2025 Nissan Frontier Vs. 2024 Toyota Tacoma: Battle Of The Pickups

2024 Toyota Tacoma

Base Trim Engine 2.4L Turbo Inline-4 Fuel

Base Trim Horsepower 278 hp

Base Trim Torque 243 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm

The 2025 Nissan Frontier has landed, with a brand-new design and a bunch of mechanical and tech enhancements that allow it to deal with any driving scenario with ease. It arrives to do battle with the Toyota Tacoma, amongst different hallowed pickups, which has entered its fourth era with the 2024 mannequin yr.

The all-new Tacoma is out there in a fair wider vary of trims, with eleven choices to select from, together with off-roaders just like the TRD Professional and the overlanding-ready Trailhunter. There are fewer trims within the 2025 Frontier, however the model has made an enormous effort to hearken to its prospects and make changes to higher align with their wants and needs. To check the brand new Frontier with the 2024 Tacoma, we have a look at a spread of metrics together with tools, design, and efficiency. The Tacoma could also be a section chief, however is it in peril of being dethroned?

Design: Hip To Be Sq.

The brand new Frontier’s seems flip the rugged facet as much as 11, with some recent design components that give it an angular, aggressive look; whether or not on or off the overwhelmed monitor, attacking a dust highway or parked on a suburban drive, the brand new Frontier all the time seems in its component. The grille, entrance bumper and entrance fascia have all been given a makeover, and consumers get a brand new 17-inch alloy wheel design choice An extended-wheelbase format with a six-foot mattress is now accessible throughout your entire Frontier lineup. One of the vital visually hanging updates comes as a part of the accessible exterior paint palette, as there’s now a brilliant, loud shade referred to as Afterburner Orange. Fashions within the PRO-X and PRO-4X trims are additionally outfitted with a brand new tailgate finisher.

The Tacoma’s design employs related cues to convey aggressiveness and ruggedness, with a squared-off form and sharp corners. All trims are outfitted with LED headlights and both 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels, aside from the bottom SR trim which rides on 17-inch metal wheels. You’ll be able to inform totally different trim ranges aside by trying on the grille, as they arrive with totally different designs to make it simpler to inform them aside. Whereas decrease trims sport an all-black grille, the Restricted model has a silver-accented one, and the TRD Professional and Trailhunter function “TOYOTA” lettering as a part of their design; being offroad-focused variants, in addition they have greater floor clearance.

Engine: Previous-College Energy vs. Most Effectivity

* based mostly on 2024 figures with the identical powertrain

The brand new Frontier is powered by a single selection of powertrain: its 3.8-liter V6 is paired with a nine-speed automated transmission, in RWD or 4WD guise. No hybrid choices can be found. The Tacoma, alternatively, presents a wider vary of powertrains. Its 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will be paired with a selection of two transmissions and a RWD or 4WD format; it additionally produces totally different energy outputs relying on trim stage. There’s a hybrid powertrain on provide as nicely, which mixes the identical engine with a 48-volt electrical motor and 1.87 kWh battery. The result’s 326 hp and 465 b-ft – sufficient to earn it a spot on our listing of highly effective hybrid pickups.

No data on gasoline economic system is out there for the brand new Frontier but, nevertheless, the info for the 2024 mannequin exhibits that effectivity shouldn’t be the very best precedence for this old-school, V6-powered truck. Because the powertrain has not modified for 2025, the gasoline economic system figures are prone to be very related. The rear-wheel-drive model of the 2024 Frontier is the extra environment friendly choice within the lineup, attaining 18/24/21 mpg on the town/freeway/mixed cycles, whereas the four-wheel-drive model solely achieves 18/23/20 mpg. Probably the most off-road-biased trim earns even poorer estimates from the EPA, dropping the freeway and mixed figures by one level.

In the meantime within the Toyota camp, the 2024 Tacoma fares a bit higher; probably the most fuel-efficient model within the lineup is the RWD automated, attaining 20/26/23 mpg. The least environment friendly choice is the 4WD handbook, which is on the same stage because the 4WD Frontier at 18/20/23 mpg. Hybrid fashions are extra environment friendly, as is predicted, incomes as a lot as 23/24/24 mpg in Restricted trim with the i-Power Max powertrain. Athough the Nissan is within the lead with higher efficiency in non-hybrid fashions, even the non-hybrid Tacomas provide higher gasoline mileage.

Particular Tools: Off The Overwhelmed Monitor

The Nissan Frontier is supplied with a variety of options that make it a really perfect selection for drivers who enterprise off-road; within the PRO-X and PRO-4X trim ranges, one can find an off-road suspension with Bilstein elements, all-terrain tires, and overfenders, for the final word journey on any kind of terrain. Whereas all trim ranges include Energetic Brake Restricted Slip, the PRO-4X trim is supplied with an digital locking differential, making certain optimum traction it doesn’t matter what floor you’re driving on. The Clever Round View Monitor system has additionally been improved for this yr’s mannequin, offering optimum performance when venturing off the overwhelmed monitor: an Off-Highway Viewing Mode is out there at speeds of as much as 12 mph, to assist drivers detect obstacles when tackling tough terrain.

