Used 2016 Nissan Frontier for Sale nearKnoxville, TN

How much does the 2016 Nissan Frontier cost?

Prices have held steady compared to this time last year, signaling a stable and predictable market for this model year.

There are 763 listings available, which gives you a decent amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2016 Nissan Frontier a good car?

Generally — the 2016 Nissan Frontier earns a 4.3/5 user rating and a 6.7/10 expert rating, which points to a truck that satisfies many shoppers even if it trails newer rivals. Owners consistently praise its powerful V6 engine, reliability, and comfortable interior, and they also like the handling and practical touches such as the rear camera and Bluetooth. In use-case terms, it fits you best if you want a straightforward, no-nonsense pickup with everyday usability rather than the latest redesign or feature set. The market also shows 33.2% of listings as good or great deals, which suggests there are still some attractive buys if you shop carefully.

Is the 2016 Nissan Frontier reliable?

Owners rate it 4.3/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to reliability, and the truck is also described as a dependable, durable choice that many owners feel good about keeping for the long term. The expert evaluation reinforces that impression by framing the Frontier as a straightforward truck with a proven, familiar setup rather than a complicated one. For used buyers, the main ownership risk is age-related wear and the possibility that a truck with a hard life may need more attention than a newer rival.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Nissan Frontier?

At 62% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report so you can separate clean trucks from those with prior damage or repeated use. After that, prioritize a thorough inspection of the body, bed, suspension, and interior condition, since this model’s age means wear can matter as much as mileage. It also helps to focus on how the truck was equipped, because lower trims can be very sparse while higher trims add the features many shoppers expect.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Frontier spans S, SV, Desert Runner, Pro-4X, and SL, and the base S is especially bare with cloth upholstery, 15-inch steel wheels, and very little else. The SV adds a fuller feature set, while the Pro-4X brings the most capability-focused equipment; the SL sits at the top but gives up the off-road hardware found on the Pro-4X.
• Powertrain: You can get a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder with 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque, or a 4.0-liter V6 with 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is the stronger choice for acceleration and hauling, while the 4-cylinder is the simpler, lower-output option.
• Safety package: The Frontier comes standard with 4-wheel antilock discs, dual front, front-side, and full-length curtain-side airbags, and stability control. Rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are available, and the Pro-4X adds the Value Truck package equipment, but lower trims miss some of those convenience and safety aids.
• Infotainment: Lower trims can be very basic, while the SV brings a 5-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration and satellite radio. The Pro-4X upgrades to a 5.8-inch touchscreen and a 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate stereo, but the system still feels dated compared with newer rivals.
• Fuel efficiency: The 2.5-liter engine can return as much as 19 mpg city and 23 highway with the 5-speed manual, while the V6 with rear-wheel drive and the 6-speed manual drops only slightly to 17 city and 22 highway. With 4WD and the automatic, mileage falls to 15 city and 21 highway.

Which 2016 Nissan Frontier trim should I buy?

The 2016 Nissan Frontier is offered in 5 trim levels: S, SV, Desert Runner, Pro-4X, and SL.

Here's the short version:

• S: This is the cheapest way into the Frontier, but it is very sparse, especially with the manual transmission. If you want the lowest purchase price and can live without much equipment, it gets the job done.
• SV: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds a much more usable mix of comfort and tech, including a touchscreen, smartphone integration, satellite radio, and a full power package. If you want the Frontier to feel less bare without jumping too far in price, this is the trim to target.
• Desert Runner: This trim adds styling touches and an off-road suspension and tire setup, but it is limited to rear-wheel drive. It makes sense if you want a more rugged look and feel without moving all the way to the Pro-4X.
• Pro-4X: This is the most capability-focused trim, with 4WD, a locking rear differential, skid plates, upgraded audio, and more convenience features. It is the right pick if you want the most off-road-oriented Frontier.
• SL: This is the top-tier trim, but it is more about comfort and appearance than trail hardware. It adds upscale touches like larger wheels and side steps, so it suits you if you want the most premium-feeling Frontier rather than the most rugged one.

The safety package is standard across the lineup, with rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera available on higher equipment combinations.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Nissan Frontier?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently but still move quickly on a strong listing.

• Deal availability: 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 763 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have held steady compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 62.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $14,509, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Nissan Frontier's resale value?

The current average of $15,125 sits slightly above last year's $15,093.

That small increase suggests the Frontier has held its value fairly steadily rather than swinging sharply up or down. For you as a future seller, that kind of stability can be helpful because it points to a market that is not overly volatile. The truck’s value story is also supported by its budget-friendly positioning, which can keep it appealing to shoppers looking for a lower-cost used pickup.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.3/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Nissan Frontier safe?

The 2016 Nissan Frontier earns Good ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an Acceptable result for the seat/head restraint test, and it earns a four-star rollover rating from NHTSA.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The Frontier comes standard with 4-wheel antilock discs, dual front, front-side, and full-length curtain-side airbags, and stability control. Rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are available, which can help with low-speed maneuvering. The main caveat is that the seat/head restraint result is not as strong as the rest of its crash-test performance, so that is worth keeping in mind if safety is a top priority.

Should I buy a 2016 Nissan Frontier or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 62% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have held steady compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.3/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2016 Frontier stands out as a straightforward, carryover pickup that adds new colors and a newly standard sunroof for the SV trim.

The bottom line: If you want a simple, proven used pickup with steady pricing and a decent pool of listings, the 2016 Frontier is a sensible path. If you are especially price-sensitive, you can still find value here, but you should be selective about condition and history because a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents.

How does the 2016 Nissan Frontier compare to the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?

Our experts score the 2016 Nissan Frontier 6.7/10 and the 2016 Toyota Tacoma 7.7/10. The Tacoma comes in with the stronger overall expert score, while the Frontier counters with a lower average used price and a larger share of good and great deals. If you want the cheaper truck with more value-oriented shopping opportunities, the Frontier is the easier buy; if you want the stronger all-around package, the Tacoma has the edge.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.