S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
Don’t want to go far?
Find all cars near me?S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
Overall Rating
The 2013 Frontier is Nissan’s attempt at the mid-size pickup truck segment. The result is the truck that is very much smaller than the traditional full-size pickup truck but still is quite capable as a workhorse.
The 2013 Frontier is Nissan’s attempt at the mid-size pickup truck segment. The result is the truck that is very much smaller than the traditional full-size pickup truck but still is quite capable as a workhorse. With full-size pickup showing signs of impracticality given the current fuel prices, there is a need for a frugal truck, and that is exactly when you need trucks like the Nissan Frontier.
We recommend buying the SV trim of the Nissan Frontier because it is not very expensive to start with. Higher trim levels cost a lot but the SV offers features like air-conditioning, 16-inch wheels, keyless entry and so on that are very much necessary. Hence, at $23,990 it is also one of the most widely sold of the truck's whole lineup.
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr Crew Cab 5.0 ft. SB (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. LB (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
The 2013 Frontier is Nissan’s attempt at the mid-size pickup truck segment. The result is the truck that is very much smaller than the traditional full-size pickup truck but still is quite capable as a workhorse.
The 2013 Frontier is Nissan’s attempt at the mid-size pickup truck segment. The result is the truck that is very much smaller than the traditional full-size pickup truck but still is quite capable as a workhorse. With full-size pickup showing signs of impracticality given the current fuel prices, there is a need for a frugal truck, and that is exactly when you need trucks like the Nissan Frontier.
The 2013 Nissan Frontier crew cab is offered in five trim levels - S, SV, Desert Runner, Pro-4X, and SL it is offered only in four-door crew cab body style and a single 4 L V6 engine. A rear-wheel-drive is a powertrain it has by default and one gets the option of picking four-wheel-drive alternatives as well.
It has two transmission options – a five-speed automatic transmission and a six-speed manual transmission. There is a very narrow range of optional packages that can be chosen from, few examples being navigation system, Bluetooth, etc.
Trims |
S |
SV |
Desert Runner |
Pro-4X |
SL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$23,080 |
$25,140 |
$25,010 |
$30,220 |
$30,590 |
Key Features |
15-inch steel wheels |
Adds to features of ‘S’ |
Adds to features of ‘S’ |
Adds to features of ‘Desert Runner’ |
Adds to features of ‘SV’ |
|
Variable intermittent wipers |
Air-conditioning |
Bilstein shock absorbers |
Locking rear differential |
Heated mirrors |
|
Rear privacy glass |
Four speaker sound system with CD player |
Off-road tires |
Underbody skid plates |
Leather upholstery |
|
Flat folding passenger seat |
16-inch wheels |
Eight-way manual driver seat |
Automatic headlights |
Bluetooth connectivity, Pandora radio capability, and navigation system |
|
Cloth upholstery |
Keyless entry |
|
Rearview camera |
18-inch alloy wheels |
We Recommend
We recommend buying the SV trim of the Nissan Frontier because it is not very expensive to start with. Higher trim levels cost a lot but the SV offers features like air-conditioning, 16-inch wheels, keyless entry and so on that are very much necessary. Hence, at $23,990 it is also one of the most widely sold of the truck's whole lineup.
The new Nissan Frontier is offered with a 4.0 L V-6 engine that has a decent power output of 261 hp and 281 pound-feet of torque. This engine is a very capable and dependable workhorse but does not leave any driver smiling from ear to ear.
All trucks are rear-wheel-drive by default and offered with five-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmissions.
Model |
Nissan Frontier Crew Cab |
Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab |
Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab |
GMC Canyon Crew Cab |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$23,080 |
$29,150 |
$21,865 |
$24,045 |
Engine |
4 L V6 |
3.5 L V-6 |
2.7 L inline 4 |
2.9L inline-four |
Drivetrain |
RWD |
4WD |
RWD |
RWD |
Transmission |
5 speed automatic |
5 Speed Automatic |
4 Speed Automatic |
4-speed automatic |
Power |
261 hp @ 5600 rpm |
250 hp @ 5700 rpm |
159 hp @ 5200 |
185 hp @ 5600 rpm |
Torque |
281 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm |
247 lb-ft @ 4300 rpm |
180 lb-ft @ 3800 rpm |
190 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm |
0-60 (MPH) (seconds) |
7.4 |
6.2 |
7.4 |
7.1 |
Quarter Mile (second) |
15.7 |
14.5 |
15.9 |
15.8 |
Top Speed |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
From the results, we can see that the Honda Ridgeline is not the most powerful but has the best performance. However, this does not really mean that the car is exciting to drive. In comparison, the Nissan’s chassis feels more engaging and proves to be a better driving experience. The GMC is not too fun to drive but has better performance credentials than the Toyota.
