2005 Nissan Frontier Review

The all-new 2005 Nissan Frontier offers capabilities formerly reserved for full-size pickup trucks, but provides them in a more maneuverable and easier-to-park midsize package.

Sharing only its nameplate with the former Frontier, a compact pickup, Nissan's new midsize truck shares its full-boxed frame rails architecture with Nissan's full-size Titan pickup. The large V6 engine that is standard in all but the very base model of the new Frontier is more powerful than any of its competitors' five-, six- or even eight-cylinder powerplants.

With its strong chassis and powerful engine, the new Frontier provides up to 6500 pounds of towing capability and is capable of carrying payloads in excess of 1500 pounds.

The 2005 Frontier is available with rear- or four-wheel drive powertrains and in two body styles, either King Cab, with a 73.3-inch standard bed as well as two forward-facing rear seats, or Crew Cab, which offers a roomy passenger compartment with amenities much like those you'd expect in a sport utility vehicle, yet still provides a truck bed that's nearly five-feet long, even while its tailgate in its upright and locked position.

For the first time, Nissan offers the Frontier in a special Nismo off-road version. Nismo is short for Nissan Motorsports International, the automaker's racing and high-performance arm. Its upfit for the new Frontier includes special shock absorbers and tires, underbody component-protecting skid plates and an active traction system with technologies such as hill descent control and hill start assist.

The 2005 Nissan Frontier has a bold and aggressive stance like its big brother, the full-size Nissan Titan, though in less intimidating dimensions. The Frontier's wheelbase is more than a foot shorter than the Titan's and its overall length is some two feet shorter. For the Titan, this means its wheels are closer to its corners, enhancing not only its stance on the road but its clearance for dealing with obstacles while away from pavement.

Like the Titan and Nissan's various sport utility vehicles, the new Frontier has Nissan's angle-strut grille design that definitely is noticed by other drivers as it emerges and enlarges in their rear-view mirrors. Body-colored steel fender flares contribute to the Frontier's presence.

All 2005 Frontiers have four-door access to their passenger compartments. King Cabs have rear-hinged access doors while Crew Cabs have four forward-hinged doors much like those on a sedan or sport utility vehicle. (There is no regular cab available.)

Frontier cargo beds are 18 inches deep and 44.4 inches wide between the inner fenders of the rear wheels, as well as 58.8 inches wide at the tailgate and 61.4 inches wide between the tops of the bed rails. Beds are 73.3 inches long on King Cabs and 59.5 inches long on Crew Cabs. All Frontiers have tailgates equipped with a door-style lock.

A spray-on bed liner and Nissan's Utili-Track C-channel cargo security system, introduced and well-received on the Titan, are factory installed on 2005 Frontier LE King Cab and SE, LE and Nismo Crew Cab pickups. Utili-Track includes special C-section rails – two in the bed floor, one along each top inner edge of the bed side rails and one in the top of the bed header panel. Sliding cleats can be locked into position within the rails to secure a variety of cargo shapes, sizes and configurations.