[Jim C.]

I shopped the Taco, Ranger and Ridgeline. No way I was considering the POS from GM. Been there a few times on other GM vehicles and the quality, longevity and durability simply aren’t there. Not to mention GM’s crappy attitude towards customer service. Crossed off the Ridgeline early on because of the lowest tow rating and lack of truck utility (shallow bed, AWD vs. 4WD, etc.). Looking at the remaining three, it boiled down to:

1. Size - I wanted a mid-sized truck. The Taco and Ranger have gotten to be the same size as the full size pickup trucks from the 2000s. The Frontier, while large, still manages the smallest footprint of all three while still maintaining real truck capability (unlike the Ridgeline). That’s important for driving and maneuvering in Northern Virginia where traffic is crazy and parking is tight.

2. Reliability - some say “old” or “outdated” (or both!). To me, that means the kinks are worked out and that the Frontiers are rock solid. Seems that consumer tests and third party evaluators agree. Without all the extra “stuff”, I know I can work on the truck - at least for routine maintenance - and not worry about major breakdowns.

3. Style - to me, the Tacos looks like a squashed bug version of a truck that someone stepped on. Totally subjective, no question. But I find the front and 3/4 profile of the Frontiers to be much more stylish.

4. Cost - this was the big one for me. Feature for feature, pound for pound, the Frontiers simply had more value. I got a 2019 Pro4X with performance package (leather seats, sunroof, roof rack, heated seats/mirrors, etc.) with bed extender, hitch and wiring for under $30K (tax, title, destination fee extra). The Taco MSRP for the TRD Sport with similar features was $43K - and I doubt they discounted much. The Ford Ranger - even with Ford Friends/Family pricing (I know people at Ford) - was going to come out in the high $30’s/low $40’s. Yes, I would have liked some of the new safety features available in the Taco and Ford like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, cross traffic alert and automatic emergency braking, but those features were NOT worth an extra $10K on a truck.

5. Miscellaneous - finally, there were little things I appreciate on the Frontier like being able to step on the corner of the rear bumper to get into the bed with the tailgate down; the spray in bed liner (versus Taco insert); the numerous third party accessories (i.e., NO ONE makes a tail gate EZ down type piston for the Taco that’s plug and play).
Thanks
Funny thing is that one of my oldest friends in the area was at the house for dinner last week, along with his wife, and he told me he just bought a Taco (TRD Sport, KC, full size bed). I told him I just bought the Frontier! We compared trucks side by side and once he heard what I paid and sat in the back seat of the Frontier, I could practically see the regret in his eyes!! He then sat in the driver’s seat and played with the sunroof on the Frontier. He is 6’2” and just fits in the driver’s seat of his Taco. He didn’t dare get a sunroof for lack of head clearance. He also wasn’t crazy about the Taco’s 10 speed transmission - too much hunting for gears for his taste. But I did remind him he got better gas mileage than me as a result. I suspect he’d rather have the more responsive ride. Oh, and he paid a helluva a lot more than I did for the Frontier!

So all in all, I’m pretty satisfied with my choice.

 

[Thelt]

I bought my 2016 in December of 2015. At the time I looked at a couple of Tacos. The GM products really did not appeal to me. The Ranger and the new Ridgeline were not available at that time. I saved at least $5k compared to a comparable Taco. Of course a used 2016 Taco with the same miles as my truck is worth at least $5k more than mine so I am not sure its really that much better of a value.

Overall though I am still happy with my choice. I have always been drawn to Nissan for some reason. I have had a couple of old Hardbody pickups, an Xterra and an Altima. I have been happy with all of them. When I get ready to trade again though I will probably look at all the options again. I really like a couple of things about the Ridgeline, the factory power sliding window and the in bed storage are nice. I wish it were a little more rugged.

