2007 Nissan Frontier Pickup

What’s New?
For 2007, the Nissan Frontier adds a long-bed model, which is more than 13 inches longer than the bed on the Crew Cab model. Other minor changes include a passenger-side seat belt reminder light, an auxiliary input jack for MP3 players, a new Desert Stone exterior color, and improved emissions certification on all but XE models. There’s also a new Appearance Package for the King Cab XE, and a Value Truck Package for the SE trim level.

Overview
Nissan’s foray into midsize pickups started 20 years ago, and while the styling has changed the “hardbody” toughness hasn’t. The Frontier has seen many iterations, but remains a force in the segment. The Frontier pickup was redesigned in 2005, so it will only receive minor changes for 2007. New is a Power Package for the King Cab XE model, chrome trim ring accents for meter gauges, and chrome vent trim is standard on NISMO and LE models. The glove box gets a standard lock this year, and there’s an available Satellite Radio Package for those who love music but hate commercials. Three new exterior colors are offered for 2007: Red Alert, Red Brawn, and Majestic Blue.

Brand identification plays a role in the Frontier’s looks. The grille features the same angled strut design as on the full-size Titan pickup, as well as Nissan’s sport utility vehicles. The Frontier also shares the “F-Alpha” platform that’s used on the Titan, Armada , and Pathfinder models. Inside, the Frontier feels and looks more like a car than a pickup. It has flip-up rear seats in all cabs, removable storage boxes beneath the rear seats, a dual glove box, available leather seats, and a factory-installed sunroof. Safety is paramount, with an occupant classification sensor that determines if and how the air bag should be deployed for the front-seat passenger, based on a variety of inputs, and available side curtain air bags.

Available in King Cab and Crew Cab and in both two- and four-wheel-drive configurations, the Frontier is built in America at the Smyrna, Tennessee factory. In addition to the Frontier, there’s a NISMO (Nissan Motorsports) Edition of the truck that features an extensive list of performance-based parts, such as off-road-tuned NISMO-spec Bilstein performance shocks, skid plates, unique 16-inch alloy wheels with BFGoodrich off-road tires, and an electronic-locking rear differential. The NISMO Frontier comes in the same configurations as the regular Nissan Frontier. Nissan claims that the Frontier has the most powerful engine in the segment: a 4.0-liter DOHC V-6 with 265 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque, though if you’re strictly looking at torque figures, the Doge Dakota’s Magnum engine outproduces Nissan’s by 6 lb.-ft.

The Competition
The Nissan Frontier competes in the Midsize Pickup segment, which consists of 11 models. Buyers in this segment look for reliability, quality, and performance, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Toyota Tacoma 178,351 units sold), Chevrolet Colorado (93,876), and Ford Ranger (92,420). The Nissan Frontier sold 77,510 units in 2006, an increase of 6.4 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Midsize Pickup segment include the Dodge Dakota, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Honda Ridgeline, GMC Canyon, and Mitsubishi Raider.