2012 Nissan Frontier Review Summaries

What reviewers liked most about the Nissan Frontier:

Typical trucklike bounding and jiggle over bumps is quickly quelled.

-- Consumer Guide

...this F-Alpha architecture gives the Frontier a solid foundation that can be tuned for hauling cargo, traversing rough trails and for providing a comfortable ride around town or at expressway speeds.

-- New Car Test Drive

Front seats are comfortable yet supportive. Passengers riding in the back seat of the Crew Cab won't be complaining about being cramped, not with 33.6 inches of legroom.

-- New Car Test Drive

The driver grasps a nicely sized (not too large) steering wheel with a rim that has a tab-like enlargement on each side, right where you want to rest your thumbs to maintain a proper 9 and 3 o'clock driving position.

-- New Car Test Drive

The engine responds promptly, sounds good, propels the truck smartly.

-- USA Today

What reviewers liked least about the Nissan Frontier:

Turning radius...leaves something to be desired, but the hefty steering feel is reassuring.

-- AutoWeek

We noted some hard shifts in the five-speed automatic transmission under heavy acceleration...

-- AutoWeek

The larger overall size results in much improved passenger room, but the overall materials quality is still average.

-- Edmunds.com

Ride and handling is improved...although, it's still a bit bouncy as you might expect from a compact truck.

-- Edmunds.com

Steering seemed the only glaring drawback.

-- USA Today

Nissan Frontier Comparisons:

With a tough new look, innovative features and big horsepower under the hood, the new Frontier should provide serious competition for the new trucks from Dodge and Toyota.

-- Edmunds.com

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.

-- New Car Test Drive

The...Nissan Frontier has a bold and aggressive stance like its big brother, the full-size Nissan Titan, though in less intimidating dimensions.

-- New Car Test Drive

Best one-liner about the Nissan Frontier:

...buyers looking for a touch more 'tude in a midsize truck will likely find the Frontier right up their alley.

-- AutoWeek

Nissan...seems to have exorcised the rude, crude behavior common to small trucks.

-- USA Today