Yahoo Autos 2020 Nissan Frontier: Yes, a New One Is Finally on the Way
What It Is: The third generation of Nissan’s best-selling pickup. Yes, that’s right: The mid-size Frontier outsold the full-size Titan by more than 20,000 units in the U.S. last year, despite having changed little since the second generation, introduced in 2004.
Why It Matters: The Frontier has been a solid showroom performer for years. But the mid-size-truck market is growing more competitive, with the Chevy Colorado and the redesigned Honda Ridgeline already taking market share from Nissan. A new Jeep pickup and the return of the Ford Ranger further threaten Frontier sales.
Platform: The obvious candidate is Nissan’s global Navara truck, the brand’s small pickup in the rest of the world. But Nissan is more likely developing a new Frontier platform-one that remains closely related to the Titan, as both trucks will continue to be built side by side in Nissan’s factory in Canton, Mississippi. The new Frontier could also spawn the return of the body-on-frame Xterra SUV.
Powertrain: Expect a new gas V-6, possibly yet another development of the inexhaustible VQ-series engine. It will be shared with the Titan, which means output close to 300 horsepower routed through a seven-speed automatic transmission. Base models may get four-cylinders, but we doubt that Nissan will go to the expense of offering a diesel.
Competition: Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Wrangler pickup, Toyota Tacoma.
What Might Go Wrong: Apart from the GT-R’s twin-turbo V-6, Nissan’s engine lineup is unimpressive. And the company’s conservative approach to product development means some redesigns arrive feeling already dated, a fate that could befall the next Frontier.
Estimated Arrival and Price: Not before 2020, starting in the low-$20,000 range.
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