Nissan Frontier vs Tacoma, Colorado; Which Pickup Is the Better Value

The 2018 Nissan Frontier mid-size pickup sold in the U.S. is still in the second generation that began with the 2004 model year. A complete overhaul is due, and it could be coming next year. We know it will be built at Nissan’s plant in Mississippi, but they’ve been quiet on when it will arrive.

Until then, the current model is still selling well for the Japanese automaker. It competes with the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon and Honda Ridgeline. When you look at the numbers, it’s easy to understand Nissan’s reluctance to fork out boat-loads of cash for developing a new-generation Frontier.

Sales are robust for Frontier, with 74,360 mid-size truck customers stepping up to sign on the dotted line for Nissan’s littlest pickup in 2017. It’s a bit off from the prior year, when Frontier had record sales (86,926 units sold), but more than double the number of GMC Canyons sold during that same time period.

In 2017, the aging Frontier was still the third best-selling midsize truck, following the Toyota Tacoma and Chevy Colorado. The mid-size pickup was also the eighth best-selling truck in the U.S., including full-size heavy-weights Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500.

Which pickup is the better value

A look at pricing tells us why Frontier is still selling well, even though it needs a complete redo. The base Frontier starts at $18,900, more than $2,000 less than the least expensive Chevy Colorado ($21,195) and $6,000+ less than the least expensive Toyota Tacoma ($25,200). When you climb up the trim line, the price differential continues. Buyers will pay much less for the highest level Frontier ($32,780) where the top model Colorado costs ($41,355) and Tacoma ($41,500).

For 2018 Nissan brings the Frontier Midnight Edition ($995) featuring a gloss-black grille, 18-inch gloss black aluminum alloy wheels, semi-gloss-black step rails, body-color front and rear bumpers, black outside rearview mirrors and door handles, black badging and available Midnight Edition floor mats. It is available in Crew Cab SV 4x2 and 4x4 automatic transmission models.

The 2018 Nissan Frontier is still a good mid-size pickup with plenty of trims and packages available. Nissan has confirmed the next-generation (2019) Nissan Frontier is coming, and it will be produced at their Canton, Mississippi plant alongside the Murano, Titan, Titan XD, NV Cargo, and NV Passenger vehicles. Until then, the current model is still the best value out there if you are looking for a mid-size truck.

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Photo credit: Nissan USA