Used 2012 Nissan Frontier SL for sale 

The 2012 Nissan Frontier with the crew cab body style is offered in four trims, S, SV, PRO-4X, and SL. It falls in a price range that extends from $26,000 for its base variant and goes up to $32,990 for its top-rack variant. The base variant comes with very minimal features like front bucket seats and cloth upholstery, air-conditioning, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player. The SV trim offers some more features like upgraded tires, keyless entry, and cruise control. 

We Recommend

The 2012 Nissan Frontier offers a vast fleet of variants to choose from as each variant is designed to carry out a stipulated task. So, it’s better to stick to your purpose and make the choice. If we have to choose one of them, the PRO-4X comes out to be the best value-for-money option.

The 2012 Nissan Frontier Crew cab houses a brawny 4.0L V6 engine across all it’s a lineup that churns out 261 horses of power and 281 pound-feet of torque. The S, SV, and PRO-4X variants are mated to a six-speed manual transmission by default and can be optioned up to a five-speed automatic transmission, while the SL version is coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission.

In terms of performance, the Nissan Frontier with a 4.0-liter V6 engine can reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds and a quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds and has a towing potential of 6,500 pounds. In the top speed test, the Nissan Frontier records 118 MPH. The price tag of the pickup falls in between, where Honda comes out to be the most expensive option at $29,350.

In comparison, the Honda Ridgeline is equipped with a 3.5-liter, V6 engine that generates 250 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the GMC Canyon is powered by a 2.9-liter L4 engine with 185 horses and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Ridgeline takes 8.2 seconds to hit 60 mph and 16.3 seconds for the quarter-mile, while the Canyon clocks 7.2 seconds and 13.7 seconds respectively in the acceleration test and quarter-mile run.

The Nissan Frontier’s V6 engine is thirstier than other four-cylinder engine counterparts, resulting in mediocre gas mileage. The S variant with a 4.0-liter V6 engine earns an EPA rating of 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined. It features a fuel tank of 21.1 gallons capacity, which is about average in this segment. With full tank capacity, the Nissan Frontier can run for 316.5 miles in the city and 422 miles on the highway.

When compared, the Honda Ridgeline delivers marginally the same mileage as the Frontier with 17 mpg combined, while the GMC Canyon delivers better economy in this segment with 21 MPG combined. The Ridgeline and Canyon sport a fuel tank of 22 and 19 gallons, respectively, which is about average in this segment. In terms of range, both cars can go longer than the Nissan Frontier.

The 2012 Nissan Frontier’s cabin isn’t a noteworthy thing until we reach some upper trims. The base variant is just a raw-bone structure that has very limited features. It is only in the PRO-4X that we get to see a nice and classy cabin filled with ample tech. Overall it has a spacious interior that’s compromised with the luxury offerings. Especially in the base trims. Overall, the Frontier offers a smooth and compliant ride.

At the front, we have bucket seats that are comfortable and can be maxed out to the cloth upholstery. The front seats offer a decent amount of legroom and headroom. The rear seats offer a great shoulder room that can seat three adults but with cramped legroom. It offers a cargo bed of 6 feet, one of the largest in this segment. 

In comparison, the Honda Ridgeline and GMC Canyon can also seat 5 people. The Ridgeline offers a great front headroom and shoulder room, while the GMC Canyon is the most squeezed up pickup in this segment. Some salient interior features of Nissan Frontier include:

• Tilt steering wheel
• Heated leather seats
• Optional upgraded sport cloth upholstery
• Single-zone front air conditioning
• Cruise control

2012 Nissan Frontier’s infotainment system

The infotainment system is again a mediocre deal that we won’t expect from a $29,085 vehicle. Since it is a utility vehicle, the infotainment system is taken the least care of. Standard features include a four-speaker sound system with a CD player.

When the trim game starts growing, we get a Bluetooth and six-CD changer, six-speaker, and satellite radio. A Rockford Fosgate premium stereo is optional. Some other salient features include:

• Optional Rockford Fosgate premium stereo
• Bluetooth Connectivity for phone and audio streaming
• Six-CD Player
• Satellite radio
• Auxiliary audio jack

We often notice that the pickup truck makers choose to spend money on its durability over style. But with the Frontier, the style substance & durability go hand in hand, making it the coolest looking truck in the segment. We can easily notice Nissan's signature styling elements, including a dividend front grille with angled vertical accent bars and big bumpers.

With a curb weight of 4,409 lbs, the Nissan Frontier is one of the heaviest pickup trucks in the segment. It is 205.5 inches long and 72.8 inches wide. It has a ground clearance of 8.9 inches, making it more capable for off-roading. It has a wheelbase of 125.9 inches and stands at a height of 70.1 inches.

When compared with its rivals, the Honda Ridgeline has that car-like stance offering great comfort, and due to its brawny engine, it weighs 4,553 lbs, making it the heaviest in the segment,t while the GMC Canyon is lighter, weighing just 3,728 lbs, although it sports the best wheelbase with 126 inches. Some standout exterior features of the Nissan Frontier include:

• 16 & 18-inch alloy wheels
• Roof rack
• Factory spray-on bed liner
• Locking tailgate

The IIHS awarded the Nissan Frontier a top rating of “Good” in frontal-offset, side-impact, and roof-strength tests. All the versions of the Nissan Frontier come standard with features like antilock disc brakes, front seat, side curtain airbags, and a brake-activated limited-slip differential. In the deceleration test, the Nissan Frontier came to halt from 60 mph in 128 feet, which is good in this segment. Some other safety specifications include:

• Electronic stability system with traction control
• Anti Lock brakes with brake assist
• Adaptive wipers
• Anti-theft Alarm System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring system
• Front-seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags

The 2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab offers a wide range of choices to its customers to fulfill the task, be it exploring a tough off-road or as an affordable work truck. But it suffers few shortcomings that make its competitors look more confident and worthy, especially in the comfort aspect. All in all, when looking for a pickup in the midsize segment, there are better options available in the market.