2020 Nissan Frontier vs 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty had an updated styling with a more detailed grille and headlights. The new grille moved away from the gaudy chrome-clad bars of the 2019 model, but remained imposing. The massive headlights, though still large, had additional detail and contouring, giving them a more refined look. Despite these updates, the design was a modest evolution from the 2017 model year, and the cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling. The interior was ideally suited for work use, featuring plenty of usable space.

Trim levels for the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty included XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. The XL trim had a “work truck” look with 17-inch steel wheels and vinyl seats. The XLT added 18-inch aluminum wheels and the SYNC 3 infotainment system. The Lariat bridged the gap between work and luxury trucks with leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control. The King Ranch featured a unique two-tone exterior and special saddle-style leather upholstery. The Platinum added 20-inch polished aluminum wheels and heated-and-ventilated seats, while the Limited offered power-retractable running boards and a premium audio system by Bang & Olufsen.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier’s design had aged well, looking almost like a perfectly-preserved 2005 model. The PRO-4X trim included a tube-style roof rack, unique 16-inch alloy wheels, knobby white-lettered tires, a standard spray-in bedliner, and cool bedside graphics. Nissan offered the Frontier in King Cab and Crew Cab styles, with various trim levels and packages available. The PRO-4X Crew Cab, priced at $38,745, included floor mats and a destination charge.

The Frontier’s cabin was reminiscent of mid-2000s Nissan interior design, with symmetry, modularity, and silver plastic. Despite the hard plastic materials, the Frontier was solidly built with no squeaks or rattles. The PRO-4X’s leather upholstery added a touch of luxury, but the overall design was dated. The Frontier’s character, however, was part of its charm, appealing to those who appreciated a truck that drove like a truck.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came with a standard 6.2-liter gas V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. It also offered a 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, and a new 7.3-liter gas V8 with 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 had a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 7.3-liter gas engine and the 6.7-liter diesel engine came with a 10-speed automatic. The F-350 had a conventional towing capacity of 24,200 pounds, a fifth-wheel towing capacity of 32,500 pounds, and a gooseneck trailer capacity of 37,000 pounds. It also had a maximum payload capacity of 7,850 pounds.

The F-350’s size and height were noticeable in corners, and models set up for higher towing capacities were “chattery” over bumps when not towing or hauling. The Tremor off-road package, available on the XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims, added 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, graded off-road shocks and springs, and Trail Control. The package provided 10.8 inches of ground clearance and included black matte-finish wheels, a black grille, and body-color front-and-rear bumpers.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier featured a new 3.8-liter V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old 4.0-liter V6 and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines. The new engine developed 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, making 49 hp more than the previous V6. Fuel economy improved by 1 mpg for RWD models and 2 mpg for 4WD models. The maximum tow rating remained 6,720 pounds. The new engine was smooth and refined, with strong acceleration and quick, clean shifts from the nine-speed automatic.

The Frontier’s driving dynamics were less impressive, with slow and heavy steering and a wide turning radius. The PRO-4X trim’s high-pressure Bilstein off-road shocks absorbed trail ruts and speed humps but allowed road surface irregularities to reverberate throughout the truck. Despite its dated driving dynamics, the Frontier’s character and new powertrain were appealing to those who appreciated a traditional truck feel.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew configurations. The Super Cab had rear-hinged half-doors, providing decent space for rear-seat passengers but requiring the front door to be opened for access. The Super Crew had a massive cab with ample headroom and legroom, and rear seats that folded up to create a large load floor. The F-350 offered a 6-foot-9-inch bed or an 8-foot bed, with the regular cab only available with the longer bed. The Super Cab and Super Crew could be configured with either bed length, and the 8-foot bed was available in a dual-rear-wheel configuration. The bed featured a step that extended from the tailgate for easier loading.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier had plenty of storage options, including dual glove compartments and a bin under the center armrest. The PRO-4X trim featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, though it wasn’t a Zero Gravity design, leading to discomfort after long periods. The front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster but was high enough off the floor. Rear seat room was tight, with a flat bench seat and minimal backrest angle. The Frontier’s bed had a standard spray-in bedliner, bed-rail caps, and a Utili-Track channel system with adjustable tie-down cleats, allowing it to haul up to 1,020 pounds of payload. The bed measured 18 inches deep and 27.1 cubic feet in total volume.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons for Audio, Phone, Navigation, Apps, and Settings. However, SYNC 3 occasionally experienced buggy hiccups, especially when switching between SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay. The system’s “Home” icon was not available in CarPlay or Android Auto, requiring users to navigate back to Apple’s home screen to access SYNC menus. The F-350 also offered impressive towing features, including Pro Trailer Backup Assist, a 360 camera, wide-angle backup camera, and Trailer Reverse Guidance, which made backing up a trailer easier by taking over the steering inputs.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier’s PRO-4X trim came with a 5.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which included NissanConnect Apps, satellite radio, a navigation system, voice recognition, and a 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate premium sound system. However, it lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Pairing an iPhone to Bluetooth allowed the use of Siri Eyes Free voice assistant, which was a more natural alternative to the Frontier’s voice recognition technology. The Frontier’s technology was limited, which could be both refreshing and frustrating for users.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came standard with a full array of airbags, automatic high beams, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The XLT trim added automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring, which could account for trailers. The Lariat added a reverse-sensing system, while the King Ranch included Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Platinum trim added adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering, and upgraded quad-beam LED headlights. The range-topping Limited provided all these features as standard equipment.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier had unimpressive crash-test scores. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it an overall safety rating of four stars, with a three-star rating for the driver and a two-star rating for the front passenger in frontal-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Frontier "marginal" in the small overlap frontal-impact test and "poor" for headlights. The Frontier’s safety features included a reversing camera, antilock brakes, traction control, and stability control, but lacked modern safety technology.