The Nissan Frontier is hardly the freshest midsize pickup truck available today, in fact, it’s probably the most geriatric of the entire segment. Chevrolet’s Colorado, the Jeep Gladiator and Ford Ranger are all far newer. But just because this venerable nameplate is a little on the older side doesn’t mean it’s without virtue.
The current-generation Frontier has been in production so long the automaker has had ample time to work all the bugs out of its basic design. The result of this should be a high-quality vehicle with few known defects. Underscoring this point, for the last three years Frontier has been the highest-rated midsize truck in the annual J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study.
Another benefit of being a proven design is that this Nissan is also inexpensive. Foregoing many of the bells and whistles found on newer trucks, the Frontier keeps costs low. In its most basic form, the automaker claims Frontier is the most affordable pickup available in America today.
Two engines are offered in this truck including a base four-cylinder and an optional V6. Additionally, three transmissions are on the menu including a manual and an automatic, each with five forward speeds, plus a six-speed stick is offered in crew-cab V6 models.
Rear- or four-wheel drive is also offered, as are two cab configurations. You can get an extended King Cab or an even bigger Crew Cab. Two bed lengths are also offered including a short one measuring 59.5 inches (1,511 millimeters) and a longer offering at 73.3 inches (1,862 millimeters).
The 2019 Frontier is built at Nissan’s Canton Assembly Plant in Mississippi. Building cars and trucks in America is a proud tradition of this Japanese automaker. Back in 1983, a pickup was the first vehicle to roll off the company’s first U.S. assembly plant, which was located in Smyrna, Tennessee.