2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2020 Nissan Frontier

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty had received some updates that were noticeable to keen observers. The front bumper featured more black painted areas and less bling, while the massive grille swapped its large two-bar design for a more restrained look. The altered grille shape made the headlights sleeker without changing their overall shape. The truck's appearance varied significantly based on the trim level, from the basic XL with its black grille and bumpers to the luxurious Limited with a satin-chrome grille and twin-panel moonroof. Inside, the F-250's cabin was functional but not very welcoming, with plenty of hard plastics and a cold, mechanical feel. The base XL model came decently equipped for a work truck, while higher trims like the King Ranch and Platinum added features like leather upholstery, voice-activated navigation, and massaging seats.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier, on the other hand, looked almost like a perfectly-preserved 2005 model. Its design had aged well, especially in the PRO-4X trim, which included a tube-style roof rack, unique 16-inch alloy wheels, and a standard spray-in bedliner. The Frontier was available in King Cab and Crew Cab styles, with various trim levels and packages. The interior of the Frontier was a throwback to mid-2000s Nissan design, with symmetry, modularity, and silver plastic. Despite the hard plastics, the cabin was solidly built with no squeaks or rattles. The PRO-4X trim featured leather upholstery, but the overall interior felt dated compared to modern standards.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came standard with a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Ford also offered a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 with 475 hp and an astonishing 1,050 lb-ft of torque. A new 7.3-liter gas V8 was introduced for 2020, delivering 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The gas engines were paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel V8 used a six-speed automatic. The F-250 could tow up to 30,000 pounds when properly equipped. The truck's suspension was well-sprung for heavy loads, resulting in a bumpy ride when not loaded. The available FX4 and Tremor off-road packages added upgraded shocks, skid plates, and off-road tires for enhanced off-road capability.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier featured a new 3.8-liter V6 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old 4.0-liter V6 and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines. The new engine produced 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, with improved fuel economy. The Frontier's maximum tow rating remained 6,720 pounds. The new powertrain provided strong acceleration and smooth shifts, but the rest of the Frontier's driving dynamics felt dated. The steering was slow and heavy, and the turning radius was wide. The PRO-4X trim's Bilstein off-road shocks handled rough terrain well but allowed road surface irregularities to reverberate through the truck. Despite its age, the Frontier's truck-like driving character had a certain charm.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, extended SuperCab, and full four-door Crew Cab configurations, with either a 6-foot-9-inch or 8-foot bed. The cabin was spacious and functional, with deep cup holders and cubbies designed for large items. The center console was massive, capable of storing files, tools, or even a laptop. The rear seats in the SuperCrew and Crew Cab models folded up to reveal a load floor for large items, providing secure storage inside the cabin.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier offered plenty of storage despite some wasted space on the center console. It featured dual glove compartments and a decent-sized bin under the center armrest. The PRO-4X trim had an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, but it wasn't one of Nissan's Zero Gravity designs, leading to discomfort after long periods. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but was still comfortable. Rear seat room was tight, with a flat bench seat and minimal backrest angle. The bed, equipped with a spray-in bedliner and Utili-Track channel system, could haul up to 1,020 pounds of payload but was shallow at 18 inches deep.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty's base XL model came with four speakers, an AM/FM/MP3 radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C port. The XLT trim added more speakers, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect was standard across the lineup, providing a WiFi hotspot and remote vehicle access via a smartphone app. Higher trims offered additional features like navigation and premium audio systems.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X featured a 5.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with NissanConnect Apps, satellite radio, navigation, voice recognition, and a 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate premium sound system. However, it lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Siri Eyes Free voice assistant was available for iPhone users, providing a more natural alternative to the truck's voice recognition system. The Frontier's technology was limited compared to modern standards, offering a mix of simplicity and outdated features.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came with standard safety features like front- and side-impact airbags, trailer sway control, hill start assist, and AdvanceTrac traction control with roll stability control. Optional safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Other options included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system. The F-250 had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS, and it would have been beneficial to see more standard safety features.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier had poor crash-test scores. NHTSA gave it an overall rating of four stars, but the frontal-impact protection was rated three stars for the driver and two stars for the front passenger. The RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. IIHS ratings were also low, with a "marginal" rating for the small overlap frontal-impact test and a "poor" rating for the headlights. The Frontier's safety features were limited to a reversing camera, antilock brakes, traction control, and stability control, lacking modern driver-assistance technologies.