by Cheryl Eldridge and wire reports
I love Nissans and I do believe the Nissan family loves me. I never have a dull minute while driving them. The 2015 Frontier PRO-4X is one of a kind and its Fun-to-drive nature whether you’re off-road or just commuting; strong V6; easy-to-use interior controls; stout bed lining and tie-down points.
The 2015 Nissan Frontier is a compact-to-midsize pickup that’s offered in extended cab (known as the King Cab) and crew cab body styles. King Cab models come with fold-down rear jump seats and a 6.1-foot cargo bed, while crew cab versions get a 60/40-split-folding rear bench and a choice of a standard 5-foot or optional 6.1-foot bed. There are also five trim levels available: S, SV, Desert Runner, Pro-4X and SL.
My tester, which is noted for serious off-roaders, was the four-wheel-drive-only Pro-4X, which features the off-road tires and specially tuned shocks along with a locking rear differential, underbody skid plates, automatic headlights, a 5.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth streaming audio, satellite radio and voice controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a trip computer, a first aid kit and everything in the SV Value Truck package, except the trailer hitch and bed extender (which are optional). Pro-4X crew cabs get a 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system as well. The Pro-4X Luxury package (automatic-equipped crew cabs only) adds a sunroof, roof rack with crossbars, heated mirrors, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats (eight-way driver, four-way passenger) and a rear-seat center console.
The 2015 Nissan Frontier is offered with a choice of two engines. Extended-cab S and SV models come standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 152 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual and rear-wheel drive are standard, and a five-speed automatic is optional. EPA-estimated fuel economy with the manual transmission is 21 mpg combined (19 city/23 highway), and 19 mpg combined (17/23) with the automatic. Four-wheel drive is not available with the four-cylinder engine.
Optional for the SV and standard for the rest of the King Cab lineup – as well as all of the Frontier crew-cab models – is a 4.0-liter V6 that produces 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. The S, SV and Pro-4X can be had with either a standard six-speed manual or optional five-speed automatic, while the Desert Runner and SL are automatic only. In Edmunds performance testing, an automatic-equipped Pro-4X crew cab went from zero to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, which makes it a little slower than a comparable Tacoma.
Except for the specialized Desert Runner and Pro-4X models, the V6 Frontier gives you a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive. The Frontier uses a part-time 4WD system with a low-range transfer case. Automatic transmission-equipped 4WD models also have hill start assist and hill descent control, while the Pro-4X has a locking rear differential.
EPA-estimated fuel economy is 19 mpg combined (16/22) for manual-shift 4×2 V6 models, while the ratings drop to 18 mpg combined (16/21) with 4WD. Automatic-equipped V6 Frontiers rate 18 combined (16/22) with rear-wheel drive and 17 combined (15/21) with 4WD.
Properly equipped, four-cylinder models can tow up to 3,500 pounds, while V6 versions can tow as much as 6,500 pounds.
On the safety side, every 2015 Nissan Frontier comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Also standard is a brake-activated limited-slip differential. Rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are available on all Frontiers except the S, SV four-cylinder and Desert Runner models.
In Edmunds brake testing, a Frontier Pro-4X came to a stop from 60 mph in 134 feet, a fairly common stopping distance for an off-road-oriented truck with all-terrain tires.
The Frontier received the top rating of “Good” in moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Its seat/head restraint design was given the second-highest rating of “Acceptable” for whiplash protection in rear impacts.
King Cab models have rear-hinged doors that swing open and two old-school folding jump seats for rear passengers who’d better like sitting bolt upright. That’s why crew cabs are now the dominant configuration; with four conventional doors, the Frontier crew cab’s rear seats are far more useful, particularly for ease of entry, though the seatbacks still butt directly against the rear bulkhead and there’s significantly less legroom than in the back of the Tacoma and Colorado crew cabs.
You’re better off using the Frontier to haul cargo rather than people. A 6.1-foot bed is standard for the King Cab models and has enough room to handle whatever your everyday duties require. You also can get the long bed on the crew cab. The Frontier offers utility enhancements like adjustable cargo bed tie-downs, a bed extender/divider and a thoughtful area under the rear seats for smaller items you’d prefer to lock in the cab.
Gas mileage for the Pro-4x is 15mpg in the city, highway 21 with a sticker price of $36,205.
Until next week, drive safe, don’t text and drive and buckle up, it’s the law.
