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

• 2025 Nissan Frontier

  Base Trim Engine

  3.8L V6 Gas

  Base Trim Horsepower

  310-hp

  Base Trim Torque

  281-lb-ft

• 

  2024 Toyota Tacoma

  Base Trim Engine

  2.4L Turbo Inline-4 Gas

  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 host of mechanical and tech improvements that enable it to handle any driving situation with ease. It arrives to do battle with the Toyota Tacoma, among other hallowed pickups, which has entered its fourth generation with the 2024 model year.

The all-new Tacoma is available in an even wider range of trims, with eleven options to choose from, including off-roaders like the TRD Pro and the overlanding-ready Trailhunter. There are fewer trims in the 2025 Frontier, but the brand has made a big effort to listen to its customers and make adjustments to better align with their needs and wants. To compare the new Frontier with the 2024 Tacoma, we look at a range of metrics including equipment, design, and performance. The Tacoma may be a segment leader, but is it in danger of being dethroned?

Design: Hip To Be Square

The new Frontier’s looks turn the rugged aspect up to 11, with some fresh design elements that give it an angular, aggressive appearance; whether on or off the beaten track, attacking a dirt road or parked on a suburban drive, the new Frontier always looks in its element. The grille, front bumper and front fascia have all been given a makeover, and buyers get a new 17-inch alloy wheel design option A long-wheelbase layout with a six-foot bed is now available across the entire Frontier lineup. One of the most visually striking updates comes as part of the available exterior paint palette, as there is now a bright, loud shade called Afterburner Orange. Models in the PRO-X and PRO-4X trims are also equipped with a new tailgate finisher.

The Tacoma’s design employs similar cues to convey aggressiveness and ruggedness, with a squared-off shape and sharp corners. All trims are equipped with LED headlights and either 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels, with the exception of the base SR trim which rides on 17-inch steel wheels. You can tell different trim levels apart by looking at the grille, as they come with different designs to make it easier to tell them apart. While lower trims sport an all-black grille, the Limited version has a silver-accented one, and the TRD Pro and Trailhunter feature “TOYOTA” lettering as part of their design; being offroad-focused variants, they also have higher ground clearance.

Engine: Old-School Power vs. Maximum Efficiency

* based on 2024 figures with the same powertrain

The new Frontier is powered by a single choice of powertrain: its 3.8-liter V6 is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, in RWD or 4WD guise. No hybrid options are available. The Tacoma, on the other hand, offers a wider range of powertrains. Its 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder can be paired with a choice of two transmissions and a RWD or 4WD layout; it also produces different power outputs depending on trim level. There is a hybrid powertrain on offer as well, which combines the same engine with a 48-volt electric motor and 1.87 kWh battery. The result is 326 hp and 465 b-ft – enough to earn it a place on our list of powerful hybrid pickups.

No information on fuel economy is available for the new Frontier yet, however, the data for the 2024 model shows that efficiency is not the highest priority for this old-school, V6-powered truck. As the powertrain has not changed for 2025, the fuel economy figures are likely to be very similar. The rear-wheel-drive version of the 2024 Frontier is the more efficient option in the lineup, achieving 18/24/21 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles, while the four-wheel-drive version only achieves 18/23/20 mpg. The most off-road-biased trim earns even poorer estimates from the EPA, dropping the highway and combined figures by one point.

Meanwhile in the Toyota camp, the 2024 Tacoma fares a little better; the most fuel-efficient version in the lineup is the RWD automatic, achieving 20/26/23 mpg. The least efficient option is the 4WD manual, which is on a similar level as the 4WD Frontier at 18/20/23 mpg. Hybrid models are more efficient, as is expected, earning as much as 23/24/24 mpg in Limited trim with the i-Force Max powertrain. Athough the Nissan is in the lead with better performance in non-hybrid models, even the non-hybrid Tacomas offer better gas mileage.

Special Equipment: Off The Beaten Track

The Nissan Frontier is equipped with a wide range of features that make it an ideal choice for drivers who venture off-road; in the PRO-X and PRO-4X trim levels, you will find an off-road suspension with Bilstein components, all-terrain tires, and overfenders, for the ultimate adventure on any type of terrain. While all trim levels come with Active Brake Limited Slip, the PRO-4X trim is equipped with an electronic locking differential, ensuring optimal traction no matter what surface you are driving on. The Intelligent Around View Monitor system has also been improved for this year’s model, providing optimal functionality when venturing off the beaten track: an Off-Road Viewing Mode is available at speeds of up to 12 mph, to help drivers detect obstacles when tackling rough terrain.

