Nissan is not planning to give its aging Frontier mid-size pickup a major update until the 2021 version is released next year. But this does not necessarily mean the automaker has nothing in store for the outgoing model.
Instead of an all-new version, the company is giving the 2020 model a new engine and transmission for its final year on sale.
The 2020 Nissan Frontier will now be equipped with a new direct-injection 3.8-liter V-6 engine that makes 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. It has the same amount of torque as the previously optional 4.0-liter V-6 but features an increase of 49 horsepower.
The new V-6 engine will now be the standard equipment in all 2020 Frontiers and will be paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This means Nissan will no longer be offering a manual transmission option for the Frontier while the 3.8-liter will take the place of the 2.5-liter inline-four as the base option for the truck.
Save for the new engine and transmission, the 2020 Frontier will retain its standard rear-wheel-drive setup with an optional four-wheel-drive. It will also keep the extended cab and crew cab body styles, as well as the short bed and long bed options for the crew cab type. This time, however, the trim lineup will only consist of the S, SV, and Pro-4X.
The mid-size truck will also welcome new standard features such as a push-button start, a tilt steering wheel, power windows, and power locks that have not been seen in the Frontier since its last major redesign in 2005.
Nissan has previously confirmed that an all-new 2021 Nissan Frontier, powered by the same engine, is set to arrive next year. But in the meantime, customers can enjoy these minor updates on the pickup.
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