2001 Nissan Frontier Review

Nissan, which offered the first compact pickup truck in America in 1959, has really come alive with its revamped 2001 Frontier compact pickup.


The new Frontier offers the first supercharged engine for a compact pickup and a new "modern industrial" look that may strike you as bold or ungainly.


The aggressive appearance comes mainly from an in-your-face front end that looks as if it consists of bolt-on units from a truck customizing shop and fender flares with rivet-type caps that also look like add-on custom items. The flares have been added to rear-drive models and are enlarged on four-wheel-drive models.


Most 2001 Frontier models have a lower ride height and wider stance.


A new, lockable tailgate is a "first" for a compact pickup. And there are a new steering wheel and revised instrument panel with easily read reversible gauges that change from black-on-white to white-on-black at night. However, the handbrake lever has a design from a 1940s pickup.


New seat fabric that looks like woven metal, along with metal-colored knobs, tie together the interior and exterior look and feel of the Frontier, which gets its brash styling from Nissan Design International in California.


Base prices range from $11,699 for the Regular Cab rear-drive model to $25,499 for the Crew Cab four-wheel-drive model with a leather interior. The Crew Cab extended-cab model is one of few small pickups with four carlike doors.


Supercharged models start at $19,999 but won't arrive until later this year.


New options include leather upholstery, a six-disc in-dash CD player and steering-wheel audio controls. There's sports-car-style red-on-charcoal stitching if you get SC trim that comes with the supercharged engine.


The supercharger increases horsepower of the 3.3-liter V-6 engine from 170 to 210 and allows it to produce significantly more torque.


The base 2.4-liter, 143-horsepower four-cylinder makes the Frontier underpowered during many driving conditions; it should be ordered only with the manual to squeeze the most performance from it.


Engines work with either a five-speed manual or responsive four-speed automatic transmission, but aren't very economical with fuel.


The 170-horsepower engine provides average performance, while the supercharged engine delivers lively--but hardly neck-snapping--acceleration (0-60 mph in 9.5 seconds).


Frontiers are fun to drive, with quick steering, easily modulated brakes and a generally supple ride.


Like most pickups, the $11,699-$25,099 Frontier comes in a variety of two- and four-wheel drive models and with a good number of trim levels.


There's a Regular Cab model with a 6.5-foot cargo bed, two-door extended King Cab with a 6.2-foot bed and a carlike four-door Crew Cab with a 4.6-foot bed.




The Regular Cab comes only with the four-cylinder and rear-drive in XE trim. But other models offer two- and four-wheel drive in XE, SE and the new supercharged SC trim levels. Then there's the Desert Runner, which is a rear-drive V6 King Cab model that looks as if it has the ride height and stance of a four-wheel-drive Frontier.




The Crew Cab is the roomiest model, but its rear seat is only moderately comfortable because the backrest is too upright. The two-door extended-cab model has two uncomfortable flip-down seats suited only for kids. It's best to keep those seats flipped up and to use the back seat area for cargo.


The new Frontier has been considerably improved in most respects. For sure, it stands out in a crowd.