MPG, reliablity, performance

AC linked defroster use...

Great truck, zero problems. Performed regular maintenance and get 27mpg combined. Went to BFG's from the factory generals and the handling got tremendously better.

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Chevy Silverado, Chevy S10, Ford F150

Fuel efficiency, dependability.

Body integrity.

Overall, great truck. Bought new in 1997 so it's 11 years old now and I plan on getting at least 3-4 more years out of it.

It has about 115k on it now. I've been hauling 900lb loads all summer and this little 1/4 ton handles it all day long. Engine and manual transmission has been near flawless. I think it has good power for a 4cyl. Very handy when you need a truck and I average 24mpg in strictly city driving.

I definitely don't baby this thing. I've now broken her in as any problems have completely gone away. At about 30k the fuel pump failed which was replaced under warranty. Early on, the truck was giving me what seemed like igntion problems in humid or rainy weather. I replaced the cap/plugs/wires and it helped quite a bit - but every once in a while it seems to miss a little in humid weather. Not a big deal. The power steering pump started leaking badly at about 105k but I just drive it without refilling. Other than that, body integrity is the only real issue. The bed rusting out will likely spell this truck's demise - not the mechanicals. Get the bed lined - I'll do that next time because a Nissan will outlive its body..

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1989 Nissan Hardbody 4.2l 4x2

Exterior and interior style, fit and finish quality, aftermarket intake and exhaust emit a very beefy and sporty note, functionality, reliability.

Fuel ecomony, a little weak on top end power, back seat room is a little tight for 6' adults such as myself, parts are a tad expensive, engine bay a little cramped and hard to work on depending on the task.

This is a review for an '03 Crew Cab naturally aspirated V6 with the standard bed, 4x2, and 4-speed automatic. So far I have had this truck nearly a year and have put 20,000 miles on it. I purchased it with 59,000 in late June 2007 and it currently has roughly 78,000 miles.

The only other vehicle I was considering was its closest competitor, the 01-04 Tacoma Doublecab Prerunner V6. Typically, I will side with the Toyota over any Nissan due to its reliability, level of skill required for DIY maintenance, styling, overall quality and performance. However, I found the Frontier to overcome the Taco in every aspect except perhaps straight-line performance where the Toyota's 3.4L DOHC V6 edges out the Frontier. The Tacoma's weakest suit, the interior, felt thin, tinny, cheap (surprisingly), looked very bland and bare bones, the seats were flat but supportive, overall the styling seemed to have carried over for 15 years since the debut of the new-for-1989 Toyota pickup. The clock was still hidden behind the ugly 4-spoke steering wheel, which is convenient. But nevertheless, panel gaps were minimal and construction was fairly solid.

Exterior styling is clean and presentable, but a little "curvy" and rather girly compared to the squared off, straight-edge appeal of the Frontier. Nissan refered to the styling as "modern industrial", which is very accurate.

The Toyota's ride is stiff, jolting, jittery, and very unforgiving on rough pavement. Combined with rock-hard seats, it made for a thoroughly unpleasant ride.

Both the DOHC 3.4L and the 3.3L SOHC V6 are very comparable to one another. Both are torquey and sound like they are working hard in the upper rpms...they are both gruff yet beefy sounding. The Toyota does have a slight advantage in straight line performance making 10 more hp, 20 ft lbs more torque, and weighing in at around 300 pounds less. Observed fuel economy is about 1-2 mpg better with the Tacoma with similar combined city-hwy travel.

The overwhelming deciding factor between the two was price. As mentioned, I purchased by Frontier for $14,000 which was about $2,500 undervalue, according to edmunds.com. A comparably equipped Toyota, lacking a couple of unexpected but useful features that my Frontier has such as compass/outside climate display, leather steering wheel, and steering wheel mounted auto controls priced at around $4-5,000 more than the Frontier which was hardly worth it. Resale value and rate of depreciation are very close. While the Toyota costs more, it will still be worth more than the Nissan after 5-years. Yet when the Toyota is just as reliable, but the Nissan offers more options and overall bang for the buck, the Nissan becomes the obvious choice.

Both trucks are very reliable. I have friends with both Taco's and Fronty's and both have had no major issues, if any, with over 175-250,000 miles, though I know they will both go much longer with proper maintenance.

Onto the review of my truck.

For starters, I really like the design. Mine is in solar yellow which stands out but complements the sportiness of the truck. As stated, the design is very modern industrial, but is attractive and beefy looking. The interior is nicely appointed with grey sport cloth, silver interior accents, and a very sporty looking three-pod black-to-grey fade gauge cluster. Fit and finish is standard late 90's, early 00's Nissan-grade which is solid. The seats are soft and supportive. The doors shut with a confident sound, emanating the signature Nissan "cloomp".

Ride is truck-like, stiff but moves over bumps softly. The steering is heavy at low speeds and a little sloppy, but the truck handles around curves in a surprisingly agile manner for a 3800 lb truck with a fully boxed frame.

Currently, I have installed an aftermarket air intake and full exhaust and torque is abundant with power tapering off around 5000 rpms. It is heavy and makes 180 hp stock. It is not going to win very many races on the street. But it moves off the line quickly and can pass adequately on the highway.

