V-6 Gas Mileage, Performance

One of the disappointing elements of the V-6 Frontier — and one that many people in the market for a smaller truck will likely be concerned about — is its gas mileage. With an automatic transmission and four-wheel drive, it gets an EPA-estimated 14/19 mpg city/highway, which is similar to what the full-size Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks achieve with V-8 power. If you're looking for better gas mileage, rear-wheel-drive Frontiers come with a standard four-cylinder engine that gets up to 19/23 mpg with a five-speed manual.

Aside from its gas mileage, I like the V-6 drivetrain. The 4.0-liter V-6 makes 261 horsepower (the most of any midsize six-cylinder pickup) and offers strong acceleration when merging on the highway or pulling away from a stoplight.

The V-6 Frontier I tested had the optional five-speed automatic (a six-speed manual is standard), and the transmission is a smooth-shifting unit. However, it likes to run in a high gear, even when cruising at midrange speeds, to keep engine rpm low and save fuel. This didn't prove detrimental to performance because the V-6 is so powerful.

    See also:

    Automatic operation (AUTO)
    The AUTO mode may be used all year around as the system automatically controls constant temperature, air flow distribution and fan speed. To turn off the heater and air conditioner, turn the fa ...

    Tire chains
    NISSAN recommends using the following tire cables made by Peerless Chain Company for this vehicle due to limited tire clearance. Call 800-533-8056 to order tire chains for your vehicle. - ...

    Backing up behind a projecting object
    Backing up behind a projecting object The position is shown farther than the position B in the display. However, the position C is actually at the same distance as the position A . The vehicle ...