2020 Nissan Frontier: What's Old Is Partly New

The 2020 Nissan Frontier unveiled ahead of the Chicago Auto Show Wednesday night looks an awful lot like a 2019 model, to say nothing of the fourteen years of Frontiers that came before, but there’s something new lurking under the hood.

In an unusual move, Nissan has decided to debut the powertrain of the Frontier’s long-awaited midsize successor in the newest current-generation model. The last current-gen model, to put it another way.

With the new engine upgrade comes a considerable boost in horsepower and four additional forward gears.

The all-new engine, cobbled together with 93 percent new or redesigned parts (Nissan claims), will roll out of the same Decherd, Tennessee plant as the Titan’s 5.6-liter V8. Displacing 3.8 liters, the direct-injection V6 generates 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque.

That pony figure, up from 261 hp in the 4.0L, catapults the Frontier ahead of the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma, though its torque, which stays the same as the previous V6 mill, is handily trounced by the turbo-four Ford.

Gone from the 2020 Frontier is the long-running 2.5-liter base engine, its manual transmission, and the five-speed automatic that found a home in both four-banger and V6 models. In its place, a nine-speed automatic promises a broader ratio spread and, Nissan hopes, a worthwhile uptick in fuel economy.

With this move, manual transmission availability exits the Nissan truck line, with just Jeep and Toyota left holding the torch.

Elsewhere in the 2020 Frontier, there’s a bit of changeup in how you can order your truck. Nissan wants fewer build configurations with all of its models, and the Frontier is no exception. Those looking for a King Cab can expect rear-wheel drive on base S and SV trims, with optional four-wheel drive on those trims and standard on higher, while Crew Cab models sees the choice extend to SV trims in both bed lengths. Spring for the Pro-4X, and its 4WD-only.

The newish pickup goes on sale this spring, before which pricing will be announced. Hopefully, we’ll soon learn about the next-generation truck slated to arrive for 2021, and whether a bargain-basement four-cylinder stripper will be included in the lineup.

In revealing the 2020 Frontier, Nissan brought along a Chicagoland deliveryman who took his ’07 Frontier (4-cyl manual) to 1 million miles on the original engine. The clutch lasted till just past 800,000 miles, the automaker claims. Indeed, if there was ever a theme under which to introduce the 2020 Frontier, longevity fits the bill.

[Images: Nissan]