vk56 swap experience an increase in fuel economy when they keep their foot off the gas.
I should mention however if you Don't keep your foot off the gas you'll see a decrease in fuel economy :D
Its the elevation
Didn't even consider a Frontier until this video...now researching. Ty TFL & Andre
Yet another great review. Always well done. Absolutely nothing wrong with the frontier, great upgrade on the engine and transmission plus a very reasonable price. Will be interesting to see the new model.
It's a pig. Can achieve 20 MPG running 80 mph down the interstate in Fords V8 5.0L with 4WD. A much more capable pickup and 100 more horsepower than this pathetic pig.
@@alienation-k1x Fords aren't worth shit, and they fail real fast
@@alienation-k1x Seriously, you obviously have an agenda here so I'd appreciate it if you saved your comments for someone who cares.
@@alienation-k1x Ford inflates there MPGs if u only trust the instant MPGs aren't accurate as he showed with checking the math that Ford is probably getting 18 in reality so get off your high horse
alienation Nissan is ugly but I know it’s a better truck because everyone and everything I read said it is not the ford they hate it but Nissan is so dam ugly
For those worried about the new transmissions reliability, its not a jatco unit, its a Mercedes 9G-Tronic automatic. Mercedes has a long history of making solid reliable transmissions and selling them to other manufacturers such as the 5G-Tronic that was used across Chrysler vehicles in the 2000s. It's built in jatcos factory but its a mercedes design
I am impressed with the fuel 'mileage' numbers,...and also the cruising RPM numbers too. I also really liked how comfortable my 2010 4.0 was on long drives.
I can only hope and wish that the new body style will maintain the comfortable seating etc. as well as be able to keep or improve on those fuel consumption levels.
I am not quite ready yet to buy a new daily driver vehicle , so I will be waiting with more than idle curiosity to see what Andre & Company can find out on the 'NEW' Frontier
as time marches on.
Thanks for this one, Andre!
K/n oil filter will help even more
What's the mpg look like ?
I think Nissan did the upgrades for the wrong reasons (going with a bigger engine). And a word of advice for TFL trucks review. I think this review and many out there lacks the main components leading a customer to purchases a mid-size truck. I would buy a mid-size truck for its fuel consumption, turning radius, durability (transmission type, engine timing belt vs chain..etc), serviceability, operation comfort and usability. None of these issues were clearly highlighted against its peers. And to a lesser degree for the 4WD the off-road capabilities (clearance, differential lock, etc). Speed of the truck will not cross my mind when buying one.
Hey can you guys do a comparison of the 2019 f150 5.0 and the ranger 2.3 since there is only 1400 lb difference in the tow capability of these two. Test them on the Ike Gauntlet.
Disappointed Nissan has cut out the extra gauges below the speedo and tach, I always loved how they gave that extra information. I guess oil pressure and voltage aren’t important to know, they will give you a light when something is wrong.
Holy shit lol didnt even notice and i drive a frontier 😳
Realistically nobody nowadays gives a flip about those gauges anyways or understands wtf they represent..
Dang, nice acceleration and fuel economy! They're gonna sell a lot of these trucks if they can keep the prices down!
Did it do any searching for gears?
I test drove the Tacoma a week or so ago, and it was searching for gears going down the highway. It was really annoying, I won’t be getting in automatic in a Toyota that’s for sure. But I am going to wait until the 2021 Frontier’s come out, to test drive them.
I agree going to wait on 2021 dbl cab LB Frontier myself, I am still driving a 06 Tacoma OR Acc Lb, the new Tacomas have a lot of problems 2nd gen didn't have.
Slow for that motor size. Was that yellow Bilstein shocks on that truck ?
Darren pro4x and DR always get yellow Bilstein’s.
The real question though: When is 0-60 ever useful? How about 30-60 or 40-75?
Not hating, btw, I love my Fronty(Muffler delete-side dump behind passenger door-Nismo 6 SPD) She pulls hard, and is a blast to drive, especially in the wet...
