[eckemoff]

Just curious. What is there difference here as far as performance and reliability. Why does 4x4 get less MPG?

 

[morgan]

one guess for mpg would be the added weight of the 4x4 components

 

[colin123]

even when your not in 4wd the entire front drivetrain still spins since we don't have manually locking and unlocking hubs. the 4x4 has a nice one piece aluminum rear drive shaft while the 4x2 has a 2 piece with a carrier bearing that is known to go out

 

[eckemoff]

Does the front shaft spin reduce overall performance of the vehicle?

Interestingly, Consumer Reports rated the 2WD frontier MUCH higher than the 4x4 version in performance (4x4 was a little below average).

 

[dubie2003]

Does the front shaft spin reduce overall performance of the vehicle?

Interestingly, Consumer Reports rated the 2WD frontier MUCH higher than the 4x4 version in performance (4x4 was a little below average).

Ask yourself this question, does extra drag cause a loss in performance?

Does a stick brake pad cause your vehicle to slow?

I also have to ask why is the Consumer Reports report interesting? Mostly all 4wd trucks weigh more then the 2wd versions. Then the 4wd can't be used on dry roads since it causes binding in the Tcase/Diff/etc...

 

[eckemoff]

Ask yourself this question, does extra drag cause a loss in performance?

Does a stick brake pad cause your vehicle to slow?

I also have to ask why is the Consumer Reports report interesting? Mostly all 4wd trucks weigh more then the 2wd versions. Then the 4wd can't be used on dry roads since it causes binding in the Tcase/Diff/etc...

To me it seems that having 4x4 would decrease overall performance while using 2wd, but I don't know how it all works and it may be more complicated than than it appears.

I really don't know what you mean by the second part. Surely Consumer Reports didn't rate the 4x4 truck worse because it was 200 LB heavier and surely they didn't use 4x4 on pavement.

 

[dubie2003]

No, they probably experienced the extra drag and the extra weight and this caused the truck to act differently. Plus, most reporting agencies hated the Frontier but yet they love the Equator, lol.

There are also gear ratio differences between the 2wd and 4wd so this probably pushed the power band around a little which they probably didn't like.

Side Note: Did you watch the Top Gear episode where they tried to use the Ford Lighting offroad and complained when it didn't do well? Its a crude analogy but a vehicle is built for a specific purpose and when they try and cross-use them, they tend to find the differences.

 

[mrgrayaz]

4x4 gets lower MPG due to lower gear ratio's, more spinning driveline componants, (front system still spins in 2wd) and the additional driveline loss of going through the transfer case. They also weight a bit more.

My 05 SE 2wd 6M got MUCH better mileage then my 07 NISMO 4x4 6M. On the order of 3MPG high speed highway. (would get 21MPG in the SE doing 85MPH+, under 18MPG or so in the NISMO - same trip). Maybe 1MPG or so around town better as well

 

[AndysLog]

lol love the sig

is this really a legitimate question? understand the rational question of hey i dont for the most part 4 wheels working for me off road i just want the 2?
i just dont understand i guess. although i still dont read eckmoofs posts so thats probably why i dont get this.

and performance? thats a very generic word. perform where?

 

[dawgtchrr]

I've had the 06 le 4x2 and the daily drives got 20-22mpg combination and the long trip got 25-26. With the 08 Nismo 4x4 cannot do better than 18 combined and never got better than 19 highway. Both being driven same way. Wish I would have stayed with a 4x2.

I have wondered if the NISMO 4x2 does much better than the 4x4.

 

[Devius1]

..Interestingly, Consumer Reports rated the 2WD frontier MUCH higher than the 4x4 version in performance (4x4 was a little below average).

^Better landings?

 

[NismoFrontier08]

I have the 08 Nismo 4x2 and my best mileage has been like 23 at about 75, no more than 75, on the straight (and flat) highway to Las Vegas. Doesnt do to good once hills come into play though. The gearing is absolutely gay, even to switch lanes to pass someone who gets in the way for no reason (god that pisses me off) the truck dropps a gear and revs up more than a v6 should just to pass. My father in law has the TRD Tacoma, like 08 or 09, and you cant even tell the engine has accelerated when he passes people on the freeway, you just feel the pull!!!