Description: Compact Pickup Truck
Base MSRP Range: $13,390 - $27,020
Invoice Price Range: $12,944 - $24,989

The Frontier nameplate first appeared in 1998 as a basic two-door compact-class pickup powered only by a four-cylinder engine, but it has acquired features, doors, cabin variations and engine options with each succeeding year.

Restyling in 2001 produced the tough look of a tall chin-forward face with fat-lip bumper, huge clear-lens lamps on corners and flanks with flared fenders dimpled by divots and rivet-like caps. In 2002 Frontier evolved further through the creation of a Crew Cab Long Bed and the deletion of the two-door Regular Cab. Replacing Frontier's Regular Cab, the King Cab XE 2WD became the base edition and stocked the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

Many variations followed, including the Desert Runner 2WD in King Cab design with Nissan's 3.3-liter V6 engine, and trim choices of XE, deluxe SE and the S/C package with a supercharged V6 and 17-inch aluminum wheels plus performance tires. Frontier's King Cab also supports rugged 4WD editions in the same trims. Further, the four-door Crew Cab Frontier for 2WD and 4WD traction modes brings options for box lengths -- either the regular bed at 56.3 inches or a Long Bed. The longer version, a flat rectangular box, stretches for more than six feet and spreads wide to five feet.

In the 2003 lineup, Frontier gained yet another variation with the Open Sky and a revolutionary power-operated retractable top.

For 2004, Frontier adds another variation with supercharger and manual transmission under the badge of 4WD King Cab Supercharger Value Edition. Other changes to the 2004 series include five-spoke alloy wheels at 17 inches as the standard on Frontier SE and the availability on 4WD models of Nissan's vehicle dynamic control (VDC) with traction control system (TCS) coupled to a tire pressure monitor.