Compare the2025 Nissan FrontierVS 2025 Toyota Tacoma

The Frontier has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Tacoma’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Frontier has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Toyota charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Tacoma.

Both the Frontier and the Tacoma have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Frontier third among midsize pickups in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Tacoma isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

The Frontier’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 82 more horsepower (310 vs. 228) and 38 lbs.-ft. more torque (281 vs. 243) than the Tacoma SR’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The Frontier’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 40 more horsepower (310 vs. 270) than the Tacoma’s optional 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The Frontier’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 32 more horsepower (310 vs. 278) than the Tacoma’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Frontier is faster than the Toyota Tacoma 4 cyl. hybrid gas (automatics tested):

The Frontier has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tacoma (21.1 vs. 18.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Frontier, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Tacoma.

The Frontier stops much shorter than the Tacoma:

For better traction, the Frontier has larger tires than the Tacoma (265/70R16 vs. 245/70R17).

The Frontier has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Tacoma doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Frontier has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Tacoma doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Frontier LWB SV Crew Cab 4x4 handles at .77 G’s, while the Tacoma 5-ft. bed TRD Pro Double Cab pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Tacoma 5-ft. bed Trailhunter Double Cab (27.9 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

The Frontier is shorter than the Tacoma, making the Frontier easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

The Frontier is 5.1 inches narrower on average than the Tacoma, making the Frontier easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The front grille of the Frontier uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tacoma doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Frontier King Cab has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Tacoma XtraCab can only carry up to 2.

The Frontier Crew Cab has 3.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tacoma (100.1 vs. 97).

The Frontier Crew Cab has .2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tacoma Double Cab.

The Frontier King Cab has a much larger cargo box than the Tacoma XtraCab shortbed (49.6 vs. 47.7 cubic feet).

The Frontier Crew Cab shortbed has a much larger cargo box than the Tacoma Double Cab shortbed (40.1 vs. 39 cubic feet). The Frontier Crew Cab longbed has a much larger cargo box than the Tacoma Double Cab longbed (49.2 vs. 47.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the Frontier Crew Cab easier. The Frontier Crew Cab’s bed lift-over height is 33.4 inches, while the Tacoma’s liftover is 34 inches. The Frontier King Cab’s liftover is only 32 inches.

Both the Frontier and Tacoma have bed indentations that accommodate 2x4’s for two-tiered loading, but the Frontier also has indentations to separate the cargo box into three different sections length-wise.

The Frontier has an all welded cargo box to eliminate possible corrosion spots and to provide better chassis stiffness. The cargo box in the Tacoma is bolted through the bed to the frame with large bolts. These bolts are a prime area for corrosion to start as the normal flexing of the truck’s chassis causes them to eat through the finish; they can also snag cargo as it slides in and out.

The Frontier’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tacoma’s (6760 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Frontier has a higher standard payload capacity than the Tacoma:

The Frontier has higher optional payload capacities than the Tacoma:

The Frontier uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Tacoma uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Frontier’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Tacoma’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Frontier SV/PRO/SL Crew Cab has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.