- The 2020 Nissan Frontier gets a new 3.8-liter V-6 engine with 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. It mates with a standard nine-speed automatic transmission.
- There are other minor changes to the 2020 Frontier, but it’s mostly the same truck as before.
- An all-new 2021 Frontier is coming soon with this engine, as Nissan says it will arrive next year.
Nissan is not quite ready to show an all-new version of its ancient Frontier mid-size pickup, but the new truck’s engine and transmission are making their way into the outgoing 2020 Frontier for its last year on the market.
The new direct-injection 3.8-liter V-6 engine makes 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, an improvement of 49 horsepower but the same amount of torque as the previous 4.0-liter V-6. This new V-6 also replaces the previously standard 2.5-liter inline-four, as all 2020 Frontiers now come with the 3.8L engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. We’re somewhat sad that this means there’s no more manual-transmission option for the Frontier.
Nissan
Rear-wheel drive remains standard, with four-wheel drive optional. The same extended-cab and crew-cab body styles continue on, and the crew cab is offered with either a short or a long bed. The trim-level lineup is a bit simpler, as the SL is now gone, leaving S, SV, and Pro-4X trim levels.
The only other changes for the 2020 Frontier are a few new standard features. Push-button start is now included across the board, and all Frontiers now come with a tilt steering wheel, power window, and power locks—remember, this truck has been on sale since 2005 without a major redesign.
A new model is coming next year, Nissan says, but for now Frontier customers will have to settle for the new engine in an old truck.
Nissan
