2020 Nissan Frontier vs 2021 Ford Ranger

The 2020 Nissan Frontier's design had aged gracefully, resembling a well-preserved 2005 model. The PRO-4X trim stood out with its tube-style roof rack, unique 16-inch alloy wheels, knobby white-lettered tires, standard spray-in bedliner, and cool bedside graphics. Available in King Cab and Crew Cab styles, the Frontier offered various trims and packages, including the Value Truck Package, Midnight Edition Package, and Special Edition Package. The PRO-4X Crew Cab, priced at $38,745, featured a set of floor mats and a $1,095 destination charge.

Inside, the Frontier's cabin was a nostalgic trip to mid-2000s Nissan design, characterized by symmetry, modularity, and silver plastic. Despite the hard plastic materials, the interior was solidly built, with no squeaks or rattles. The PRO-4X's leather upholstery added a touch of refinement, and the truck's overall build quality was impressive, a testament to Nissan's long-standing production consistency.

The 2021 Ford Ranger was available in SuperCab and SuperCrew styles, with six-foot and five-foot cargo beds, respectively. Trim levels included XL, XLT, and Lariat, all powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Our test truck, a SuperCrew Lariat with the Tremor Off-Road Package, spray-in bedliner, and SecuriCode keyless entry pad, was priced at $46,865, including a $1,195 destination charge.

The Tremor package gave the Ranger a more aggressive stance with unique 17-inch dark gray wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires, red grille accents, tow hooks, off-road hoop-style side steps, and "Tremor" graphics. Inside, the Lariat trim combined with Tremor's simulated suede seat inserts, all-weather floor mats, and six upfitter switches on the dashboard made it the best-equipped Ranger. The cabin featured a clean and contemporary design with simple controls, partial digital instrumentation, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and quality switchgear.

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 direct-injected V6 produced 310 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 281 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, offering 49 more horsepower than the previous V6. Fuel economy improved by 1 mpg for RWD models and 2 mpg for 4WD models, with a maximum tow rating of 6,720 pounds. The new engine was smooth and refined, with strong acceleration and quick, clean shifts from the nine-speed automatic. We averaged 19.3 mpg, slightly better than the EPA estimate of 19 mpg.

However, the Frontier's driving dynamics were less impressive. The steering was slow and heavy, and the turning radius was wide. The PRO-4X's Bilstein off-road shocks absorbed trail ruts and speed humps but allowed road surface irregularities to reverberate through the truck. Despite its age, the Frontier's truck-like driving character had a certain charm, especially with the new powertrain.

The 2021 Ford Ranger's sole powertrain was a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. The Ranger's 4WD system, controlled by a rotary dial, included a Terrain Management System with various settings and an electronic locking rear differential. The Tremor Off-Road Package added a new suspension with revised springs and Fox off-road performance shocks, providing 9.7 inches of ground clearance and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles. The Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul up to 1,860 pounds, though the Tremor's payload capacity was reduced to 1,430 pounds. We averaged 18.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

Driving the Ranger was enjoyable, with swift acceleration and refined performance. The Tremor's suspension offered a comfortable ride on paved roads and excellent off-road capability. The truck's handling was average but comparable to other off-road-oriented midsize pickups. The Ranger's maneuverability and off-road prowess were impressive, making it a capable and enjoyable truck to drive.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier offered ample storage despite wasted space on the center console. Dual glove compartments and a bin under the center armrest provided practical storage solutions. The PRO-4X trim featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, though it wasn't a Zero Gravity design, and the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat space was tight, with a flat bench seat and limited backrest angle. The bed, with a standard spray-in bedliner, bed-rail caps, and Utili-Track channel system, could haul up to 1,020 pounds of payload. However, the bed's depth was only 18 inches, with a total volume of 27.1 cubic feet.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor had sturdy hoop-style step bars, though their high mounting limited usefulness for shorter people and posed a problem for taller individuals. The SecuriCode keyless entry pad allowed for convenient access without carrying the key. Inside, the eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and six-way power-adjustable front passenger seat were comfortable and heated. However, the driver's seat needed more seat track travel for taller drivers. Rear-seat space was more accommodating than most midsize trucks, though rear air conditioning vents and a power-operated sliding rear window were absent.

The Ranger's storage options were decent, though the single-piece rear-seat cushion lift was inconvenient. The tailgate was undampened but lightweight, and the cargo bed offered 43.3 cubic feet of space (51.8 cubic feet for SuperCabs) with four tie-down hooks. Ford provided a range of accessories for custom utility solutions.

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. Bluetooth pairing allowed for Siri Eyes Free voice assistant use, offering a more natural alternative to the Frontier's voice recognition system. The limited technology was both refreshing and frustrating.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, including an 8-inch touchscreen display, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, AppLink with Waze and Ford + Alexa, and FordPass Connect with a 4G WiFi hotspot. The system also included navigation and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. While Ford was transitioning to Sync 4, Sync 3 remained competitive. Voice recognition performance was inconsistent, with some requests misunderstood. The climate system was integrated into Sync 3, allowing for voice-activated temperature adjustments.

The 2020 Nissan Frontier's crash-test scores were concerning. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it an overall 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 RWD model received a three-star rollover resistance rating. 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.

The 2021 Ford Ranger offered the Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The lane warnings were subtle, and the blind-spot warning system included trailer coverage. Adaptive cruise control was standard with Lariat trim but lacked full-stop capability. The Ranger also featured rain-sensing wipers, wiper-activated headlights, a wiper de-icer system, and front and rear parking sensors. The NHTSA gave the Ranger an overall rating of four stars, with a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the Ranger highly, except for "Acceptable" front-passenger protection in the small-overlap frontal-impact test and "Marginal" headlights.