Nissan Frontier Quirks and Oddities

By "luck" I had a rental 2014 Nissan Frontier DCSB 4x4 for a week while traveling on vacation. Figured I'd share a few quirks and oddities. Click on each photo for full-size.

• VQ40DE engine is powerful enough. Old-style straight-pull shifter with O/D button difficult to shift amongst 4-2-3-1. Bumped it into neutral by accident a few times.
• I averaged 18 mpg in the winding mountain roads (but minimal traffic). The last day had a 260-mile straight highway drive at 70 mph that averaged 22 mpg.

• Brake pedal feel is linear, but travel is too long. Brake pedal is too far forward relative to the gas pedal.
• Ignition key position in the dash is superior to the Taco's - keychain never stabbed knee.
• Seats are uncomfortable. Cushion and seatback simply don't conform to the body contours as well. Inadequate side bolstering and lumbar support. Not sure if Nissan offers 2 different seat designs a la SR5 and TRD.
• Pressing the horn (most frequently used steering wheel button) requires taking a hand off the wheel, similar inconvenience as 2012+ Taco wheel design.
• Rear seat less roomy than Taco DC, with low cushion and less leg room.
• 4WD selector knob works the same way as the Taco's.
• Center console bin houses 3rd 12V plug and USB port. USB port could charge my Blackberry.
• Two gloveboxes each individually smaller than the Taco's.
• Cupholder rubber liner comes out with the bottle, just as annoying as the Taco.

• Not sure why there's a divider bar on the rear door window. Driving at city speeds with the rear window down causes rhythmic "woop, woop, woop" buffeting sound initially thought to be coming from the tire.
• Off-road ability is about equal to a stock Taco SR5. I've only taken it on "easy" trails due to the low front bumper cover.
• Tire is BFG Long Trail in P265/70-16, same size as Taco TRD OR. Cornering grip is decent on pavement.

• Plastic bedliner "buckles" under your feet, generally feels more flimsy than the Taco's composite bed.
• Tailgate is fitted very "loosely", with big gaps all around that lets light through.

• A/C condensation drips from the frame at roughly the same place as the Taco.

 

Can you show the rest of your signature?

 

Not since they shut down UG.

 

Interesting, nice review. My brother loves his 2012.

What’s the difference between the 13 and 14? When I checked out my brother's 4x4, I don't see how off-road capability is equal. If you have a chance, crawl under your front tires and check the coilover's. They are so small, almost like a car's (coil buckets are mounted way low on the Frontier). When comparing Bilstein 5100's, 1st gen Tacoma's have longer shocks and 2nd gen's are longer, even when compressed, than the Nissan's when extended .

For a comparison, below are the 5100 specs:

2013 Nissan Frontier: (~4.7" travel)
*Collapsed Length (IN): 10.55
*Extended Length (IN): 15.26

2013 Tacoma: (~5.5" travel)
*Collapsed Length (IN): 17.03
*Extended Length (IN): 22.56

2001 Tacoma: (4.7" travel)
*Collapsed Length (IN): 13.86
*Extended Length (IN): 18.62

 

^Remember the motion ratio isn't 1:1 for the front suspension. All it takes is a slight difference in the shock mounting location on the LCA to make the wheel travel very different among the three truck models. Assessment of off-road capability is purely by seat of the pants on some of the fire roads and dirt trails I found.

The difference is the Taco has a lot more upgrade parts available which significantly improve off-road capability, but you know this already.

 

Interesting post Ken. Your overview concluded or still coming in? Subbing for final thoughts.

 

To me the Frontier feels like a 90% Taco - every aspect is "almost as good" as the Taco but no aspect surpasses it. If the Taco didn't exist, I'd trust the Frontier off road more than the new Colorado.

 

I think the rear windows have the divider bar because they use the same window parts for xterra rather than a new unit for frontier.

 

My dad and I flew into Dallas, rented one of these at DFW, and drove it to Oklahoma City. It was exactly like the one you rented except silver.

Pros:
Surprisingly good factory sound system
Excellent A/C
Plenty of power under the hood

Cons:
Rough, stiff ride
2WD, and pretty sure it had an open rear differential (my Tacoma at least has what I refer to as a "fake posi rear," in the form of an automatic LSD added to the open rear differential)
Overall quality didn't seem up to par with my Tacoma...

 

Holy thread revival Batman!