 

[twowheeladdict]

I shopped the Taco, Ranger and Ridgeline. No way I was considering the POS from GM. Been there a few times on other GM vehicles and the quality, longevity and durability simply aren’t there. Not to mention GM’s crappy attitude towards customer service. Crossed off the Ridgeline early on because of the lowest tow rating and lack of truck utility (shallow bed, AWD vs. 4WD, etc.). Looking at the remaining three, it boiled down to:

1. Size - I wanted a mid-sized truck. The Taco and Ranger have gotten to be the same size as the full size pickup trucks from the 2000s. The Frontier, while large, still manages the smallest footprint of all three while still maintaining real truck capability (unlike the Ridgeline). That’s important for driving and maneuvering in Northern Virginia where traffic is crazy and parking is tight.

2. Reliability - some say “old” or “outdated” (or both!). To me, that means the kinks are worked out and that the Frontiers are rock solid. Seems that consumer tests and third party evaluators agree. Without all the extra “stuff”, I know I can work on the truck - at least for routine maintenance - and not worry about major breakdowns.

3. Style - to me, the Tacos looks like a squashed bug version of a truck that someone stepped on. Totally subjective, no question. But I find the front and 3/4 profile of the Frontiers to be much more stylish.

4. Cost - this was the big one for me. Feature for feature, pound for pound, the Frontiers simply had more value. I got a 2019 Pro4X with performance package (leather seats, sunroof, roof rack, heated seats/mirrors, etc.) with bed extender, hitch and wiring for under $30K (tax, title, destination fee extra). The Taco MSRP for the TRD Sport with similar features was $43K - and I doubt they discounted much. The Ford Ranger - even with Ford Friends/Family pricing (I know people at Ford) - was going to come out in the high $30’s/low $40’s. Yes, I would have liked some of the new safety features available in the Taco and Ford like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, cross traffic alert and automatic emergency braking, but those features were NOT worth an extra $10K on a truck.

5. Miscellaneous - finally, there were little things I appreciate on the Frontier like being able to step on the corner of the rear bumper to get into the bed with the tailgate down; the spray in bed liner (versus Taco insert); the numerous third party accessories (i.e., NO ONE makes a tail gate EZ down type piston for the Taco that’s plug and play).
Thanks
Funny thing is that one of my oldest friends in the area was at the house for dinner last week, along with his wife, and he told me he just bought a Taco (TRD Sport, KC, full size bed). I told him I just bought the Frontier! We compared trucks side by side and once he heard what I paid and sat in the back seat of the Frontier, I could practically see the regret in his eyes!! He then sat in the driver’s seat and played with the sunroof on the Frontier. He is 6’2” and just fits in the driver’s seat of his Taco. He didn’t dare get a sunroof for lack of head clearance. He also wasn’t crazy about the Taco’s 10 speed transmission - too much hunting for gears for his taste. But I did remind him he got better gas mileage than me as a result. I suspect he’d rather have the more responsive ride. Oh, and he paid a helluva a lot more than I did for the Frontier!

So all in all, I’m pretty satisfied with my choice.

Your thoughts on GM quality go against my experiences with GM. My 2000 GMC Sierra got sold after 200,000 trouble free miles with many of those miles haulng and towing. Sold because we bought a 2008 GMC Sierra 2500HD. Still have it, but it only has 100,000 miles on it because it is only used for towing a gooseneck horse trailer.

I considered the GM mid size when I bought my first Frontier but the savings of $8000 on a comparable truck is why I chose Nissan. Then I looked at Toyota before buying my second Frontier but can't understand what anyone sees in that car like truck.

 

[Jim C.]

Your thoughts on GM quality go against my experiences with GM.

No argument here. I can only go by my experience and the last was an Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan than completely crapped out at barely 100,000 miles. The dash had been rebuilt twice, I had a gasket blow leading to coolant in the engine, which required a full top end rebuild with new valves and lifters (Dealer suggested full engine swap out until he learned it was covered by an extended warranty and I wouldn’t pay anything more. Miraculously, the fix was then dialed way back). Not to mention power sliding door motor dying, oil leaks like OPEC didn’t exist, electronics working intermittently if at all, etc., etc. GM didn’t give a crap and half the time I was fighting for them to honor the extended warranty they provided for killing the brand, which meant finding a GM dealer even willing to look at the thing. To this day, the local Midas mechanics know my wife and me on a first name basis!