The truck is louder with the intake and exhaust, yet it seems to subdue the somewhat unrefined engine sound with a sporty howl from the intake and a grumbly, markedly evil sound from the exhaust.

Fuel economy is observed around 19-20 mpg with a 50/50 city-hwy combination.

So far, I have had the truck for about one year and 20,000 miles. The only problems to date were a leaking low pressure A/C hose and a leaking brake master cylinder. Both were purchased from the dealer ($300 combined) since parts are a little hard to come by which is odd because these are very popular trucks. The engine still runs top notch and the automatic shifts smoothly with no whine or jolts. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and hope to get many more trouble-free miles out of it.

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2003 Tacoma Dcab Prerunner V6

Shortest length of the crew cab pickups at 205.5 inches (not counting subaru baja) so it fits in the garage! Us short people can actually step into the truck without needing running boards. Good in snow without snow tires. Smooth ride and stable road feel. Lots of compliments on deep red color. Best feature is flip up back seats and removable headrests!

Would rather have better mileage (I only get 17.8 MPG and I baby it) and a less powerful engine;a 3L would have been adequate. Transmission shifts too often. Speedometer display to 140?. Armrest is too far back to use! Turning radius should be better. Seat fabric should be smooth and brushable.

Frontier crew cab a nice ride. With a few improvements/options it could be the perfect choice for those of use who aren't looking for a tow truck.

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Ford Ranger previously driven. Compared Frontier to Tacoma, Sport Trac, Colorado and Baja.

Nice styling. Good gas mileage.

4 cylinder lacks power. In less than a month, the driver seat back is frayed from me getting in and out. I'm going back to Nissan to see what can be done about it. If it continues, I'll have a hard time selling it without replacing the seats. I guess I could get covers, but that seems kind of tacky.

Overall, it's a good truck. But, I wish I had a 6 cylinder. I got a 4 cylinder with manual transmission to save on gas since I have a 90 mile commute round trip. And, for a truck, it gets pretty good gas mileage. It's my first truck and I got the 6 foot bed. It's great. I'm surprised at how much bigger the newer frontiers are from the older ones.

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2000 GMC Sonoma

Highway Gas Mileage, great ride for a small truck. Quality build.

Extremely Heavy Tailgate. Long turning radius

This is a nice truck, not perfect but none are. I like the 2.5 4 cyd. matched with the 5 speed auto. Its a good combination. I get 26.5 mpg on the highway driving 65 mph. I have gotten this mileage driving flat highways in Louisiana and hilly country in Texas. Now the city driving mileage is not so good. In all city driving it gets 20.5 mpg. I have 16,000 miles on it and so far no problems. My only dislikes are the heavy tailgate and the long turning radius. Its hard to understand how these obvious flaws could get past the engineers. It will be interesting to see how many year models pass before they address the heavy tailgate, which should be a easy fix.
This truck is overbuilt, which is good. Its built like a tank. Maintenance is a breeze on the 4, lots of room being it was also designed for the v6. I am also not in love with the interior, too much plastic, arm rest are poorly designed. Still this is a good truck, and I am glad I purchased it.

Great gas mileage, 26-27mpg. It pulls my trailer of 2500 LBS great. I haul about 1200 lbs in the bed though I had to get monroe max air ma727 heavy duty air shocks to level out the bed.

Spark Knocks when taking off under a load

It is a great truck.

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84 nissan 720 pickup

Strong as a bull but gentle as a lamb when driving. Prive value is GREAT. This truck is cheaper than the "sissy looking" Toyota Tacoma but offers so much more than the Toyauto. Gas Mileage is excellent at 24-25 MPG with auto transmission if you keep your foot aou of the gas and drive it at 70 mph or less. Great ride, really comfortable. The Nissan Frontier is a work-horse too. It's the best dollar value in this size truck and whips the pants off the Ranger/S10/Colorado's and basically any truck from the big three. I was thinking of buying a sissy Toyota until I drove it. That convinced me how the Frontier would be my choice. The Toyauto dealers in Indiana "price fix" their trucks so you can't get a value and Nissan dealers do not. I would recommend this truck to anyone who cares where their dollars are spent.

Interior: The seat fabric frayed in less than a month from new delivery. Nissan customer service is very-very slow to respond so hope you have a good dealer to take care of your problems.

Better than any "sissy Toyota Tacoma" and the best overall value for a truck.

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Toyota Tacoma.
Other Nissan trucks.

Great quality. Realiable. Nice looking

Gas Mileage. Drivers side arm rest has been replaced three times and the paint keeps chipping off.

I am pushing 85,000 miles will no trouble so far. Love everything about this truck accept that the GAS MILEAGE SUCKS. I average 16 mpg.

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1999 toyota tacoma.

Appearance, decent fuel mileage.

$1200 air conditioning repair bill on a 31/2 year old truck that has been babied.
Tried to get it fixed under warranty but problem "could not be duplicated".

Truck has been reliable so far with 57,000 miles on it. But am not happy at all with MAJOR air conditioning repairs needed after less than 4 years of use on a truck purchased new.

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