If you frequently transport large amounts of cargo, hauling is also made easier thanks to the Nissan’s dedicated features: the truck’s bed comes with the Utili-Track system to keep items secure during transport. The Utili-Track system consists of rails running down the length of the truck bed and adjustable tie-down cleats, to secure any items that might otherwise come loose. The truck bed also comes with options including a spray-in bedliner for protection from the elements and a 120-volt power socket.

The Tacoma’s adventure-ready equipment includes rock rails and a bed-mounted air compressor in the Trailhunter, as well as Old Man Emu forged coil-overs and rear remote-reservoir shocks. The TRD Pro is less extreme than its Trailhunter sibling, but still well suited to offroading: it is equipped with LED fog lights, a front LED light bar, and a metal ARB bumper. On the hauling front, the Tacoma’s composite bed is made out of a resilient, anti-rust composite material; it comes with four fixed cargo tie-down hooks on all trim levels, and a deck-rail system with adjustable tie-down cleats, similar to the one found on the Frontier. This system is present on all trims except the entry-level SR.

Interior and Tech: Give The People What They Want

The new Frontier’s interior is packed with tech and more comfortable than ever, thanks to a number of updates made after feedback from Nissan customers. The PRO-X, PRO-4X and SL trim now come with a four-way power passenger seat, while in the SV trim, the driver’s seat (which was already six-way powered) now comes with two-way powered lumbar support, for pain-free long journeys. The new telescopic-adjusting steering wheel also contributes to greater driver comfort. Two variations of cloth upholstery are available: lower-level trims are upholstered in standard cloth, while the SV trim adds premium cloth. The SL is equipped with leather appointed seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a premium audio system courtesy of a collaboration with iconic guitar and audio equipment brand Fender.

The dashboard trim has been redesigned for the 2025 model, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen has been added to the SV and higher trims. While Apple CarPlay was already available, this year the system is compatible with Android Auto as well. Wireless phone charging and the Intelligent Around View Monitor are now standard on the SL trim. A few more new comfort features are dotted around the cabin on all trim levels, improving passenger experience and practicality: all new Frontiers are equipped with a sunglasses holder in the overhead console and a sliding rear window for better ventilation.

While the Tacoma also has a comfortable, practical interior, many of its features are either not available or are optional in lower-level trims, making the entry-level models’ cabin, especially the SR’s, slightly more spartan. It’s important to note, however, that there are many more trims for the Tacoma – eleven, to be exact – to cover a broader target market, ranging from budget-focused to more luxury-oriented. By contrast, the Frontier will have just five. The infotainment is controlled by an eight-inch touchscreen in most trims; to get the 14-inch screen you have to splash out on the Limited, Trailhunter, or TRD Pro versions. The same goes for features like wireless charging and USB-C ports, which are only available as options on higher trim levels (and standard on the top three).

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The TRD Pro trim also comes with IsoDynamic Performance seats, which use an air-over-oil shock absorber setup to allow the seat to move horizontally as well as vertically, ensuring optimum levels of comfort even on the roughest off-road trails. Materials in the entry-level Tacoma SR are quite basic and focus on function over form, with cloth upholstery and a polyurethane steering wheel. Going up a few trim levels brings more premium material options, including a leather-trimmed steering wheel and SofTex leatherette upholstery, plus additional choices of color combinations for the interior.

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Price and Winner: More Bang For Your Buck?

Pricing information is not yet available for the 2025 Frontier; the 2024 model started at $30,510 (for the S model in King Cab RWD guise), going up to $44,680 for the Crew Cab Hardbody Edition model, which is no longer part of the lineup for 2025. Prices exclude the $1,335 destination charge. The 2024 Tacoma, meanwhile, starts at $31,500 for the basic SR trim, going all the way up to $63,900 for the TRD Pro version (prices exclude the $1,850 destination charge).

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While the Tacoma has plenty to offer, the cheapest version available is more bare-bones and delivers less value than the entry-level Frontier. Using the 2024 Frontier’s pricing for our comparison, the entry-level version offers more equipment and a more premium interior than the Tacoma equivalent, while sitting at a broadly similar price point. The Frontier offers a higher towing capacity, but it loses out to the Tacoma for efficiency and the power advantages of the hybrid setup. This puts the two trucks on equal footing, leaning slightly toward the Frontier for pure value-for-money at the entry point to the range.

However, if you’re buying a truck for its ability to traverse rougher terrain, you’ll want to know which is most capable off the beaten path. The answer, with superior approach, breakover, and departure angles, lies with Toyota. Even regular models have more ground clearance than the Frontier does – by as much as an inch. The Tacoma is the more versatile buy, then, even if it’s a little pricier – and firmly still the king, in our books.

Sources:
Fender
,
Nissan Global
,
FuelEconomy.gov
.