Nissan going smaller with new pickup?

[haven]

Mike Levine of Pickuptrucks.com posted an interesting report describing Nissan's thinking about the future of its small truck, the Frontier. According to Larry Dominique, Nissan North America's vice president for product planning and strategy, the next Frontier will take a step back toward its roots. The Frontier, like its competitors Tacoma and Ranger, used to be smaller, lighter, simpler, more fuel efficient designs, and (maybe most important), they were less expensive than today's mid-size pickups.

http://special-reports.pickuptrucks...-wants-to-take-small-trucks-back-in-time.html

The USA market for mid-size trucks has been squeezed in recent years. Manufacturers have lowered prices for full-size trucks to the point that it's often cheaper to buy the full-size model than a mid-size truck. And the full size models often have the same fuel efficiency as the mid-size models with the same engine.

A smaller, cheaper Frontier for USA is different than Nissan's direction in world markets, where the Frontier is growing larger, more powerful and more luxurious. But Nissan doesn't sell a full size truck in the rest of the world.

What do you think? Is Nissan making a smart move to increase the differences between the Frontier and its full-size pickup, the Titan? Is there a market in 2010 for a true compact pickup?

Chip Haven

 

[alexrex20]

i like the sounds of it. the current mini-trucks are now the size of full-size trucks 10 years ago. it'd be nice to see a true small truck again. the only true small truck offering is the GM colorado/canyon.

 

[austintaco]

I did a comparison between the 1st generation tundra interior room and the 05+ Tacoma. I don't remember the exact numbers, but at least the ex cab models were so close to each other in size you could have called it a draw. The next genertion Tundra got bigger and the tacoma became the old Tundra.
I really wish Toyota would make something like the Xterra. Take the 4runner back to what it was in its 1st generation, but then again, I am biased for that style

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

Nissan sounds like they know what they're talking about. Great news, I hope others follow suit.
austintaco,
you are right, the Taco has grown to near-Tundra size and the Tundra has grown to true-domestic fullsize.
Oddly, if Toyota would have kept faith with their "3/4 size" Tundra, (and kept a compact Taco) it would probably be a huge success with today's economy.

 

[RonapRhys]

All automakers seem to do this. They find a niche market and fill that need. Those that are in that niche quickly buy those vehicles and are more or less happy. However, in order for them to increase marketshare, they listen to compliants/wants for their vehicles and expand from there. One great example is the Xterra - originally marketed as everything you need and nothing you don't. They were more or less rugged, spartan, and filled the need for those who wanted a capable off road SUV that could take the pounding, didn't mind the dirt, was reliable as hell, etc. There weren't a lot of gagdets and features. Now, they've definitely got the gagdets, upgraded sound systems, etc and seem to be trending away from their roots to something more luxurious. At some point the increasing marketshare will likely lead to Xterras being more or less Pathfinders (read as mall crawlers with leather seats, etc) and Nissan launching a new stripped version probably called the Ninja Hauler or KickAssMobile.

This would be no more than that. The market would like a more economic truck that doesn't have huge amounts of capacity - one perfect for the person landscaping around their house, towing jet-skis or something similar. This is a proven market and there's not much that'd fit there right now.

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

The Xterra was based on the Frontier. It still is.
i think they kept faithful to their target. It's got a cheapie Frontier interior, leaf springs, lots of unpainted plastic and good 4x4 capability.

 

[GlennA]

I've owned Frontiers for the last 10 years. My current one is an 03. If Nissan moves back in the direction of a smaller more fuel efficient utilitarian pickup, I'll buy another. If they continue on the "biggger is better" bandwagon, I'll have to make the one I have now outlast me.

 

[Strizzo]

definitely a good direction for nissan to take. the latest frontier is in serious need of some styling redo. i guess the xterra just works for it, but all that plastic cladding on some of the fronty models does nothing for me. it just puts out a "fat and sloppy" vibe to me, especially the CC 2wd, as it sits low to the ground which doesn't help its looks. but, it seems to be a good truck for those that buy them, so YMMV

 

[mcm4090]

but all that plastic cladding on some of the fronty models does nothing for me.

There is nothing plastic on the exterior on the frontier.

