Nissan Frontier Model Overview

The Nissan Frontier started life as a compact pickup truck, but it's now closer to a mid-sized truck. It replaced the uncreatively named Nissan Hardbody Truck.

The Frontier is the latest in a long, distinguished line of Nissan mid-sized trucks. Nissan gets credit for many pick-up truck innovations, including the extended cab.

Nissan was the first automaker in the U.S. to offer a compact truck (the Frontier's predecessor), with Toyota following close behind. The Frontier was the first compact truck in the U.S. to offer a four-door crew-cab style as well.

The Frontier's latest redesign was for the 2005 model year, which is when it was reclassified as a mid-sized truck. It now has 265 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque, which makes its engine the strongest in its class. It shares many characteristics with its big brother the Titan. With its boxed frame and front grille styling, they are easily confused from a distance.