_Klay_ Posted July 31, 2020 Posted July 31, 2020 1. Upgraded Engine Nissan killed the Frontier’s four-cylinder engine for the 2020 model year and upgraded the 4.0-liter V-6. Now checking in at 3.8 liters, the new engine produces 310 horsepower and 281 pounds-feet of torque; that marks a 49-hp increase from the outgoing engine. The 2020 Frontier also gets a new transmission in the form of a nine-speed automatic that came straight out of the larger Titan full-size truck. The new engine is more refined, quieter and provides better acceleration than the 4.0-liter. It’s also lighter than its predecessor and helps breathe new life into the Frontier for its last year in the current generation. 2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X Cars.com photo by Aaron Bragman 2. Comfy Interior Though a little cramped in the backseat, the Frontier’s interior is more comfortable than expected. The front seats lack the high level of adjustability that many of its more contemporary rivals boast, but that doesn’t stop them from being a nice place to sit for long periods. They allow the driver to settle into a comfortable driving position and give excellent outward visibility as a result. Elsewhere, the Frontier is packed with clever storage spaces and gives occupants plenty of places to stow small items. 3. Value Pricing The 2020 Frontier is significantly more expensive than its predecessor — to the tune of $7,500 — but it’s still one of the more affordable compact pickups you can buy today. Add in the feisty V-6 engine as standard equipment and it’s easy to see where the extra dollars go. (That said, it becomes harder to recommend the more expensive trims like the Pro-4X because all Frontier models get the same great engine.) 4. Old-School Appeal The same hammer that can be used to tear the Frontier down for being outdated can also build it a shrine for being classic and timeless. Sure, the infotainment system is straight out of 2010 and the gauge cluster looks like the same one that graced your high school Maxima’s dash, but at this point in the Frontier’s extensive lifecycle, these quirks have become charms for the little truck in a way that almost negates the downsides of driving such an antiquated truck.
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