“My Nissan is Better Than Your Nissan” – Nissan Titan vs Nissan Frontier

Nissan is a Japanese auto manufacturer that has been building a wide range of vehicle options since 1933. Prior to 1933, the company was called Kwaishinsha Motorcar Company and primarily produced trucks. Today Nissan makes two trucks with the Frontier and Titan that although seem very similar on the exterior, are significantly different when you look under the hood or get behind the wheel.

Nissan Titan

Engine: 5.6L
Horsepower: 317
Fuel Economy: 13 City / 18 Hwy
MSRP: Starting at $29,360

Inside the 2015 Nissan Titan:

The 2015 Nissan Titan is available in two cab types; a King Cab and Crew Cab offering. This big-bodied Titan is more geared toward the recreational user than the working crowd. Therefore, the interior includes more comfort and luxury options. Also, the cargo-cleat system makes securing the weekend’s cargo in the truck bed easier. Despite being overlooked by some as a work truck, the Titan comes standard with a powerful 5.6L V8 engine with 317 horsepower and 9,500 lbs of towing capacity. The drawback to the Titan would be the slightly lower than average fuel economy even when compared to V8 models. The Titan is available in four trim packages including the S, SV, PRO-4X and SL. These core trim packages range in price from $29,360 for the Nissan S, to $40,580 for the SL package.

The pickup truck landscape has been completely turned upside down with many models receiving significant upgrades in 2014 or 2015. The Titan remains relatively unchanged yet includes many comfort and standard tech features that make it stand out. Upon entering the Titan, you’ll notice the 168 degree wide-open door hinge followed by the increased front leg room compared to other full sized trucks. The base Rockford Fosgate audio system gives off opera house quality sound without the need to drop ‘mucho coin’ on an upgrade option. Brake Assist, Nissan Advanced Airbag System, Bluetooth Phone System and lockable bedside storage round out the highlights of what is included in all models. NissanConnect with Navigation and Rearview camera are both add-ons that are worth the investment depending on your needs.

Nissan Frontier

Engine: 2.5L
Horsepower: 152
Fuel Economy: 19 City / 23 Hwy
MSRP: Starting at $17,990

Inside the 2015 Nissan Frontier:

The 2015 Nissan Frontier is also available in King Cab and Crew Cab options. This offering from Nissan is a sporty pickup truck and lacks some of the big power necessary to be a work truck for some. The handling is far superior to competition and drives more like a unibody crossover than a mid- to full sized truck. The Frontier still gives you an impressive 6,500 lbs of towing capacity from its 2.5L V6 engine. While only 152 horsepower, owners will greatly enjoy the improved gas mileage as the Frontier is EPA rated at 19 City / 23 Hwy MPG. The price is the biggest draw as the base Frontier S is available starting at only $17,990. There are three other trim packages to choose from with the SV, Desert Runner and Pro-4X. Even the top tier Pro-4X begins at $30,550.

The Frontier has been in production in 1997. While the competition in pickups are rushing to change their whole design and add as many new features as they possibly can, the Frontier continues to hold strong with what it offers. Trucks can be very expensive all-around from the initial cost to the fuel that continues to run them. The Frontier aims to help consumers on both of those aspects. It offers many of the same features as the Titan including the important channel system in the truck bed to lock down items in transit. Available upgrades include similar premium sound and NissanConnect with Navigation.

Our Pick for Winner:

Base Model: Nissan Frontier

At Carsforsale.com, affordable vehicles make us smile. The fact that the Nissan Frontier is priced significantly less than the Titan while getting better fuel economy makes us smile even more. The barrier to ownership is low, yet allows consumers to add the technology or comfort features they feel necessary.

Upgrades: Nissan Titan

Since we are comparing two vehicles from the same manufacturer, it’s hard to truly compare the upgradable options as there is a lot of crossover between the two. However, the Nissan Titan comes standard with many of the features only available on the top tier packages of the Frontier. Because of this, we give this category to the Nissan Titan.

Overall Winner:

Nissan Titan

Sometimes you need a truck to perform like a truck. The performance factor of the Nissan Titan ultimately give it the win over the Frontier. It’s also much more luxurious and comfortable to drive. Nissan makes two completely different offerings here and although they both serve a purpose, we found the Titan to be a better option.