So to each his/her own. I’ve had more Nissans than any other brand from a 1994 Sentra SE to the 2004 Murano to my 2019 Frontier. If the Frontier lasts as long and as well as the other Nissans, I’ll be very happy.

 

[twowheeladdict]

No argument here. I can only go by my experience and the last was an Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan than completely crapped out at barely 100,000 miles. The dash had been rebuilt twice, I had a gasket blow leading to coolant in the engine, which required a full top end rebuild with new valves and lifters (Dealer suggested full engine swap out until he learned it was covered by an extended warranty and I wouldn’t pay anything more. Miraculously, the fix was then dialed way back). Not to mention power sliding door motor dying, oil leaks like OPEC didn’t exist, electronics working intermittently if at all, etc., etc. GM didn’t give a crap and half the time I was fighting for them to honor the extended warranty they provided for killing the brand, which meant finding a GM dealer even willing to look at the thing. To this day, the local Midas mechanics know my wife and me on a first name basis!

So to each his/her own. I’ve had more Nissans than any other brand from a 1994 Sentra SE to the 2004 Murano to my 2019 Frontier. If the Frontier lasts as long and as well as the other Nissans, I’ll be very happy.

Ahh, That makes a huge difference. Generalizing about the entire GM corporation based on a non-truck is not really a fair assessment on a "Truck" forum. Everyone knows that all the different GM branches are run as individual independent divisions. Can't compare GMC to Oldsmobile, or Saturn to Pontiac.

 

[Jim C.]

Generalizing about the entire GM corporation based on a non-truck is not really a fair assessment on a "Truck" forum.

Actually, its way deeper than that. I’ve dealt with GM corporate as part of my professional life. I have friends who are former GM execs. I have a personal disregard for the way GM runs its business and the quality of its products. Again, this is my personal experience. Everyone should make their own informed choices as consumers - that’s the beauty of the U.S.! Also, it certainly doesn’t help GM’s case to have lost $10 BILLION of taxpayer money in the 2008 government bailout. I believe they should have gone through full bankruptcy and realized the full consequences of their mismanagement versus being rescued by the federal government.

And as for the “independent divisions,” the brands do not run separate factories or manufacturing lines. They all share the same processes, R&D, and corporate structure - this is all run by the same executive team at GM. About the only difference is in the sales and marketing arms. Moreover, my personal experience is that the GM products across Chevy, Olds, Pontiac, etc. do not have the quality (or solid reputation) of other brands - this includes the truck division.

Not trying to convince anyone else of anything. If you like GM, good for you. I will spend my dollars on other OEMs.

 

[Thelt]

My main reason for not considering a GM mid-size truck was that I did not anticipate that they would hold their value as well as a Toyota or Nissan.

 

[twowheeladdict]

Actually, its way deeper than that. I’ve dealt with GM corporate as part of my professional life. I have friends who are former GM execs. I have a personal disregard for the way GM runs its business and the quality of its products. Again, this is my personal experience. Everyone should make their own informed choices as consumers - that’s the beauty of the U.S.! Also, it certainly doesn’t help GM’s case to have lost $10 BILLION of taxpayer money in the 2008 government bailout. I believe they should have gone through full bankruptcy and realized the full consequences of their mismanagement versus being rescued by the federal government.

And as for the “independent divisions,” the brands do not run separate factories or manufacturing lines. They all share the same processes, R&D, and corporate structure - this is all run by the same executive team at GM. About the only difference is in the sales and marketing arms. Moreover, my personal experience is that the GM products across Chevy, Olds, Pontiac, etc. do not have the quality (or solid reputation) of other brands - this includes the truck division.

Not trying to convince anyone else of anything. If you like GM, good for you. I will spend my dollars on other OEMs.

Nice words Jim, but not relevant to the how long a GM truck will last, or the quality of a GM truck. If you look at the culture of many companies you wouldn't buy much. I agree with everything you have said about the corporation.