I like the idea of bring back compact truck. I don't know if a 4 door compact would work for me now since my kids have gotten bigger.
Now I would love a single cab 4x4 compact with a v6. If they came out I could get a car for the family and a truck for me.
I just hope they are not going to do the same thing they did in OZ and just bring back the Gen1 Frontier.

 

[GlennA]

There is nothing plastic on the exterior on the frontier.

I like the idea of bring back compact truck. I don't know if a 4 door compact would work for me now since my kids have gotten bigger.
Now I would love a single cab 4x4 compact with a v6. If they came out I could get a car for the family and a truck for me.
I just hope they are not going to do the same thing they did in OZ and just bring back the Gen1 Frontier.

If they would bring back the Gen1 with a four banger and four wheel drive, I'd be at the dealer putting down a deposit. I get about 28MPG and view the truck as a tool, not a statement.

 

[BKCowGod]

My dream pickup would be a 2000 xcab frontier with a 4 cyl (I know, they never made it for the US), rear LSD, and a deluxe interior. My old Isuzu got 23mpg and could exceed 100mph if it really needed to. There was absolutely no situation where I wished for an extra 2 cylinders. And yes, I am aware of the irony of that statement coming from someone who has 400hp on tap from a 6 liter V8 that gets less than 14mpg.

But seriously - the current Frontier's fender flares look like something from a comic book, that plastic crap at the bottom of the bumper will get knocked off by the first rock you see, and the turning radius is bad nearly to the point of being dangerous. And its mileage is close enough to that of my Jeep that I would never see the point of switching.

Actually, screw a 2000 Frontier - Nissan made my dream truck, but they stopped when I was 2 years old:

 

[RonapRhys]

The Xterra was based on the Frontier. It still is.
i think they kept faithful to their target. It's got a cheapie Frontier interior, leaf springs, lots of unpainted plastic and good 4x4 capability.

To some extent, yes. And the OR version seems to be a push towards that. But note that the 4 banger was replaced with the V6 (which, quite honestly, I love - better mileage and more power), but stuff keeps getting added and it does keep getting more and more plush. Compare a Gen1 with a Gen2 and you'll see the difference. It's not a huge difference yet, but the mall crawlers are definitely having an influence.

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

To some extent, yes. And the OR version seems to be a push towards that. But note that the 4 banger was replaced with the V6 (which, quite honestly, I love - better mileage and more power), but stuff keeps getting added and it does keep getting more and more plush. Compare a Gen1 with a Gen2 and you'll see the difference. It's not a huge difference yet, but the mall crawlers are definitely having an influence.

like what?
They added those little steps to the sides of the rear bumper plastic (which is a utility concept, not mallcrawler)

They enclosed the roof cargo, which is better than gen 1.

The rest follows suit w/ the Frontier except with Xterra specific skin. Something they couldn't afford to do the first time.

the gen 2 corrected and did everything to improve gen 1 without going mallcrawler. I think they did a great job with the gen 2.

 

[RonapRhys]

Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't trade my Gen2 for a Gen1. Not at all, but if you look at the two, the Gen2 are definitely cushier and have more gadgets and all. I do believe that a change that was made in the roof rack definitely reduced the carrying capacity. Not that the folks who are getting out there wouldn't replace or enhance the rack anyway, but still.

I think right now they're hitting the best overall balance between power, reliability, usefulness for ExPo adventuring, and comfort - as well as being just a good utilitarian vehicle. I'm not sure I'd add anything at this point.

I do hear complaints with regards to ruggedness over on NewX and some of the other Nissan-specific sites - including some from the actual Nissan mechanics. Mind you, these tend to come from the hard-core wheelers who really get out there and really use the hell out of them crawling on rocks and all. It's those guys who blow up the front diff constantly or have other failures of equipment.

 

[Strizzo]

If they would bring back the Gen1 with a four banger and four wheel drive, I'd be at the dealer putting down a deposit. I get about 28MPG and view the truck as a tool, not a statement.

toyota made a reg cab 4x4 4cyl version of the tacoma up until a year or two ago, it didn't sell well as almost everyone bought extended or double cab trucks. now the reg cab only comes in 2wd and almost everything is extended cab or 4 door. does nissan even make a reg cab truck anymore?

i thought the same thing, had a 96 reg cab 4 cyl 4x4 hardbody for about 4 months. problem was the cab is so small that i couldn't straighten my legs, and the lack of cruise control meant that i walked all funny after a long drive and my knees hurt.