2020 Nissan Frontier vs 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty

2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
$35,550MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Nissan Frontier
2020 Nissan Frontier
$26,790MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
$35,550MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Nissan Frontier
$26,790MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$35,550

MSRP

$26,790

Average price

$50,250

Average price

$23,574

Listings

514

Listings

256

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.2 out of 10

Expert reviews

5.0 out of 10
Pros
  • Multiple body styles
  • Multiple powertrain options
Cons
  • Uninspired styling
  • Sluggish touchscreen response
Pros
  • Powerful engine
  • Off-road capability
Cons
  • Advanced safety features are not standard
  • Poor value for money
  • Outdated technology

2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty Reviews Summary

Heavy-duty trucks are all about getting work done. They have the highest tow ratings of any non-commercial vehicles, and they have the features and tools for worksites and contractors. But a trend over the past decade is the increasing popularity of the “luxury truck.” Owners also use their trucks as commuter cars, family haulers, and road trip vehicles.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty is offered in a wide variety of trims to accommodate its equally wide variety of potential uses. For 2020, the F-350 gets a new 7.3-liter V8, expanded use of the new 10-speed automatic transmission, and a new off-road-inspired trim called the Tremor. But which Ford Super Duty is right for you?

2020 Nissan Frontier Reviews Summary

Nissan is celebrating the Frontier’s Sweet 16 this year, but this is not a coming-of-age milestone. Rather, it’s a long-overdue retirement party. And the Frontier is going out with a bang thanks to a brand-new engine and transmission that give a preview of what the next-generation Frontier has in store. Just make sure you don’t get into an accident, or you’ll get pretty banged up yourself.

No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

Engine

3.8L 310 hp V6

Drive Train

Drive Train

4X2

Seating Capacity

3

Seating Capacity

4

Horsepower

Horsepower

310 hp @ 6400 rpm

MPG City

MPG City

18

MPG Highway

MPG Highway

24
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
$35,550MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Nissan Frontier
2020 Nissan Frontier
$26,790MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
$35,550MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Nissan Frontier
$26,790MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$35,550
$26,790
Average price
$50,250
$23,574
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.5
4.6
Expert reviews

8.2 out of 10

Read full review

5.0 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Multiple body styles
  • Multiple powertrain options
Cons
  • Uninspired styling
  • Sluggish touchscreen response
Pros
  • Powerful engine
  • Off-road capability
Cons
  • Advanced safety features are not standard
  • Poor value for money
  • Outdated technology
Summary

Heavy-duty trucks are all about getting work done. They have the highest tow ratings of any non-commercial vehicles, and they have the features and tools for worksites and contractors. But a trend over the past decade is the increasing popularity of the “luxury truck.” Owners also use their trucks as commuter cars, family haulers, and road trip vehicles.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty is offered in a wide variety of trims to accommodate its equally wide variety of potential uses. For 2020, the F-350 gets a new 7.3-liter V8, expanded use of the new 10-speed automatic transmission, and a new off-road-inspired trim called the Tremor. But which Ford Super Duty is right for you?

Nissan is celebrating the Frontier’s Sweet 16 this year, but this is not a coming-of-age milestone. Rather, it’s a long-overdue retirement party. And the Frontier is going out with a bang thanks to a brand-new engine and transmission that give a preview of what the next-generation Frontier has in store. Just make sure you don’t get into an accident, or you’ll get pretty banged up yourself.

Video
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
3.8L 310 hp V6
Drive Train
4X2
Seating Capacity
3
4
Horsepower
310 hp @ 6400 rpm
MPG City
18
MPG Highway
24
Look and feel
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
6/10
2020 Nissan Frontier
8/10

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.

Performance
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
9/10
2020 Nissan Frontier
8/10

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.

Form and function
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
10/10
2020 Nissan Frontier
5/10

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.

Technology
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
8/10
2020 Nissan Frontier
3/10

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.

Safety
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
9/10
2020 Nissan Frontier
1/10

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.

Cost Effectiveness
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
7/10
2020 Nissan Frontier
5/10

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty is 8.2 out of 10, while the 2020 Nissan Frontier scores 5.0 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty is the clear winner, offering superior performance, advanced technology, and a variety of configurations to meet different needs. The 2020 Nissan Frontier, while charming in its simplicity, falls short in safety and modern features.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty is 8.2 out of 10, while the 2020 Nissan Frontier scores 5.0 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty is the clear winner, offering superior performance, advanced technology, and a variety of configurations to meet different needs. The 2020 Nissan Frontier, while charming in its simplicity, falls short in safety and modern features.

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By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

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