Too bad Mazda doesn't make a truck. I like their philosophy of car design and engineering.

Really too bad that Kawasaki doesn't make a truck. Their bikes are top notch and reliable and actually fun, unlike Honda.

 

[dh357]

I wouldn't buy a GM now but my current vehicle is a 2004 Silverado xcab Z71 with 196,7xx miles and the only time it's ever broke down was a few weeks ago, water pump crapped out and leaked most coolant. It's had regular wear items like brakes and oil and filters, and the u joint started to squeak so i changed it out way before it was an issue. I also changed the front hubs a while back. If it was a crew cab id keep it.

On Toyota's i think the taco looks better but they're just too dang expensive.

 

[Munga Brown]

... I looked at Toyota before buying my second Frontier but can't understand what anyone sees in that car like truck.

^^^This. Frontiers catch my eye. Way more so than a Tacoma or Tundra or a even a Titan. To each his/her own, I guess.

 

[Thelt]

One thing I do not like about Tacos is the fiberglass bed. It is not nearly as durable as metal.

 

[Tommy Pearson III]

I don't like Taco's for the fact for the features I have would have cost me double vs a Pro4x
I assure you a lot of Taco owners envy Frontier guys especially modded their truck cost too much and they have no money left to mod or if they do mod and have the cash it will end up being a 60'000 dollar Truck

$26,000 plus about $7000 in mods still doesn't reach the Price point of a TRD Pro Taco 34,000 is pretty much the Gist of my Bill and I have 2-1/2 years left and now just hit 40,000 miles when I got her in January 2018 18,600 miles

Now I am at 40,000 but at 30,000 changed diff fluid I have at least 6 oil changes already 2 oil changes with Royal Purple and oil Filter

The Brakes are what I want to do but their not worn yet so I am just hanging in wait spark plugs are still good Battery is good as well but contemplating on better a better Heavier Duty one thoughts about that maybe search a thread on that anyway Fronty all the way

I have had enough Taco's in life to know their better as food not as Trucks

 

[TWX]

A buddy's old late nineties or early noughties Taco just had a transmission failure. He decided to buy another. He went with a low-miles '18, crew cab, short box, 4x2, prerunner with the offroad package.

Don't get me wrong, it is a nice truck. But, he paid $10,000 more than I paid for my low-miles '15 crew cab longbed 4x4 SV. Granted, he got leather and a nicer sound system, but he didn't get a longbed or four wheel drive.

I will say this much, in doing my research for a front winch, the Tacoma is probably easier, both because there's more room under the factory bumper and because there's a lot more aftermarket support. But it's not like the Frontier is without options though.

 

[Jim C.]

Really too bad that Kawasaki doesn't make a truck. Their bikes are top notch and reliable and actually fun, unlike Honda.

@Twowheeladdicat - ha ha! I was partial to Yamaha’s myself. Had a YZF600R that I loved taking to the back twisties; including Tail of the Dragon down in NC/TN once or twice. Then I got too old and my stomach muscles (or lack thereof!) left me with an aching back and sore arms from the aggressive riding position. Track fees also got a bit much so switched over full time to bass fishing in a Yamaha G3 HP180 with 150hp. Thing FLIES on the lake (60mph because you catch more bass at that speed!!).

On GM, we’ll have to agree to disagree. My experience is that their corporate mentality of bureaucratic bloat, indecision and lack of innovation, quality and reliability absolutely bleeds over to truck quality (or lack thereof). I’ve not owned a GM truck but know enough friends that have - so as to never buy another. As noted previously, personal choice, not dictating to you or anyone else what they should buy! Cheers!!

 

[NJMIKE]

Voted for the Nissan. Purchased a 2016 Pro4x.

Toyota like the GMC twins got bigger, wider and put high rev engines. I test drove them all. GMC twins have no ground clearance due to the front air dam. Toyota has some issues with the 3rd Gen Tacoma. Some like them, some don't. GMC and Toyota are asking way to much for what they are offering.

I decided that the aged Frontier was the better buy.