Used Pro 4x with the old motor is a dependable truck and fantastic value...
I've had 2 frontiers. 1 extra cab 2008 on 33s its was really sweet looking off road like a champ. Then got married puppies bought a 2012 crew cab left it stock. I could creep on highway get 25 mpg, but avg 22. They are billy goats off road very torque rich at least with old engine. Fun to drive around, but dang, that interior was dull and cheap as crap. Seats are actually very wide and great for very long trips, back..... well sitting in a church pew Congress to mind. Need to make them recline lol more. Hopefully nissan can get out of the tail spin they've been in. And get their truck line ups more ad space and keep a fresher face then 16 years, frontier, and 6 years late titan. Great work Andrea, you bring the excitement every time
The 4.0 was a stout engine.
My 5.7 350 V8 with a 4-speed automatic and 3.73 geared rear end runs about 1700rpm at 70mph
Weird, I have the EXACT same set up, its 2000rpm bang on , just like my bros, ..
New engine and trans is possibly lighter? And the stickers are for the old model and Nissan hasn't updated it since maybe?
Bigger transmission would not mean lighter weight.
Seems like an interesting improvement to me. Increased HP and MPG.As for the haters ain't nothing Nissan does gonna be good enough for them. Although if their favorite brand did the same they would be loving it. Now hopefully they sell it at a somewhat/relatively affordable price.Then sell enough to stay in the truck business. Competition in the market is good for consumers.
Manual transmission?
I love TFL, but I still have to stick with the 4.0L v6.
How is that thing HEAVIER than my full size, Supercab, V8 F-150? AND significantly slower?
Justin Luttrell Well lets be honest. The F150 is a tin can on a frame. I think the most you can outift it is around 5k pounds. The lightest configuration is around 4k pounds. The Ford V8 also makes 2 times the power as the Frontiers motor so really there is no question.
@@Bru946 I wasn't aware that the 5.0 made 600hp?
1. Your f150 is aluminum like a Coke can.
2. Your f150 is a v8 not a v6.
@@dillonh321 3. Your f150 is better in every conceivable way (short of cost) by a mile.
@@MikeW1981 Sorry my bad. The torque figures. The V8 Fords make about 400 and his truck weighs about the same or less as a frontier. This goes for the same as all midsized trucks. Of course, a bigger engine and roughly the same weight is going to be fast duh. I have a 2012 3.5 EcoBoost and a Frontier. The ford is much faster just do to the sheer power it has in reserve for towing. It's always been like this for Midsized trucks and Full-sized alike. More power = More speed especially if they weigh the same lol
Would like to see the mileage if it was setup like my 2010 Pro-4X which gets about 20.2 on the highway.
AEM dry flow filter
All synthetic oils.
Soft tonneau cover.
Bulldog tune for efficeincy.
Ranger smokes that
To the shop for repairs....lol
This testing was done in CO a mile above sea level. Ranger, being turbocharged does have a big advantage at altitude.
At sea level Ranger will do it in about 6.8, whereas the Frontier will do it in 7.6.
Ranger is still the champ for 0-60 in this segment.
@@boss123400 funny guy is that all you can say? lol
Chad Kent ,YUP. then the fan boys have something to say
Willie Lmao the Ford Ranger is the worst midsized. The old ass Nissan outsells the Ranger..... I'd rather not have to take the tire off to change the oil but that's just me. Ford rules the full-sized segment but in the midsized, they have no chance.
Great review..... Having more gears is nice, but the performance numbers aren't much better. Hook them tail to tail with a chain and see which one has more grunt. I bet the 4.0 would win that.
It seems like a sidestep to me, it's not really much of an improvement.
2020 was just motor and transmission 2021 is new redesign.....we can only pray they upgrade it like the Titan
J Shapiro I'm sure they will, they have to. They claimed "enthusiasts will love the new frontier" which is a good sign
@@jshapiro34 Please not like the titan that truck is so ugly
@@jaceljara5652 how it looks good
@@jshapiro34 Not to my eyes. And I love Nissan trucks. Also based on sales not to a lot of people's eyes.
