Compact pickups are making somewhat of a resurgence these days, and the 2015 Nissan Frontier is one of the reasons why. Available in 2 bed lengths, a standard 5-foot bed or the 6.1-foot long bed, as well as a pair of 4-passenger, 4-door cab configurations, the base King cab and the roomier Crew cab, this downsized hauler is designed to tackle those middling-duty jobs for which a full-size behemoth would be just plain overkill. Easy on gas, easy on the eyes and easy on the bank account, the Frontier now battles Chevy’s Colorado and Jimmy’s Canyon, along with its traditional rival, Toyota’s capable Tacoma, for supremacy among home-owning yardwork yahoos.

Again boasting 5 trims, the base S, the up-featured SV, the sporty Desert Runner, the posh SL and the off-road-obligated Pro-4X, the 2015 Frontier lineup remains delivered with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD). Again, however, except for the Desert Runner, all trims return eligible for available part-time 4-wheel drive (4WD), with said 4WD returning standard aboard the Pro-4X.

Some changes to this bite-size pickup for 2015 include a standard 5-inch audio touchscreen for the SV and Desert Runner that now embraces NissanConnect and Mobile Apps for WiFi capability. Additionally, a hard-drive-based navigation system debuts as standard equipment aboard the Pro-4X, while for the upcoming model year, the SL with 6.1-foot bed arrives in showrooms with a standard power sunroof.

The base drivetrain for the King Cab S and its King Cab SV sibling is a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine melded with either the standard 5-speed manual transmission or an available 5-speed automatic gearbox, each of which manages 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. Look for 3,500 pounds of maximum towing grunt from the I4, while EPA-estimated mileage returns at 19 mpg city/23 highway in manual-transmission-equipped versions and 17/23 in automatic-toting variants.

Also returning for the 2015 Frontiers in Crew cab garb, as well as in higher King cab trim levels and in all 4WD-packing iterations, is a peppy 4.0-liter V6 powerplant that combines with either a 6-speed stick-shift or the 5-speed automatic for 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. Look for mileage numbers to run the gamut from 15/21 in automatic-equipped 4WD versions to 16/22 in RWD variations with the manual transmission. Towing oomph with the V6, meanwhile, maxes out at 6,500 pounds.

All 4WD-equipped Frontier trims, by the way, come with a 2-speed transfer case and auto-locking hubs, with those 4WD trim levels carrying the automatic transmission also boasting hill-start assist and descent control. The 4WD-only Pro-4X, meantime, also sports a standard locking rear differential.

Appearance-wise, depending on the cab configuration, transmission and trim level, expect 15-, 16- or 18-inch steel or alloy wheels, a trailer hitch and wiring, underbody skid plates, high-performance shock absorbers, all-terrain tires, an off-road suspension and, in the case of the SL long-bed edition, that new-for-2015 power sunroof.

Inside, again depending on the trim level, transmission and cab configuration, look for cloth upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, full power accessories, air conditioning (or auto climate control in upper-level trims), cruise control and tilt-wheel steering.

Higher trim levels can additionally be delivered with a standard single-CD player sporting 6 speakers and satellite radio, while Crew cab versions of the Pro-4X get a standard 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate premium stereo bolstering the newly standard navigation system. And, of course, the SV and above trim levels now come with standard Bluetooth-interfaced NissanConnect telematics with Mobile Apps.

Options in select 2015 Frontier editions include the Value Truck Package with front fog/driving lights, a rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, a bed extender, climate control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a Class IV towing rig. The Pro-4X, furthermore, returns eligible for the available Luxury Package boasting a sunroof, a roof rack with crossbars, heated power-adjustable outside mirrors and leather upholstery.

Finally, standard safety equipment aboard each Frontier offering for 2015 includes 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), as well as front side-mounted airbags, and front and rear head airbags. The SL and Pro-4X trim levels also sport standard dusk-sensing headlights and a remote antitheft alarm.