Compared my '16 taco to my friend's '15 Pro4X

My friend came over to get help installing a 2" lift (OME lift coils and shocks).

We had a chance to compare my new 2016 Tacoma TRD Offroad and his 2015 Pro4X

Pictures just because... threads are better with them (and I get to show off the new small acreage I just bought).










Initial Impressions: The Taco has a couple more tech innovations like the crawl system, auto-lsd, user interface (check tire pressure, pitch, elevation), push button start, and proximity entry/unlock. It has additional nice touches as well, like blinkers on mirrors, LED DRL's .
However, no leather seats, heated seats, cargo lamp, backup sensors, or sunroof.
Understandably, my truck isn't the Limited or PRO, so some stuff will not quite match the totally decked out Pro4X. Some of these aren't too important, but the Taco still costs more...
The Frontier has the beefier tie down system as well.

Engine: The 3.5L is impressive matched with the 6speed auto. It gets decent mileage and seems to have more pick up and go than the 4.0 in my friend's Nissan. However, during the trial drag race between the two trucks, the Frontier's torque beat the Taco for the first 200' or so. My mirror was at his B pillar, then rear window, then I shot by in no time after the 3.5 had a chance to wind up and go through the gears. The Taco pulls away consistently. Also bear in mind the Extended cab Taco is roughly 600 or so pounds lighter than the Frontier (as per advertised numbers I found on google). I'd imagine the gobs of extra torque make the nissan a bit better of a puller, but we didn't get to test that.

Suspension: The stock Taco suspension is better offroad. On-road I didn't see a difference, but offroad, the Taco is smoother over whoops, bumps, and trenches. We diddn't get to check articulation much (didn't measure anything anyway). The Taco's tires are subpar for sure though, and don't compare to the larger Hankooks that come stock on Pro-4xs. Due to the increased tire size, the ground clearance under diff is about 0.5" better on the Frontier stock. The clearance under frame on the Taco is much better. The Taco does have that horrible Jay Leno chin, that I will be fixing with a CBI bumper shortly. The frontier may still have a better approach angle after that. We'll see soon.

You can get a much better rundown on that TFL Truck video on youtube called "By The Numbers", but in a real life comparison, I've got to say that the Frontier is a very nice truck. Sure it is still on an aging platform with a few add-ons, it drinks fuel like you own stock at exxon, and the aftermarket is a little slim, but they got a lot right on this one too.

My complaints on the Frontier are few, but real. It was slower even with that bigger engine, you can't turn off the electronic nannies, and at 5000 pounds it doesn't exactly tip toe anywhere.

As much as I love the taco, they didn't get that 100% right, either.
For that price tag, I'd have expected at least as many "niceties" as the Nissan.
The bed doesn't say "I'm serious about hauling", or "I seriously don't want my bike flopping out on the highway" - like the Nissan's bed does. I sort of wish it didn't default to eco mode all the time. Maybe I'd like a weekend of fun without pushing that damn ECT button 40 times.

We hashed all this out and decided that both trucks are pretty great, and that the only thing better would be a truck that had disk brakes out back (like the nissan), a serious tie down system (like the nissan), is fast (like the taco), has all the cool tech(like the taco), a rabid following with a great aftermarket (like the taco), etc... We only argue what the name should start with... Frontoma - or - Tactier.... (nevermind... those both sound awful - but you get the point).


Bonus post lift frontier flex pic.





Have any of you tried the Nissan?
Anything to add?

 

I had a 2011 Pro-4X which was all good except the 16mpg no matter what.

 

The Nissan is just not an attractive truck. It's so dated. I had an 03 supercharged frontier and test drove a new pro4x 6spd before deciding on the Tacoma. How someone could choose the frontier over the Tacoma I don't know. Unless you're talking like 8 to 10k price difference, it just not competitive. Nissan needs a refresh and preferably not the 2018 that I see swirling around. That could be even worse.

 

That mustache though...

PIMP

Edit, never mind. Hard to see on phone. Not a mustache.

 

Ps that looks like a lot of frame rust for a 2015.

 

Indeed!

My best and only real college friend from engineering school.

Cool guy!

You guys will likely see more of him and that Nissan in upcoming camping trips and such if luck goes my way.

 

Atleast the Nissan come with standard mud flaps

 

My friend has a 2016 Pro4x and I think it's a really nice truck. If i wasnt set on a Tacoma I would have gone with the Nissan.

I might be in the minority here, but interior aside, I think it's a pretty nice looking truck..

 

Nissan had some pretty awful issues with the auto trans up through 2010 or so, but that can be solved by a really great 6 speed that they offer. The VQ engine is really torquey and reliable and is a great match for a truck. I am still seriously considering a '16 PRO 4X with manual transmission. I think a good comparison would be a PRO 4X manual vs a DCSB O/R manual- old school vs. new.

 

Hopefully not ones that dragged the ground like mine did

 

I traded a 2009 Suzuki Equator (built on the Nissan Frontier line at the Nissan plant) for my 2016 taco. Excluding tax and license on both the taco was TWICE the price so I definitely have a different beast now as far as engines, drive system, and options go. The Equator was my beater from day one and did a good job. Since I retired last spring my new-fangled taco will be treated much better.

 

FWIW, these are available options on the OffRoad, at least here in SET territory they are. Heated seats, backup sensors, and sunroof are in the P&T packages, the other two are accessory add-ons via port install.

I've really not looked at the Nissans, so now I'm a bit curious. Did you take pics of the Nissan's bed and the parts that gave you that impression? Several pics apparently didn't display here so apologies if you've already posted them.

Only other thing I'd add -- the Nissan's roof rack looks like crap compared to the Tacoma's.

 

No pictures here on my phone. Here is one I stole from Google...

Not only are there more rails for more options, they don't flex at all. Feels like you could hang the truck by them.

As for the frame rust mentioned earlier... That's Oklahoma red dirt.
Other than paint scratches, that truck is in great shape.

 

Thanks, the floor rails look pretty neat. Nice option.

You can add a front rail to the Tacoma, I paid ~$34 from my dealer, YMMV. Part #

$53 PT278-35100-BH Truck Bed Header Rail

PT278-35100-BH

 

I looked hard at the Nissan, because it was much cheaper, with more equipment, and you can get a height adjustable seat. I'm short, so the adjustable seat is a big one. It drove fine and I had no issues with it, but I just couldn't fall in love with the body style. It looks so much smaller to me than the Tacoma. The resale value in the Tacoma almost made up for the initial price difference. Very happy with my Tacoma choice.