Been thinking about getting a new 2019 Nissan Frontier Extended Cab 4x4 and selling my 02 F150 and 05 Dodge Magnum Hemi. I think the new full size trucks are too big and have too many complex features such as stop/start. The simplicity of the Nissan appeals to me as well as the price. The 4.0 V6 is old school with the same hp rating as my 02 5.4. It doesn't have the best gas mileage ratings in its class due to its simplicity but should be noticeably better than my F150. My wife loves her 2013 Inifiniti EX37 and it has been totally reliable since we bought it new although she has only put about 30k miles on it.

 

If you wait, the 2020 Frontier will keep the same body but get the new trans and more powerful V6. Just a thought.

 

From what I've noticed, Nissans are hit or miss. Especially the Frontier.

The engine and transmissions are usually OK, but it's usually stupid stuff like the radio and electronics that let most down.

 

I wouldn't buy one, the transmission is going to be a 9 speed and the new 3.8 V6 is a lot more high tech. Grab a 2019 with the old 4.0 and 5 speed auto or 6 speed manual

It's also going off my radar, they are dropping the manual trans.

 

I'm sure the 2020 Frontier model will be a lot more expensive too. My wife's EX37 has the 3.7L V6 with variable valve timing and variable valve lift. I was sort of afraid of it but from what I've read it is a good engine. I think the 3.5L engines had some timing chain issues. I am changing the oil in that thing every 6 months which is about every 2500 miles just in case. There are a lot of 2019 models left at the dealers. The extended cab models are a little harder to find but there are plenty of crew cabs.

 

Few years back my needs changed and I didn't need a bloated pig to have to herd around. So I looked at the Frontier with the thought when I went to the dealer, I was driving one home. I didn't. The thing that stopped me dead was the seats. In any of the standard seating, my head was in the headliner. There was no head room at all. I'm 6'4" and didn't fit. I sat in the SL as I recall it being but it was the top of the line truck and it had electric seats that would lower. But that was an option on that model truck only. I could have bought one right then but I don't need top of the line or want all of the bling that comes on one. If I could have gotten a mid model, an SV I think it was, with electric seats, I'd probably be driving one. I would most strongly suggest the 4.0 engine vs the new 3.8. I have seen where they've had issues already with the engine, some of it doesn't even make sense like metal porosity and not be able to keep the oil inside the engine. It just bleeds thru the metal. They've had other gremlins that they'll probably work out but for now, I wouldn't want anything but the old workhorse 4.0. Only downside to one is they are not a gas miser. If you can break 20mpgs on the hiway, you've done good with most 18-19. FWIW, the new 3.8 is a new engine and does not share most of the parts schedule with any other vehicle. It is a direct injection design. Direct injection on a non- turboed engine these days is just stupid. There's nothing to keep deposits out of the intake system. On the plus side, it's really truck country down here in Texas, everybody owns at least one truck. You won't find many used Frontiers on the market here. People that have them keep them. While the Frontier is antiquated, it's still a reasonably sized, reliable platform. My vote goes for buying the Frontier with the 4.0 engine. Many have already bought them over the years but not many are getting rid of them. That right there should tell you which one to buy.

 

The only other "small" trucks are the Tacoma, Colorado, and Ranger. The Tacoma and Colorado have high tech V6's with direct injection (Toyota 6 speed, Chevy 8 speed) and the Ranger is a turbo 4 with the 10 speed trans.

If Ford were to offer a Ranger with a NA V6 (3.3, 3.5, or 3.7) with PREFERABLY a manual transmission or the "old" 6 speed auto I'd seriously consider it.

 

That's the way I feel also. A NA V6 with the 6 speed would be perfect for the Ranger. I've heard the V6 in the Colorado has timing chain issues. One youtube mechanic says he loves them because they need timing chains every 30k miles.

 

The Colorado does offer a diesel. It's a 2.8 4 banger turbo. It reviews pretty well.

 

Isn't that the one with the timing chains on the rear of the engine? The engine has to be pulled to replace them.

 

I can't find much info, but it looks to me like it uses a timing BELT at the front of the engine, 150k mile change recommended. The only engine I'm familiar with that has chains at the rear is the Ford 4.0 SOHC V6 in the old Ranger, Explorer, and Mustang.

Edit: The 2.8 Duramax is a VM Motori design built in a GM plant in Thailand.

 

I was mistaken. It's the 3.0L inline 6 cyl diesel in the big truck that has the timing chains on the rear.

I'm not a fan of diesel engines. I like quiet gas engines and especially now with the def requirements. It will be interesting to see if the new mini diesels last longer than gas engines. I'm hearing the first Dodge mini diesel has been blowing up before 100k miles.

 

F150? That's a V6, not inline. That has 2 belts (not chains), 1 in front for the cams, 1 in the rear for the fuel pump. You don't have to pull the engine to change the fuel pump belt, but it goes a lot easier if you lift the cab.

 

I was still talking about the Chevy, the new mini-diesel for the Chevy.

 

We ran Frontiers for several years as our company trucks - my company is based In Nashville and since Nissan has their US headquarters in Nashville the “suits” decided to go with hometown Nissan as our corporate supplier over the Chevy’s we had been driving for many years. While I have never opted for a company truck (prefer to run my own vehicle and take the mileage reimbursement instead) the guys who did seemed to like them just fine. They griped a bit at first because of the smaller size, but after they got over that it was clear the truck performed well and did everything we needed it to.

I hear you on longing for old school simplicity in the drivetrain - that’s exactly what I love about my ‘09 Ranger! Nothing fancy and no sophisticated electronic wizardry that will turn into a maintenance nightmare once the warranty expires. Just basic, reliable transportation that will remain easy to maintain and keep on the road for many, many years!