Vehicle Overview
A 4×4 King Cab Supercharged Value Edition (SVE) joined the Nissan Frontier lineup in 2003, and all models gained electronic brake-force distribution. New 17-inch five-spoke wheels go on the SE models for 2004. A new Supercharger Value Truck Package is available for King Cab pickup trucks.
Redesigned in extra-bold form for 2001, the Tennessee-built Frontier features a front end dominated by a massive bumper. Prominent wheel flares have a bolted-on appearance. The redesigned 2005 Nissan Frontier was unveiled in early January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Exterior
Aggressive touches that create what Nissan calls a “modern industrial” look start with the front fascia, hood, fenders and bumper and match up with bold headlights and fog lamps. Nissan does not offer a regular-cab model, but three body styles are available.
King Cab (extended-cab) pickups feature a 74.6-inch cargo bed, a 116.1-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 202.9 inches. Unlike some extended-cab pickup rivals, the King Cab does not have four doors. Four-door Crew Cab pickups get a 56.3-inch bed and are 199.9 inches long overall with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. The Crew Cab Long Bed model is 217.8 inches long overall, rides a 131.1-inch wheelbase and has a cargo bed that’s 74.6 inches long.
Desert Runner (King Cab) models are offered in XE form. Supercharged (SC) Frontiers have 17-inch alloy wheels, a specially tuned suspension and increased ground clearance for 4×4 versions.
Interior
King Cabs come with either a split, three-place front bench seat or two buckets, along with a pair of folding jump seats in the rear. Crew Cabs have front bucket seats and a three-place rear bench. Selected models can have an optional leather-appointed interior with red-on-charcoal stitching.
All interiors have an instrument panel with three cockpit-style round gauges, as well as a console with side map pockets. Frontiers equipped with the supercharged engine have titanium-colored gauges. A 300-watt Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system with an in-dash six-CD changer is an option for Crew Cab models.
Under the Hood
The two-wheel-drive King Cab’s base engine is a 143-horsepower, 2.4-liter inline-four-cylinder. Standard in Desert Runner, 4×4 and Crew Cab models, the 3.3-liter V-6 yields 180 hp. A supercharged version of the V-6 that cranks out 210 hp goes into the SC and SVE models. All engines are available with either a four-speed-automatic or five-speed-manual transmission.
Safety
Four-wheel antilock brakes are standard. Dual-stage front airbags with a passenger-side cutoff switch are installed.
