The Nissan Frontier is a class leader in the compact pickup truck category, and the Nismo trims were designed for top off-road performance.

The Nismo engine is a 4.0-liter V6 that produces 261 hp and 281 pound-feet of torque. Kelley Blue Book commented that the engine "might be the smoothest, strongest V6 ever put in a pickup." The four-wheel-drive Nismo King Cab trim configuration offers only a six-speed manual transmission, which reviewers praise for its "buttery-smooth shift characteristics." Overall performance is brisk, and the ride extremely stiff - reviewers recommend the Nismo trim for off-road use only. Gas mileage is the main drawback. The EPA rates the V6 with four-wheel drive and the manual transmission at 15/19 mpg.

The Nismo four-wheel-drive trims add absolute off-road ability: Nismo-spec Bilstein off-road performance shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, four-wheel Limited Slip, clutch start/cancel, skid plates, BFGoodrich Rugged Trial T/A tires, 16-inch six-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels, the Utili-track Channel System, and a factory-applied spray-on bedliner with bed rail caps. The Nismo trims also offer optional hill descent control and hill start assist.

The Nismo King Cab seats four with two rear jump seats. Reviewers, however, felt that the King Cab's jump seats were not really fit for the human bum or adult-length legs. The King Cab comes with the long bed, which measures 73.3 inches.

The four-wheel-drive Nismo King Cab can carry 1,256 pounds and has a maximum towing capacity of 6,300 pounds.