We’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you that Nissan still sells the mid-size Frontier pickup truck, even though it’s easy to overlook when the redesigned Toyota Tacoma and the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins from GM are soaking up the spotlight. And did we hear a new Ford Ranger is in the works? Now where were we . . . oh, right, Frontier! Nissan’s mid-size workhorse has been on sale in its current form since 2004, an eon in car terms, and while a replacement is rumored to be just around the corner, it appears as though the Frontier goes yet one more year unchanged. Well, save for its base price, which goes nearly unchanged, and a few new colors.


The 2016 Frontier S 4×2 King Cab—Nissan’s term for an extended-cab body style—with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed manual is $75 more than last year’s model. The next model up, the SV King Cab, is actually $15 cheaper than before at $22,840, while the $25,180 Desert Runner is $105 more. The upscale SL, which is only available in the Crew Cab body style, starts at $32,370 in two-wheel-drive guise, a nominal $125 steeper than last year, while the off-road–oriented Pro4X model jumps $1305 to $32,740. Now, the Frontier lineup is somewhat complicated, so to give you a better look at the truck’s prices and available body styles and drive configurations, we’ve broken them down by trim level below:

Frontier S, $18,975: The base S is a King Cab, four-cylinder, 4×2 with a six-speed manual transmission. Adding a five-speed automatic runs $2670 but also brings air-conditioning and a radio (not included on the stick) with Bluetooth. The four-door Crew Cab is only available with the V-6, and it starts at $23,685 with a manual transmission and $24,735 with the five-speed automatic; four-wheel drive is only available with the V-6/automatic combo, and runs $27,435.

Frontier SV, $22,865: The base SV is a King Cab, four-cylinder 4×2 with a six-speed manual transmission, and adds power side mirrors, power door locks, and windows, a tilting steering column, map lights, visors, cruise control, steering-wheel audio controls, a tailgate lock, and a body-color front bumper over the base S. An automatic transmission costs $1050, while stepping up to the V-6 with an automatic transmission runs $1760. Want a V-6, an automatic, and four-wheel drive? That’ll add $4460 over the SV’s base price, for a grand total of $27,325. The two-wheel-drive Crew-Cab SV starts at $25,645 (add $720 for the long-wheelbase variant) and is automatic-only; strangely, the manual-transmission SV Crew Cab 4×4 is $930 more than the $28,645 auto-equipped version.

Frontier Desert Runner, $25,205: This Pre-runner version is two-wheel-drive-only, and comes solely with the V-6 and and an automatic but gets Bilstein shocks, bigger wheels, and a neat sticker package.

Frontier SL, $32,375: The upscale SL comes only with the V-6 and an automatic and adds 18-inch wheels, leather, touch-screen infotainment screen with navigation, and more. Add $2650 for four-wheel drive, and another $1250 if you want your 4×4 with the long-wheelbase chassis.

Frontier Pro 4X, $32,525: The base Pro 4X has the Crew Cab body style and four-wheel drive, paired with a manual transmission; for $240 more, you can get the smaller King Cab but with an automatic transmission. The auto-equipped Crew Cab runs $33,575. Pro 4X models include hardcore off-roading gear such as a locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks, all-terrain tires, and a complement of underbody skidplates; they also come with heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and premium silvery interior trim.

It really helps to simply navigate the Frontier’s myriad combinations for yourself, so if you’re curious, head over to our Price with Options tool to build a Frontier for yourself.