Although it’s been at it for years, Nissan really made a name for itself in compact pickups when it introduced its bold “Hardbody” pickups back in 1986. Great name for a truck, but in terms of size, the Hardbodies (and the “Frontiers” that replaced them in ’99) were less like bodybuilders than gymnasts. And as terrific as gymnasts are, let’s face it: when it comes to trucks, size matters.

Then came the perky Xterra, a boxy, extroverted SUV that shared the Frontier’s platform that became one of the few real automotive success stories of recent times, granting Nissan access to exactly the group it targeted during the vehicle’s inception: college-aged active lifestylers so coveted by marketers these days. But alas, like the Hardbody/Frontier, Xterra sported a cool, distinct name, but faced certain limitations in terms of refinement, power and size.

Well Nissan has sent its fraternal twins to the gym for 2005, adding size and strength in pretty much every dimension. Significant additional length and width elevates the new Frontier from “compact” to “mid-size” status—welcome news to those who use their trucks for what God intended them: hauling things. The Xterra doesn’t add a whole lotta length, but the width increase is likewise appreciable to people who use their SUVs for taking friends and gear around; broad-shouldered like the first Hardbody, but wider, taller and longer. We were in beautiful and charismatic Austin, Texas, at the international press launch of these great new trucklets to find out if bigger really is better.

Frontier

The all-new Nissan Frontier is no less revolutionary than was the original Hardbody nearly two decades ago. For starters, it wears handsome new styling that brings it in line with the aggressive looks of the bigger Titan pickup, as well as the new, completely redesigned Pathfinder SUV. In fact, the front fascia is virtually identical to that of the Pathfinder, with the same angular headlamps, a new “angled strut” grille design and front bumper with surfaces that flow boldly into the flared front fenders. The body-sides, window shapes and rear end will look familiar to anyone who ever spent time next to the last-generation Frontier in a traffic jam, albeit with more road presence, thanks to the larger dimensions. The overall look is as brazen as a snowplow, yet it manages a certain amount of elegance that allows you to pull up to a swanky restaurant without embarrassment.

Just as important to truck shoppers as in-your-face looks is brute strength, as in 265 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. This power comes courtesy of a meaty 4.0-liter V-6 derived from the glorious 3.5-liter unit found in many Nissan and Infiniti passenger, luxury and sports cars. The added displacement and other enhancements make it more suitable for truck applications, and while it makes gruffer sounds than the 3.5, it retains the overall smoothness. Full disclosure merits mentioning that Frontier is still offered with a four-cylinder, which has been enhanced this year (for what it’s worth), but the V-6 is so good that Nissan expects 90% of Frontier buyers to skip the four in spite of its innate fuel economy benefits.

A new frame with fully boxed rails adds rigidity and ruggedness, while the sturdier suspension and communicative steering design now make the truck feel like a bona-fide Nissan—ie: a sibling to the 350Z and Infiniti G35. Equipped with the gutsy six-cylinder, the new Frontier can tow up to 6500 lbs. while bestowing fuel economy that is no worse than last year’s wimpier V-6 models. (CONTINUE...)