I was in the market for a mid-size truck. I've always wanted a Tacoma, and have been a big Toyota fan most of my life. My first car was a 1987 Corolla that I put 300k miles on it with zero issues.

The past month I test drove all the mid-size trucks. The Tacoma was one of the worst vehicles in general I've ever driven. On road it was not composed at all. It bounced around a lot and the transmission is too shift happy. I was very disappointed because that is what I had my mind set on. I never considered the Frontier because it was not a truck I heard much about lately and it wasn't on my radar. Someone mentioned it and I started looking into it. I test drove it and couldn't believe how much better the powertrain was in the Nissan. Despite the 5spd auto, it was smoother and had more torque than the Toyota, which you have to get into the upper rpm range to get it to move.

After driving the Frontier, I was sold. A few people questioned why I would buy such a dated truck. I'm not one to want all the latest technology in a car. The dealer sold me a 2019 Pro-4x for $31k (It was listed for I believe $36k). I do not regret it at all. I love driving it and plan on keeping it quite a while.

 

[NJMIKE]

I had one for a short time before my Frontier (dealer allowed returns within 5 days). It was GUTLESS. I tried hitting that ECT power button, but it didn't do anything. Also gear hunting like a CVT. And when it was in a gear (like if manually selected) the power was super peaky. I've looked at the Frontiers peak power numbers and they are similar, but there must be something to the power curve and gearing that REALLY helps the frontier.

That's exactly how I felt about it.

I test drove the Colorado and it was nice, however there is a class action lawsuit out on the GM 8spd transmission. GM quality is just not there.

 

[Mechanized Death]

That's exactly how I felt about it.

I test drove the Colorado and it was nice, however there is a class action lawsuit out on the GM 8spd transmission. GM quality is just not there.

I was totally sold on the Colorado until I heard about the transmission issues. I already went through that fiasco with the Ford Focus, and don't feel like setting myself up for failure again.

I never considered the Frontier because it was not a truck I heard much about lately and it wasn't on my radar. Someone mentioned it and I started looking into it. I test drove it and couldn't believe how much better the powertrain was in the Nissan. Despite the 5spd auto, it was smoother and had more torque than the Toyota, which you have to get into the upper rpm range to get it to move.

I didn't even know they were still making it! Because it looks just like the 2005, I assumed the model was discontinued years ago. I took one for a test drive, expecting to hate it, but I ended up loving it. It was a CC long box model, yet still felt more nimble than the Colorado and Ranger, even though I know the turning radius isn't the greatest. I didn't even consider the Tacoma simply because of the ridiculous Toyota Tax.

The craziest thing about it is that before I found out they were still making it, I was ranting to a friend about how nobody makes a "good old work truck" anymore. They're all so massive now, and stuffed to the gills with things I don't need. I don't need a XXXLT BigMcLargeHuge Edition, with seats made from baby seals and a 20" screen in the dash. I want a cheap truck built with hard, durable plastics that will stand up to real work. I also want an older engine and transmission that have been proven over time, rather than the latest and greatest that might be part of a class action nightmare down the road.

And I had absolutely no idea that Nissan was still making exactly what I wanted.

I was all set to order a Colorado, but once I learned about the Frontier I wrote up a price breakdown between the two, and there was no way I could configure the two trucks without the Frontier being cheaper (sometimes by thousands) while still having more equipment at that price point. The Frontier became even more attractive once I learned that the MSRP on a Nissan is just like it is on a Kia: it's merely a suggestion, and nobody pays anywhere close to what's on that sticker. I haven't bought my Frontier yet, but I saved almost $9000(!) off sticker when I bought my Kia.

