While the full-size Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra offer big truck buyers compelling reasons to look beyond Detroit, let’s look at the trucks that made the competition possible: the compact models. These days, they’re not nearly as compact as they were a few decades ago -- they’ve graduated to midsize status for all intents and purposes -- but they still serve similar needs.
Nissan’s Frontier shares more than looks with its corporate pickup and SUV brethren. It’s built in Smyrna, Tennessee, on the corporate F-Alpha platform; common among the Armada, Pathfinder, Titan, and Xterra. Final official specs on the 2008 Frontier were not available at press time, though it’s suggested no major changes are in line this time around.
Meanwhile, over in Fremont, California, the Toyota Tacoma is built to similar scale and toughness. The latest Tacoma sees no real changes over 2008, except for a price bump and EPA mileage ratings reflecting the agency’s industry-wide attitude adjustment toward mileage ratings (again, the Nissan’s numbers weren’t officially published, so we estimated). As ever, the appealing Tacoma is available in a variety of cab, engine and transmission combinations.
So here we have two solid pickups carrying over largely untouched for 2008. As we discovered, that’s a mixed blessing. We evaluated each pickup on several fixed and weighted criteria. The perfect truck would haul away a 100-point score, if that were to happen. Did it? Read on…
Nissan Frontier SE 4x4 King Cab
MSRP (est.): $22,650Engine: 4.0-liter DOHC V6
Horsepower: 261 bhp @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 281 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
MPG (est.): City: 16; Highway: 20
Performance - 13/20
Acceleration and handling of the Frontier is surprisingly competent and easily keeps up with traffic, with towing capacity that rivals the big boys. Nissan’s powerful six-cylinder is standard in the SE, which most buyers would pay extra for anyway. Either way, it allows 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 6.8 seconds with the standard six-speed manual -- more than enough scoot to merge onto busy highways with confidence. Maximum payload is rated at 1,383 pounds, but the real wowsers are the Frontier’s maximum trailer weight and maximum trailer tongue weight at 6,300 and 11,133 pounds, respectively.
Exterior Design - 14/20
Since 2005, the Frontier has adopted the styling cues of sibling Nissan trucks/SUVs. This may not be exceptionally inspiring, but it’s not bad either. The Frontier may have been designed to carry on the aggressive look of its kin, which it sort of pulls off, but more than anything it looks contemporary and stylish.
Interior Design - 5/10
Nissan realizes their trucks have to split time between work and play, and the interior has been reasonably designed to do just this. Ergonomics have been well thought-out, with controls reachable and readable. The King Cab models feature auxiliary doors to the area behind the front seats, though you’d have to be a sadist to intentionally stuff an adult or two back there. That’s an idea best left to the true four-door Crew Cab. Here, it’s a handy place for carrying the gear you don’t want to roll around in the bed.
Sound System/Goodies - 5/10
Even an up-level Armada SUV we drove not too long ago left us a little surprised on what was considered standard and optional. Sure, most manufacturers do cut corners here and there in the name of expense, but it’s a little too obvious with Nissan trucks. That said, the Frontier is not cheap and it can be outfitted very nicely. We only wish it didn’t require ticking so many option boxes. A stereo with CD is standard in the SE, for instance, but the tastier Rockford Fosgate setup is only available on the LE line. On a positive, side airbags are offered for a reasonable $550.
Bang for the Buck - 13/20
Except for interior equipment gripes that may or may not be founded (this is a pickup, after all), Nissan does an acceptable job with value in the Frontier. We also suspect resale to hold up reasonably well, even if these aren’t the hottest tickets on dealers’ lots, overshadowed by the big-brother Titans.
Driving Experience - 12/20
The DNA between the Z cars and Frontiers may be a little blurry, but it’s easy to see why so many of these wind up as daily commuting vehicles. They can haul and tow impressive loads yet are easy to maneuver in traffic and don’t require a spotter to park.
Overall Score - 62/100
Reasonable on gas, capable in lousy road conditions and able to haul, this is an acceptable economical alternative to a full-size pickup.
Toyota Tacoma 4x4 Access Cab
MSRP: $24,735Engine: 4.0-liter DOHC V-6
Horsepower: 236 @ 5,200 rpm
Torque: 266 @ 4,000 rpm
MPG (city/highway): 15/18
Performance - 10/20
Acceptable, but hardly remarkable, the Tacoma accelerates a little slower than the Frontier, taking 7.2 seconds to accomplish 0 to 60 runs with its optional six-cylinder. We partially attribute this to the six-speed manual’s gearing, which features a rarely useful granny gear in the number-one position. That’s really only advantageous when hauling the maximum 1,400-pound payload or trailering 3,500 pounds (with a maximum 8,100 pound trailer tongue weight, both well behind the Frontier). One staffer noted the .80-g skidpad rating for both trucks matched his dearly departed first-generation Toyota MR2 of old. Yet just when it seems we’ve made universal progress, we discover the Tacoma is still shod with rear drum brakes instead of discs.
Exterior Design - 11/20
Since Toyota began to show its worker-bee models a little love and promoted its U.S. designations from simply pickups to Tacomas in 1995, the company’s stylists have evolved the truck’s looks while retaining the model’s toughness and avoiding cutesy looks.
Interior Design - 7/10
Hop inside the Tacoma and you’ll be reminded who makes the Camry. Materials and ergonomics make this a decent driving environment, on- or off-road. Wherever you are, passengers in the rear “seats” will beg to bounce around in the bed. Like the Frontier and its Crew Cab, the Tacoma can be spec’d in Double Cab form. An odd throwback to older models is the bayonet-style handbrake on trucks with manual transmissions, though automatic-equipped trucks feature an e-brake pedal.
Sound System/Goodies - 6/10
It’s a Toyota tradition: Sometimes you have to pay extra for the gear that should be standard, other times you can’t get it at all. Such is our beef with the absence of a power seat option (or at least multi-adjustment manuals) in the Tacoma. And forget about the JBL audio system unless you throw down for a Double Cab model; ditto for side-curtain airbags. At least a six-speaker stereo/CD system is included, and we appreciate the telescoping function included with the standard tilt steering wheel.
Bang for the Buck - 12/20
If not the ultimate value on the road, Tacoma is certainly a solid choice. And despite the mandatory package inclusion of many popular options on the Access Cab -- when they’re available at all -- we believe resale value will be typically Toyota-strong.
Driving Experience - 12/20
The Tacoma does 90% of what full-size trucks do. It’s just that they’re easier on gas, easier to drive, easier to park, and easier to afford.
Overall Score - 58/100
The advantages of Tacoma ownership don’t come with the usual truck pitfalls. Even if it isn’t the benchmark of its class, it’s far from the bottom of the pack.
and the winner is…
Even with unstable gas prices, many buyers look for full-size pickups to fulfill their hauling/commuting/ego-stroking needs. And that's really too bad. In reality, the slightly smaller midsize models are better matches for everyday driving and even most work and play needs. If you’re secure enough in your manhood and don’t have to compensate with a sky-high monster pickup, the Nissan Frontier will do nicely.Resources:
http://autos.aol.com/
www.nissanusa.com
http://www.toyotausa.com/
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