For years, the Nissan Frontier has been trying to catch up with the Toyota Tacoma. And for years, Nissan's valiant efforts haven't gone too well. At Avondale Toyota in Avondale, AZ, we've watched the beloved "Taco" lead its category as the best-selling mid-size pickup in the country for an amazing 16 years in a row. For 2022, the Nissan Frontier is trying once again and the results aren't what Nissan was hoping for. Let's do a quick comparison.
Performance
Both the 2022 Toyota Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier have very capable engines, each offering a V6 with comparable horsepower and torque. The Tacoma's V6 produces virtually the same power as the Frontier's: 278 hp vs. 281 hp. But in the all-important towing category, Tacoma wins with a maximum capacity of 6,800 pounds vs. 6,720 for the Frontier. In addition, the Tacoma can carry a bigger payload. It's Tacoma 1,685 lb. vs. Frontier 1,610.
Fuel efficiency
U.S. News & World Report calls this matchup almost even, with the newest Toyota Tacoma coming out ahead. The latest Nissan Frontier gets an EPA-projected 20 miles in combined city and highway driving while the 2022 Toyota Tacoma's V6 gets 21 combined city/highway miles with every gallon. At a time when gas prices can be volatile, every extra mile per gallon helps.
Off-road
The new 2022 Toyota Tacoma beats the Nissan Frontier off-road because of advantages that might seem downright unfair. We're talking about the Tacoma's renowned TRD (Toyota Racing Development) Off-Road and mighty TRD Pro trims. Among the Toyota strengths when you're far from pavement is a Multi-Terrain Select feature that comes with Crawl Control. The Tacoma has off-road shocks and a locking rear differential.
Interior
On the inside, the 2022 Nissan Frontier has some self-inflicted setbacks because of the difficulty in navigating the technology. As the experts at U.S. News point out, the Frontier's screen menus are "hard to decipher and take some time to learn." By contrast, U.S. News noted that the Taco's infotainment system is much easier to use, which will be very helpful when you're out on the highway heading back home to Phoenix or Tempe, AZ.
Car reviewers also like the Tacoma's telescoping steering wheel adjustment, which the new Frontier doesn't have. One other Nissan Frontier drawback – which also becomes a drawback for passengers – is the noticeable lack of rear seat legroom. That will make traveling less than comfortable when you head out on road trips away from Glendale or Peoria AZ. Once again, the new 2022 Toyota Tacoma wins in some important categories.
Safety
Both the Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier have a reassuring collection of safety features but the 2022 Toyota Tacoma has more standard safety technology. For example, the Tacoma has a system that works vigilantly to detect the possibility of a collision in front of you. If that happens, the system warns you immediately and can automatically hit the brakes forcefully to minimize or totally avoid the collision altogether.
Value
There's more sad news for the latest Nissan Frontier on the pricing front. The base Frontier starts about $1500 higher than the 2022 Toyota Tacoma. Somehow, it doesn't seem quite right for Nissan to charge more for a truck that's still got a lot of catching-up to do. But while that's another disadvantage for Nissan, it becomes another nice advantage for you. Test drive the new 2022 Toyota Tacoma soon at Avondale Toyota in Avondale, AZ.
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