 

[NFlaFrontier]

Years back, I owned a 2007 Tacoma, with the 4.0L V6 and I loved it. I've been through a few vehicles since then. When I decided that I wanted a small truck again, my mind immediately went to the Tacoma. So I did the traditional YouTube research, etc. The styling was not really my taste, but I was trying to get use to it. When I drove it, I didn't like it. The GM twins were just as bad and I have never been a fan of GM products anyway. I knew the Nissan was out there, but most reviews always say how outdated it is and how it needs to be refreshed, but I liked the look of it. I decided to at least test drive it and give it a fair shake. I'm glad I did because it was exactly what I wanted and it felt like a real truck. I bought one and now while I'm driving, I joke with myself that I am older, outdated and could probably use a refresh too...and then I smile and think, nah, I'm good. Lol. I almost want to buy another one and store it until this one wears out so I wont have to get the updated one next time.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[4Star]

Trucks… Americans LOVE ‘em more than beer-battered pizza. We simply can’t get enough of these versatile rigs.

And what’s not to adore? They offer rugged styling, go-almost-anywhere capability and open beds to carry messy loads of Lord-knows-what. For these reasons and more, one of the most popular on the market today is Toyota’s rough-and-ready Tacoma.

This midsize pickup has been the segment’s best-seller for the past decade. It’s reliable, reasonably affordable and proven to work… HARD.

The Tacoma offers a base four-cylinder engine but you’ll want to avoid this asthmatic unit and opt for the available V6. At 3.5-liters it delivers a smooth and responsive 278 horses. A pair of six-speed transmissions are also on the menu, an automatic and a manual (THANK YOU, TOYOTA!).

Shifting gears, so to speak, and focusing on the Nissan, it also offers two engines: a base four-banger and an up-level V6. The latter displaces 4.0-liters and delivers 261 horses with 281 lb-ft of torque, 16 more units of twist than provided by the Tacoma’s six-shooter.

Frontiers can be had with a five-speed automatic transmission or one of two different manuals.

When equipped with four-wheel drive and a stick-shift these trucks are remarkably similar, averaging 18 miles per gallon each. The Toyota has a one-MPG edge in city driving, stickering at 17, while the Nissan beats it by one on the highway at 21.

Which of these midsize Japanese trucks is better? Which one would YOU rather own? Well, compare them directly right here for more information and don’t forget to vote in our poll!

Vote Here: Poll: Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier? » AutoGuide.com News

Jeff M

Nissan for reliability and long lasting proven engines and transmissions. Biggest bang for the buck plus since it is cheaper- there is less depreciation lost. It last years. no problem. The day you drive a new vehicle off the lot it just lost 10% value as it is now a used vehicle. the first year of driving it they loss around 12-15% more then you do the milage deduction for wear and tear. That adds up to between 22-25% after its 1 year old. Thats why I like the reliability and you still see lots of older ones on the road. My boy is not a car guy and never washs or polishes his 2008 Frontier and it sat outside the first three or four years. Now he has a garage. the paint and body still look almost brand new no rust or fadeing. It also is gunmetal grey like mine and is 4 wheel drive except not a PRO-4X like mine. . My friend just bought a new titan to replace his old titan that was 3 yrs old. He has his own company so that helps with his deductions. He wishes he had his old one back. It still looked new but it had over 230,000 miles and did not want to take a chance on a big repair. He hates the way the seats sit, the smaller engine , more gears that constantly shift.

 

[4Star]

Nissan for reliability and long lasting proven engines and transmissions. Biggest bang for the buck plus since it is cheaper- there is less depreciation lost. It last years. no problem. The day you drive a new vehicle off the lot it just lost 10% value as it is now a used vehicle. the first year of driving it they loss around 12-15% more then you do the milage deduction for wear and tear. That adds up to between 22-25% after its 1 year old. Thats why I like the reliability and you still see lots of older ones on the road. My boy is not a car guy and never washs or polishes his 2008 Frontier and it sat outside the first three or four years. Now he has a garage. the paint and body still look almost brand new no rust or fadeing. It also is gunmetal grey like mine and is 4 wheel drive except not a PRO-4X like mine. . My friend just bought a new titan to replace his old titan that was 3 yrs old. He has his own company so that helps with his deductions. He wishes he had his old one back. It still looked new but it had over 230,000 miles and did not want to take a chance on a big repair. He hates the way the seats sit, the smaller engine , more gears that constantly shift.

Sorry guys my friend had and has a Tacoma not a titan. My BAD.