We have not come across a full-size pickup truck with decent fuel efficiency ever and that is a fact. However, when you look at midsize pickup trucks, things start to change. The Nissan Frontier has a fuel tank capacity of 21.1 gallons and offers 16 MPG within city limits, 22 MPG on the highways, which results in a combined mileage of 18 MPG. These numbers show that the V6 is definitely as efficient as one would’ve expected.
Model |
Nissan Frontier Crew Cab |
Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab |
Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab |
GMC Canyon Crew Cab |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
16 |
15 |
19 |
18 |
MPG (Highway) |
22 |
20 |
25 |
25 |
MPG (Combined) |
18 |
17 |
21 |
21 |
Range (City/Highway) |
337.6/464.2 mi |
330.0/440.0 mi |
337.6/422.0 mi |
342/475 mi |
Fuel Capacity |
21.1 gallons |
22 gallons |
21.1 gallons |
19 gallons |
We can observe from the data that Toyota really impresses the most with its amazing fuel efficiency figures, finally making us understand why the downsized four-cylinder engines were their weapon of choice. The GMC Canyon offers the second-best fuel mileage. The Ridgeline impressed us with its performance but the trade-off for that was the huge drop it took in terms of fuel efficiency. Overall, we feel that Nissan has struck a very good compromise.
The Nissan’s cabin is again a good balance-this time between comfort and practicality. It is more spacious than one would expect in a midsize pickup. The seats are quite wide and comfy and access to the rear seats is also very easy.
The whole interior design does look a bit outdated but is supremely functional. One can find that the gauges and instruments are very easy to read and all controls are intuitive and easy to use.
Model |
Nissan Frontier Crew Cab |
Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab |
Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab |
GMC Canyon Crew Cab |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Front Row (Head/Shoulders/Legs) (.in) |
40.0/58.3/42.4 |
40.7 / 63.2 /40.8 |
40.2/ 57.7 /41.7 |
39.4/ 57.1 /42.3 |
Second Row (Head/Shoulders/Legs) (.in) |
38.7/58/33.6 |
39.1/ 62.6 /36.5 |
38.5/ 59.3 /32.6 |
38.2/ 57.1 /34.8 |
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft) |
43.2 |
41.4 |
45.1 |
49.5 |
The Honda Ridgeline offers the least cargo space among its competitors, and this is an important parameter here. From the data, it is clear that the three competitors are very much evenly matched in terms of interior space and comfort. However, the Tacoma has lower space in the rear row and feels cramped. The GMC Canyon is very spacious inside and offers the highest amount of cargo space as well – but feels a bit outdated. The main interior features of the 2013 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab include:
Like we have mentioned, the interiors of the Nissan are fully functional and can improve when it comes to infotainment, mainly with features like Bluetooth being offered only in higher trims. Compared to industry standards, it is described as basic at best. It has pretty much all the features one would expect from a car five years ago. The main infotainment features of the 2013 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab include-
The exterior styling of the new Nissan Frontier almost certainly looks like many other Nissan products. It is basic and purposeful but lacks the kind of sophistication that modern rivals offer in the midsize pickup truck segment.
It can use a styling update but that needn’t be the case as well. For the functional workhorse that it is, it is styled pleasantly well and is of decent dimensions.
Model |
Nissan Frontier |
Honda Ridgeline |
Toyota Tacoma |
GMC Canyon |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
4250 lbs |
4504 lbs |
4155 lbs |
3728 lbs |
Length (.in) |
205.5 in |
207 in |
208.1 in |
207 in |
Width (.in) |
72.8 in |
77.3 in |
74.5 in |
67.6 in |
Height (.in) |
70.1 in |
70.3 in |
70.3 in |
64.5 in |
Wheelbase (.in) |
125.9 in |
122.0 in |
127.4 in |
126.0 in |
Ground Clearance (.in) |
8.6 in |
8.2 in |
9.3 in |
7.7 in |
The Tacoma Double Cab is perhaps the largest in terms of length and offers better ground clearance. It is bigger than its rivals in all aspects except width, where the Honda Ridgeline is considerably bigger. The Nissan is somewhere in the middle in terms of space as well as weight and again strikes the great compromise. The GMC Canyon is the smallest car on the lot and has the lowest ground clearance. The main exterior features of the 2013 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab include:
In terms of standard features, Nissan offers antilock disc brakes, stability control, front-seat airbags and side curtain airbags rollover sensor, rearview camera, and active head restraints. In the IIHS crash test, it has earned the highest rating of ‘Good’ in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact, and strength crash tests Violet’s head restraints have also earned a rating of ‘Good’ for whiplash protection during rear impacts. The main safety features of the 2013 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab include:
The 2013 Nissan Frontier is a great midsize pickup truck that is priced very reasonably and offers a lot of functionality. However, its base trim is quite bare-bones and we recommend the higher trim levels. Definitely remains competitive in terms of its performance as well as technology. One of the only improvements the car would need is in terms of infotainment but otherwise makes for a great choice.