2005 Nissan Frontier Pickup Reviews & Ratings

The 2005 Frontier interior was designed to be as versatile as the cargo bed.

Front seats are comfortable yet supportive. Passengers riding in the back seat of the Crew Cab won't be complaining about being cramped, not with 33.6 inches of legroom. Adults riding in the two forward-facing rear seats in the King Cab might not be eager for a long drive, but still have more than two feet to stretch their legs.

Entry into the rear seat is helped by grab handles built into both B pillars (the vertical pillar alongside the front seat backs. Rear-seat passengers in all Frontiers have access to a pair of cup holders. The windows in the rear doors of Frontier Crew Cabs power down all the way.

Safety is improved for rear-seat passengers when Frontiers are equipped with the optional inflatable curtain airbags that cover both front and side windows in the event of a side impact. Curtain airbags are designed to provide head protection.

Storage containers are built into the nearly flat rear floor beneath the rear seats in both cab styles, and seat bottoms can be flipped up to provide additional cargo space.

The driver grasps a nicely sized (not too large) steering wheel with a rim that has a tab-like enlargement on each side, right where you want to rest your thumbs to maintain a proper 9 and 3 o'clock driving position. Entry into the front seats is enhanced by grab handles on either side of the interior windshield support (A-pillar) with an additional grab handle in the interior roof just above the passenger-side door.

The A-pillars also incorporate defroster vents that should quickly clear side windows in winter or humid weather conditions. Sun visors have extenders to help cover the full width of side windows. A deep and dotted matrix behind the interior rear view mirror also helps protect the driver's eyes when driving into sunrise or sunset.

A covered storage tray sits on top of the center part of the dashboard. The Frontier has a pair of glove boxes in front of the front passenger's seat, with additional storage in the door pockets and center console, and three power outlets. Cup holders have removable inserts so they can handle large beverage containers.

The driver sits behind a large and complete gauge array. Controls for heating and ventilation systems have large knobs that are easy to find and to use, as is the knob for switching between two-wheel drive and four-high and four-low.

Unlike earlier Frontiers, the new model has a standard, lever-operated handbrake, preferable to the pull-handle still used on some Toyota Tacoma models.

The 2005 Nissan Frontier is built on the company's F-Alpha platform, as are the Titan full-size pickup and the Armada, Pathfinder and Xterra sport utilities. For the Frontier, the frame was shortened so the mid-size truck fits into a standard garage. At the same time, this F-Alpha architecture gives the Frontier a solid foundation that can be tuned for hauling cargo, traversing rough trails and for providing a comfortable ride around town or at expressway speeds.

We spent our time in the Nismo off-road version but found it just as capable at dealing with highway speeds as at driving through nearly two feet of rushing water flowing from creeks across Texas ranch roads. Flooding prevented us from true off-roading and the opportunity to try out the Nismo's muddy and rocky trail capabilities, which include a 31.5-degree approach angle. However, we'd done enough of that the previous day in the 2005 Nissan Xterra to be confident in the Frontier, which shares the same features. Among them: Hill Descent Control walks the vehicle down steep descents; Hill Start Assist holds your position when you lift your foot off the brake while heading uphill.

Nissan's Vehicle Dynamic Control is set up to allow a little more sideslip than some electronic stability control systems. Many of these systems intervene too quickly to suit advanced drivers, but Nissan's reminds us of the system in Porsches, effectively helping the driver maintain control without feeling as if someone or something else has taken over.

The speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering provides good feedback. The Frontier was stable and sure even when driven aggressively around curves.

The four-wheel disc brakes were effective (with 11.65-inch diameter rotors in front, 11.26-inch rear).

The Frontier's 4.0-liter V6 engine is the most powerful in the mid-size pickup truck class. It provides 45 more horsepower than the largest engine available in the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado, 20 more horsepower (and while using regular fuel) than the V6 in the 2005 Toyota Tacoma, and 15 more horsepower than even the strongest V8 available in the 2005 Dodge Dakota. Nissan's six-speed transmissions, whether manual or automatic, allow the driver to exercise all of that power.

The Frontier XE's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates 154 horsepower, 85 percent of the power offered by the 3.3-liter V6 used in the previous generation Frontier.

The 2005 Nissan Frontier is available in four versions: the base version XE, the well-equipped SE, the more luxurious LE and the Nismo off-road model.

All except the XE are available in King Cab or Crew Cab configurations, in rear- or four-wheel drive and are powered by a V6 engine.

The Frontier XE ($15,500) comes only in the King Cab architecture, only with rear-wheel drive and only with a four-cylinder engine. However, the 2.5-liter inline four generates 154 horsepower. Built for the budget-minded truck buyer who needs to carry more people or cargo than a compact, standard-cab pickup can handle, the XE has crank-down windows, a five-speed manual transmission and 15-inch wheels. Options include a five-speed automatic transmission ($1,050); a preferred package ($1,500) that includes air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD audio system, tilting steering column, sliding rear window and privacy glass; cruise control ($250); and an airbag package with side airbags and curtain airbags designed to provide head protection ($550).

The 2005 Frontier SE, LE and Nismo are powered by Nissan's acclaimed 4.0-liter VQ family V6 engine, though now equipped and tuned for truck duty and producing 265 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque. With a couple of exceptions, they come standard with a modern six-speed manual transmission and the option of an available five-speed automatic ($1,050).

The Frontier SE comes as a 4x2 King Cab ($18,400), 4x4 King Cab ($21,100), 4x2 Crew Cab ($20,550), or 4x4 Crew Cab ($23,250). Standard equipment includes air conditioning, chrome front bumper and grille, a sliding rear window, an AM/FM/CD audio system, tilt steering wheel. King Cab options include 16-inch alloy wheels ($300); a power package ($750) that incorporates windows, locks, mirrors and cruise control; an Active Brake limited-slip traction system ($300); and side-impact and curtain airbags ($550). The Crew Cab options list adds a vehicle security system to the power package ($900) and a sunroof ($700).

All Frontier LE models come with automatic transmissions, including the 4x2 King Cab ($22,200), 4x4 King Cab ($24,900), 4x2 Crew Cab $23,900) and 4x4 Crew Cab ($26,550). LE models come with all the standard features of the SE plus power mirrors, windows and locks; fog lamps, chrome exhaust tips, door handles and exterior mirrors; remote keyless entry; height- and lumbar-adjustable driver's seat; leather-wrapped steering wheel; illuminated vanity mirrors; compass and temperature readings and a trip computer; sunglasses holder in an overhead console; driver's side seatback map pocket, and a first aid kit. The options list includes upgraded audio systems with MP3 player and six-CD changer for the King Cab ($550) and a Rockford Fosgate system for the Crew Cab ($850), a traction package ($700), a leather package for the Crew Cab ($1,700), and XM or Sirius satellite radio ($400).

The Nismo setup is available as a 4x2 King Cab with automatic transmission ($22,000), a 4x4 King Cab with manual ($23,650) or automatic ($24,700), a 4x2 Crew Cab with automatic ($24,050) or a 4x4 Crew Cab with automatic ($26,750).

They share most of their standard and optional equipment offerings with the LE grade, but come standard with the active brake limited slip traction system, special off-road design wheels and tires, Bilstein shock absorbers and skid plates to protect underbody components from obstacles encountered when driving off pavement.

Options for all models include a sliding cargo bed floor tray ($220), a hard tonneau cover ($1,030), a sliding bed divider ($270), a non-sliding bed extender ($250), a sliding bed extender ($290), a tow-hitch receiver ($380) and bed rail caps and under rail bed liner ($430).