You should verify the odometer accuracy. My Xterra is off by 6%.
I can't wait till 5star performance get their hands on it.
No forced induction so I doubt they could do *that* much with it. Maybe better throttle behavior at least and shift points?
@@rkalla cold air should get 15 hp 15 torq exhaust maybe 5 hp 5 torq pedal commander would clean up throttle and maybe fuel economy some like 1mpg maybe bullydog tuner gets into ecu and picks up another 15 hp and 15 torq which in all honesty if it's 310 and high 200s torq you should get about 330 300 ish in mods for under 1k that's pretty good given fact Texas and bama flat Landers can probably see 25 to 27mpg lifted see 15 to 17
@@jshapiro34 all of that stuff will add ZERO power. Cold air intake wont do shit. Modern intakes are already perfect cold air intakes. They're not a restriction. Exhaust wont even give you 5 hp. The only way to get power there is to remove the cat. The only other benefit an exhaust can give is minor weight savings. A tune would be the best for power but this engine will see max 15 to 20hp. Transmission tuning would help too.
I agree but at least more low-end torque they can do that.
Very true but any Torque of Hp Improvements are welcomed.
Wow they squeezed a whopping 2 more horsepower over the 3.6 in the Colorado/Canyon for this engine for the crown title of "class leading". Bravo Nissan.
Yeah, I’d like to have seen a little more torque since they went to DI. Same torque as the outgoing 4.0. Say what?
I still like its simpleness
In my experience (I have a 2016 SV), the difference between the All-terrain tires on the frontier and the all-season tires is worth about 2 mpg. I had the BF Goodrich Rugged Terrain tires for a while, OEM were the Long Trails, then went with the Hankook Dynapro all-seasons. Get this in the SV instead of the Pro-4X, which is good enough for most people, and you'll get closer to 24-25 highway mpg.
I have a 2019 Frontier SV King cab (bought new) with the Hankook Dynapros and I've never been able to get better than 21 mpg no matter how I drive it. Most of the time it's in the 16-18 mpg range. I blame the 5 spd auto...overdrive spins the engine way too fast. Engine is turning about 1900 rpm at 65 mph...engine has plenty of torque to do the same thing at about 1600 rpms. That would give you an extra 2-3 mpg for sure. A six spd auto would have been nice. I even looked into changing the axle gear ratios, but there is no better option available than what I already have.
All that said I do really like my Frontier, but fuel mileage is disappointing.
Hey Nissan! Toss that power unit in a nice mid sized 2 door coupe add a simple 5 speed transmission manual and you will make good!
The only thing wrong with that is that it makes sense. One of Nissan's only good decisions over the past decade was to leave the frontier alone.
The engine 3.7 in the 370Z makes more hp and is available with a manual transmission.
A manual transmission would get less mpg and slower 0-60 also barely anyone opts for manual transmissions anymore
The 2020 Nissan Frontier is the very old version of Navara.The Nissan Navara Warrior 2020 is available in Asia and Australia since 2019
Most Nissan computer MPG readings lie. My Armada is off by the same amount.
on my 5.6L pathfinder the on-board estimate is within a tenth on nearly every fill-up. Obviously the problem here is their silly 2-click method. checking at the pump is accurate enough when you are filling 15-20 gallons, but when it's only 3....not even close. you have to give or take 1/4 gallon at least! which would give us an accuracy range of 21mpg to 24.9mpg. and with a wide range like that the test is hardly worth doing.
John G very true. I had thought something similar.
My 2020 crew cab 5.3 silverado gets 19mph red light to red light. At 64mph long distance it gets 37.5mpg.
Weren’t they supposed to update the body and interior of the Frontier like 5 years ago? They’re just mailing it in over at Nissan lol
Thanks for the great review paying close attention to the engine, trans, and mpg.