Road Test
On or off the road, the powerful V6 engine takes care of business with ease, though returns only 15.1 mpg in the process. The highway ride is comfortable but a bit choppy, while off-roaders may find their 2005 Nissan Frontier bottoming out more than expected.
What a difference a model year can make, especially one that ushers in a completely new platform, fresh styling, and a bigger engine with up to 80-odd additional horsepower and lb.-ft. of torque. All of it is evident and appreciated when seated behind the wheel of a 2005 Nissan Frontier. The jewel of this truck is the 265-horsepower V6, an engine characterized by strong acceleration that’s leaps and bounds ahead of the old 180-horsepower 3.3-liter (up to 210 horsepower on supercharged models). Whether it’s on the road or off, slugging through traffic or throwing down the hammer for a quick highway pass, a V6-equipped 2005 Frontier will impressively perform without hesitation. Plus, the smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission keeps things moving nicely. There are a few downsides to this powertrain. At full revs, the 4.0-liter is a true workhouse, albeit one you can hear breathing heavily. And then there’s the dismal fuel economy. The EPA rates a four-wheel-drive 2005 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab with an automatic transmission at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway; we achieved 15.1 mpg in mixed driving. Sometimes, power comes at a price. Other aspects of the drive are OK, but not as impressive as the potent V6 engine. Brakes, for example, are easy to modulate but they’re also a bit soft, requiring significant travel before becoming fully effective. Handling is typical of most trucks, meaning that there’s a decent amount of body roll, the ride is choppy on uneven pavement, and the steering requires constant corrections on the highway to keep on track. Off-road, however, the Frontier does quite well overall, with our tester benefiting from Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Control. These systems help the driver to descend steep hills at slow speeds without the use of the brakes, and start on a sharp incline without rolling back and having to punch the throttle. As expected, 284 lb.-ft. of torque does an excellent job of pulling the Frontier through deep ruts and over most obstacles. Unfortunately, the 10.1 inches of ground clearance aren’t enough to prevent this Nissan from bottoming out more than expected off-road, and the huge steering diameter requires multi-point turns. When narrow trail intersections are set at 90 degrees, as they often are, a tighter turning circle is preferred.
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