Toyota Tacoma vs Nissan Frontier

Dependable trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier are great options to move lots of cargo and offer you the kind of drivetrain that’s exciting to take off-roading. So, which one of these versatile trucks is right for you? Waldorf Toyota looks at each one in this 2019 Toyota Tacoma vs. Nissan Frontier comparison.

2019 Toyota Tacoma vs Nissan Frontier Power

As a tough, durable truck, the 2019 Toyota Tacoma is built with lots of power under the hood to help you conquer the outdoors or tow whatever you need moved. There are two impressive engines for you to choose from.

The first is a 2.7L 4-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) that gets up to 159 horsepower. The larger option is a 3.5L V6 Atkinson-cycle with VVT-i Wide that gets 278 horsepower.

The 2019 Nissan Frontier also has two available engines, but both generate less power. The base one is a 2.5L 4-cylinder that gets 152 horsepower, while the second is a 4.0L V6 that tops out at 261 horsepower.

The Toyota Tacoma uses that extra power to get the edge in towing capacity, which you can read more about in this 2019 truck review. It’s able to haul up to 6,800 pounds, while the Nissan Frontier falls just short with a towing capacity of 6,710 pounds.

2019 Toyota Tacoma vs Nissan Frontier Truck Bed

The 2019 Toyota Tacoma is fully capable of carrying everything you need without hooking up a trailer, too. Its solid truck bed is made out of an ultra-durable fiber-reinforced Sheet-Molded Composite (SMC) surface. It’s designed to have greater impact strength than steel and hold up better against scrapes and dents.

The 2019 Nissan Frontier has an available spray-on bedliner that’s on par with other pickups and doesn’t offer the same durability as the SMC surface.

On top of being tougher, the bed of the Toyota Tacoma is both more capable and accommodating. It can carry a maximum payload of up to 1,620 pounds. To secure that cargo, there’s a standard deck rail system to tie things down with four heavy-duty tie-down cleats. There’s also an in-bed storage compartment to secure your tools and a 120V/400W outlet to power something up for your next job or tailgate.

The Nissan Frontier doesn’t make it as easy to secure cargo and can’t carry as much. Its tie-down cleats are not standard, and its maximum payload is almost a couple hundred pounds less at only 1,460 pounds. Plus, there’s no outlet or convenient storage compartments.

2019 Toyota Tacoma vs Nissan Frontier Off-Roading Capability

The 2019 Toyota Tacoma was also built for off-roading. It features durable Bilstein® shocks and can get up steep, difficult terrain with crawl control and 9.4 inches of ground clearance.

The 2019 Nissan Frontier also has Bilstein® shocks, but it has a lower ground clearance at only 8.7 inches and doesn’t feature crawl control.

To maintain traction on uneven terrain, the Toyota Tacoma has a locking rear differential. You can also adjust the drivetrain using the Multi-Terrain Select feature. By just turning a knob on your dashboard, you can switch between Loose Rock, Sand, Rock, and Mud modes.

The Nissan Frontier also features a locking rear differential to help with traction, but it doesn’t offer the kind of versatility you get with Multi-Terrain Select.

Test Drive Your Next Truck

Visit Waldorf Toyota to test drive the 2019 Toyota Tacoma. It’ll give you a durable ride and help you move all your cargo. Contact us or stop by to learn more about this 2019 Toyota Tacoma vs. Nissan Frontier comparison.

 

More Tacoma Research:

Toyota Tacoma Safety Ratings

Toyota Tacoma Trim Levels

Toyota Tacoma vs. Chevy Colorado