If you happen to ceaselessly transport massive quantities of cargo, hauling can be made simpler due to the Nissan’s devoted options: the truck’s mattress comes with the Utili-Monitor system to maintain objects safe throughout transport. The Utili-Monitor system consists of rails working down the size of the truck mattress and adjustable tie-down cleats, to safe any objects that may in any other case come free. The truck mattress additionally comes with choices together with a spray-in bedliner for defense from the weather and a 120-volt energy socket.

The Tacoma’s adventure-ready tools contains rock rails and a bed-mounted air compressor within the Trailhunter, in addition to Previous Man Emu cast coil-overs and rear remote-reservoir shocks. The TRD Professional is much less excessive than its Trailhunter sibling, however nonetheless nicely suited to offroading: it’s outfitted with LED fog lights, a entrance LED gentle bar, and a steel ARB bumper. On the hauling entrance, the Tacoma’s composite mattress is made out of a resilient, anti-rust composite materials; it comes with 4 mounted cargo tie-down hooks on all trim ranges, and a deck-rail system with adjustable tie-down cleats, much like the one discovered on the Frontier. This method is current on all trims besides the entry-level SR.

Inside and Tech: Give The Individuals What They Need

The brand new Frontier’s inside is full of tech and extra snug than ever, due to a lot of updates made after suggestions from Nissan prospects. The PRO-X, PRO-4X and SL trim now include a four-way energy passenger seat, whereas within the SV trim, the motive force’s seat (which was already six-way powered) now comes with two-way powered lumbar assist, for pain-free lengthy journeys. The brand new telescopic-adjusting steering wheel additionally contributes to better driver consolation. Two variations of fabric upholstery can be found: lower-level trims are upholstered in normal fabric, whereas the SV trim provides premium fabric. The SL is supplied with leather-based appointed seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a premium audio system courtesy of a collaboration with iconic guitar and audio tools model Fender.

The dashboard trim has been redesigned for the 2025 mannequin, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen has been added to the SV and better trims. Whereas Apple CarPlay was already accessible, this yr the system is appropriate with Android Auto as nicely. Wi-fi cellphone charging and the Clever Round View Monitor at the moment are normal on the SL trim. A number of extra new consolation options are dotted across the cabin on all trim ranges, bettering passenger expertise and practicality: all new Frontiers are outfitted with a sun shades holder within the overhead console and a sliding rear window for higher air flow.

Whereas the Tacoma additionally has a snug, sensible inside, a lot of its options are both not accessible or are elective in lower-level trims, making the entry-level fashions’ cabin, particularly the SR’s, barely extra spartan. It is essential to notice, nevertheless, that there are various extra trims for the Tacoma – eleven, to be actual – to cowl a broader goal market, starting from budget-focused to extra luxury-oriented. In contrast, the Frontier could have simply 5. The infotainment is managed by an eight-inch touchscreen in most trims; to get the 14-inch display you need to splash out on the Restricted, Trailhunter, or TRD Professional variations. The identical goes for options like wi-fi charging and USB-C ports, that are solely accessible as choices on greater trim ranges (and normal on the highest three).

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The TRD Professional trim additionally comes with IsoDynamic Efficiency seats, which use an air-over-oil shock absorber setup to permit the seat to maneuver horizontally in addition to vertically, making certain optimum ranges of consolation even on the roughest off-road trails. Supplies within the entry-level Tacoma SR are fairly fundamental and give attention to operate over type, with fabric upholstery and a polyurethane steering wheel. Going up a couple of trim ranges brings extra premium materials choices, together with a leather-trimmed steering wheel and SofTex leatherette upholstery, plus extra decisions of shade combos for the inside.

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Value and Winner: Extra Bang For Your Buck?

Pricing data shouldn’t be but accessible for the 2025 Frontier; the 2024 mannequin began at $30,510 (for the S mannequin in King Cab RWD guise), going as much as $44,680 for the Crew Cab Hardbody Version mannequin, which is now not a part of the lineup for 2025. Costs exclude the $1,335 vacation spot cost. The 2024 Tacoma, in the meantime, begins at $31,500 for the fundamental SR trim, going all the way in which as much as $63,900 for the TRD Professional model (costs exclude the $1,850 vacation spot cost).

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Whereas the Tacoma has lots to supply, the most cost effective model accessible is extra bare-bones and delivers much less worth than the entry-level Frontier. Utilizing the 2024 Frontier’s pricing for our comparability, the entry-level model presents extra tools and a extra premium inside than the Tacoma equal, whereas sitting at a broadly related worth level. The Frontier presents the next towing capability, nevertheless it loses out to the Tacoma for effectivity and the facility benefits of the hybrid setup. This places the 2 vans on equal footing, leaning barely towards the Frontier for pure value-for-money on the entry level to the vary.

Nevertheless, in the event you’re shopping for a truck for its potential to traverse rougher terrain, you will need to know which is most succesful off the overwhelmed path. The reply, with superior strategy, breakover, and departure angles, lies with Toyota. Even common fashions have extra floor clearance than the Frontier does – by as a lot as an inch. The Tacoma is the extra versatile purchase, then, even when it is a bit pricier – and firmly nonetheless the king, in our books.

Sources:
Fender
,
Nissan International
,
FuelEconomy.gov
.