2009 Nissan Frontier Truck Highlights
One result of the Nissan Frontier's 2009 facelift is the PRO-4X trim level. Equipped with off-road suspension and shocks, the pickup is basically the same underneath as the 2008 NISMO Frontier, but the PRO-4X name change puts it in sync with the terminology used for big brother Titan's off-road package.Nissan fitted the PRO-4X with a roof rack and added to the truck's sporty look with 16 inch alloy wheels and BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A tires. Color keyed bumpers and front foglights complete the pickup's unique exterior appearance.
Underneath, the PRO-4X sports Bilstein off-road gas shocks and an electronic locking rear differential. Additional skid plates protect the bottom of the radiator, differentials, transmission and transfer case from bumps and bruises.
Inside, the truck's red-stitched seats have a PRO-4X logo on their backs. White face gauges are easy to see and controls are within easy reach on the truck's updated center control panel.
Driving the 2009 Frontier Trucks
Our day-long Frontier road tests started out along the Columbia River and progressed upwards into the mountains of Washington state. I drove a 2WD King Cab Frontier first (an XE trim level truck with a 4-cylinder engine and 5 speed transmission). XE's are 'no frills' pickups, with cloth covered (manually adjustable) seats, a basic audio system and (heaven forbid) manual windows.Driving the XE was good timing, because I've been thinking about the first compact trucks lately, and how they've evolved into the feature-packed drives we've become accustomed to. And I've wondered... are people still willing to buy a pure utility truck?
The XE is as close as we can get to those early trucks, and it was a pleasant surprise. Controls and switches were all very easy to locate and reach. That may sound simplistic, but I've seen first-hand how frustrating it is for some drivers to figure out complex dash controls on new vehicles -- features sometimes go unused because people never get comfortable with their operation.
The XE's 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine came to life with little fanfare. I put the shifter into 1st, eased out the clutch pedal and aimed the Frontier down the highway (he clutch pedal wasn't too stiff and the engagement was very smooth). Shifting was effortless and the shift knob is easy to reach regardless of which gear you are in.
We get so accustomed to driving V8s and V6s that it's easy to forget how peppy a 4-cylinder engine can be. Driving on winding roads up into higher elevations, the XE's engine not only had plenty of power, but the truck was actually a lot of fun. I found myself shifting up and down through the gears as I switched from curves to straight stretches.
The Frontier's steering is responsive, but not soft, and the suspension is firm, but not uncomfortable on rough roads. The truck's seats offer sufficient support and comfort.
The basic Frontier is not a truck that strokes your ego or is made to impress people -- its purpose is function. If you're looking for a truck with decent fuel economy to drive to work everyday and occasionally haul cargo, the Frontier XE would be a good choice.
Off-Road Driving in the 4x4 Nissan Frontier
The first on-road drive ended in a high plains area of the southern Washington mountains called Starvation Ridge, where Nissan had set up an off-road course using about 2.5 miles of an 11 mile motorcycle enduro course (you can check out the course at www.overthebarsgang.com).The course was a good place to test the 4x4 Frontier's suspension travel, locking rear differential, anti-lock brakes, ground clearance and overall abilities. The Frontier handled all of the challenges without a problem.
One of the Nissan staff members (inadvertently) demonstrated the effectiveness of the Frontier's front skid plate, which protects the lower radiator and front differential. He was bringing the truck down a steep hill while trying to make a new set of tracks -- the ruts in the existing course were getting deep.
His tires slid over into the deep ruts just as he reached the bottom, and the truck's skid plate hit a rock. The plate did its job -- the truck wasn't damaged.
I made several passes on the course in both the Frontier and the Titan and both trucks performed all of the tasks with ease. I heard one journalist comment that he thought the Titan V8 had an advantage off-road, but I disagree -- the V6 was more than adequate.
2009 Frontier Production Plans
Nissan plans to up its production of the 4-cylinder 2WD Frontier King Cab to accommodate increased demand from customers who are looking for a pickup that can meet their day to day needs, but get better gas mileage than V6 trucks.
The Trip Back
We took a more direct route back to the hotel, where I was able to highway-test a V8 Titan 4x4. The Titan hasn't received a lot of attention lately, perhaps in part because of the announcement that a new version of the truck will be built in partnership with Dodge for the 2011 model year (Nissan will reciprocate by building the Dodge Hornet). It will be interesting to see how much of the next generation Titan is Nissan and how much of it is Dodge.The Titan's V8 had plenty of power and the transmission shifted smoothly. The ride was a little stiff, but that's normal for a four-wheel drive truck.
