In their own words, Nissan is laying “the groundwork for the next-generation Frontier” by enhancing the midsize truck for the 2020 model year. It is expected that we will see the next-gen Frontier later this year.
While there is’t much new on the Frontier, it’s what’s under the hood of the model that’s the most exciting news. Nissan is giving the truck a best-in-class 310-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine. Yes, 310 horsepower. That’s a 49-horsepower jump from the available 4.0-liter V6 in the 2019 model and more than double the amount of horsepower in the 2019’s base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
Nissan has abandoned the powertrains that were available with the 2019 model and made the new one the standalone option for the 2020 model year.Photo courtesy of Nissan North America
The new 3.8-liter is paired with the same nine-speed automatic transmission that is in the 2020 Nissan Titan. The powertrain replaces the four-cylinder ad V6 power plants and becomes the standard Frontier engine for the 2020 model year.
Nissan developed the powertrain specifically for U.S. customers and it was made with acceleration and emissions performance in mind. It features 93 percent new or redesigned parts and was tested extensively in North America. Fuel efficiency numbers are forthcoming.
The engine will be assembled at Nissan’s engine facility in Decherd, Tennessee, just down the road from the company’s Smyrna assembly plant.
Nissan has also given the 2020 Frontier standard push-button start, a leather shift knob, manual tilt steering, power door locks, and power windows with driver side auto-down. There are new tires and wheel options as well.
What does this have to do with the redesigned 2021 Nissan Frontier? We’re very close to seeing the next-gen model and this engine will be its beating heart.
The 2020 Nissan Frontier goes on sale in the spring.
