2012 Nissan Frontier

2012 Frontier Photos
The Right-Sized Truck Shows Its Age Sometime during the mid '90s, the Big Three stepped up the fullsize truck arms race in a serious way. While Chrysler, Ford and General Motors had always fought tooth and nail for every last possible customer, suddenly trucks began evolving into more than just utilitarian work horses. While the old payload and towing one-upmanship continued in earnest, pickup design began swelling with broad grilles, massive wheels and flanks to match. Option sheets suddenly glittered with choices previously confined to luxury vehicles, and MSRPs began covering wide territory as base models got cheaper and upper trims explored new fiscal heights. With all of Detroit's resources going to the fullsize game, domestic midsize entries like the Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota, GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado were left to rot on the vine. After all, why would buyers want to pony up equivalent cash for a less capable truck? Because, as the 2012 Nissan Frontier quietly reminds us, getting a job done is never about having the biggest tool. It's about having the one that's right for the task at hand. Make no mistake, the Frontier isn't some rosy-faced young gun. Nissan has left the truck largely unchanged since the current generation debuted in 2009. A new appearance package, complete with the saucy vinyl get up and the 19-inch Dark Hyper Silver finish wheels you see here, quietly sum up the width and breadth of the machine's evolution over the past three years, but that isn't such a bad thing. The Frontier still looks good with its purposeful grille and flared fenders. While the Toyota Tacoma received a mild facelift for 2012, the changes weren't enough to put the Taco leagues ahead of its Nissan rival aesthetically, though it does outsell the Frontier nearly 3-to-1. This setup is more than enough to handle light-duty suburban chores. We're particularly fond of the color-matched wheels and grille on our Frontier tester, and while the graphics are a bit too campy for our tastes, the truth is they provide a commendable link to the truck's early days as the loveable Hardbody. The Frontier's Crew Cab configuration does trim the overall bed length down to just under five feet at 59.5 inches. That leaves the cargo area virtually square, serving up a total of 27.1 cubic feet of storage. The space isn't huge, but it's enough to cart around landscaping materials with ease, and we found it more than capable of hauling a set of fenders and a windshield frame for a project vehicle with space to spare. This setup clearly isn't for tackling serious tasks, but it's more than enough to handle light-duty suburban chores without subjecting a vehicle's interior to the slights of moving dirty or abrasive cargo. The Frontier starts to show its age indoors. Speaking of interiors, there is a surprising amount of space indoors. We comfortably fit four grown adults in the cab of the Frontier without issue, and while the back seat can be a …
Full Review
The Right-Sized Truck Shows Its Age Sometime during the mid '90s, the Big Three stepped up the fullsize truck arms race in a serious way. While Chrysler, Ford and General Motors had always fought tooth and nail for every last possible customer, suddenly trucks began evolving into more than just utilitarian work horses. While the old payload and towing one-upmanship continued in earnest, pickup design began swelling with broad grilles, massive wheels and flanks to match. Option sheets suddenly glittered with choices previously confined to luxury vehicles, and MSRPs began covering wide territory as base models got cheaper and upper trims explored new fiscal heights. With all of Detroit's resources going to the fullsize game, domestic midsize entries like the Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota, GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado were left to rot on the vine. After all, why would buyers want to pony up equivalent cash for a less capable truck? Because, as the 2012 Nissan Frontier quietly reminds us, getting a job done is never about having the biggest tool. It's about having the one that's right for the task at hand. Make no mistake, the Frontier isn't some rosy-faced young gun. Nissan has left the truck largely unchanged since the current generation debuted in 2009. A new appearance package, complete with the saucy vinyl get up and the 19-inch Dark Hyper Silver finish wheels you see here, quietly sum up the width and breadth of the machine's evolution over the past three years, but that isn't such a bad thing. The Frontier still looks good with its purposeful grille and flared fenders. While the Toyota Tacoma received a mild facelift for 2012, the changes weren't enough to put the Taco leagues ahead of its Nissan rival aesthetically, though it does outsell the Frontier nearly 3-to-1. This setup is more than enough to handle light-duty suburban chores. We're particularly fond of the color-matched wheels and grille on our Frontier tester, and while the graphics are a bit too campy for our tastes, the truth is they provide a commendable link to the truck's early days as the loveable Hardbody. The Frontier's Crew Cab configuration does trim the overall bed length down to just under five feet at 59.5 inches. That leaves the cargo area virtually square, serving up a total of 27.1 cubic feet of storage. The space isn't huge, but it's enough to cart around landscaping materials with ease, and we found it more than capable of hauling a set of fenders and a windshield frame for a project vehicle with space to spare. This setup clearly isn't for tackling serious tasks, but it's more than enough to handle light-duty suburban chores without subjecting a vehicle's interior to the slights of moving dirty or abrasive cargo. The Frontier starts to show its age indoors. Speaking of interiors, there is a surprising amount of space indoors. We comfortably fit four grown adults in the cab of the Frontier without issue, and while the back seat can be a …
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Retail Price

$19,260 - $32,990 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 2.5L I-4, 4.0L V-6
MPG Up to 19 city / 23 highway
Seating 4 Passengers
Transmission 5-spd auto w/OD, 5-spd man w/OD, 6-spd man w/OD
Power 152 - 261 hp
Drivetrain four-wheel, rear-wheel
Curb Weight 3,686 - 4,696 lbs
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