Nissan redesigned the Frontier for 2005, using a number of features from the full-sized Nissan Titan. The front became bigger and stronger for 2005 and gained new safety features, like optional side-curtain air bags. The new engine was the most powerful V6 available in a pickup truck, with 265 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque. Nismo, Nissan's tuning division, also released a high-performance version of the truck for 2005.

The 2005 Nissan Frontier is available in four trims: the XE, SE, LE, and Nismo. The XE is the base model, available only with the King Cab, and comes standard with a 2.5-liter, 154-horsepower four-cylinder engine, only in 2WD. The SE, LE, and Nismo come with a 4.0-liter, 265-horsepower V6 and are all available with 2WD or 4WD. The SE, LE, and Nismo are also available in King Cab and Crew Cab versions. The smaller engine gets about 18/24 mpg, while the V6 gets 16/20 mpg. Drivers give the new Frontier a round of applause, saying the beefier V6 and the truck's famed reliability make the 2005 a good buy.