The COVID-19 pandemic is causing some hard economic times for many people right now. If the economy concerns you and you’re in the market for a brand-new or slightly used truck, then it may be a good idea to look at some cheaper options. The Nissan Frontier is exactly the kind of truck that fits that bill, and here’s why.

The Nissan Frontier is extremely cheap

Unlike many other truck models, Nissan decided to keep the Frontier relatively unchanged for many years, all in the name of saving customers a buck or two. Nissan’s strategy with the Frontier actually ends up saving customers thousands of dollars, though. So, in a world of fancy and luxury trucks, the Frontier is a breath of fresh air for folks who just want a good, decent truck that doesn’t break the bank. 

For example, according to Cars.com, the 2018 Frontier currently starts at just over $14,000, and, depending on the options you choose, it can cost up to $26,000. This is an extremely affordable price tag for a new midsize truck. For example, the Chevy Colorado is a great work truck that’ll cost at least $21,000 to start with. With certain options or packages, the Colorado can cost almost $40,000. In tough economic times, those few grand can mean a lot.

The Nissan Frontier can get the job done

The whole point of a truck is getting work done, so there’s no point in buying a truck if it can’t do what you need it to. The base Frontier comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. This allows it to tow about 3,500 pounds, and it allows it to carry about 900 pounds in its truck bed. These aren’t record-breaking numbers, but for many people, they’re enough.

Of course, if you need a more powerful engine, then Nissan can deliver. The 2018 Frontier can come with a 4.0-liter V6 that gets 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. This powerful V6 engine allows the Frontier to tow about 6,700 pounds, and it also allows it to carry about 1,450 pounds in its truck bed. These are pretty decent numbers that’ll keep the Frontier competitive with its peers, but of course, this V6 engine option will increase the Frontier’s price tag. 

That said, Nissan has kept the Frontier cheap mainly by avoiding adding much to its interior. Unlike a brand-new Toyota Tacoma or a Ford Ranger, there isn’t much high-tech equipment in the Frontier, and you can’t really ask for them, either. But the Frontier does come with a backup camera at the very least. 

Still earning good reviews to this day

As Cars mentioned, the 2018 Frontier is well-reviewed by its owners since it does what it sets out to do, and it does it cheaply. On top of that, it’s a very reliable truck, which means that it doesn’t cost its owners much money for repairs and maintenance. That’s one of the pros of having so few features. There’s less stuff in the truck, so there’s less stuff that can go wrong. 

In terms of its reviews, the 2018 Frontier has a rating of 4.7 out of 5, and 93 percent of its owners recommend it. While owners gave it a good grade in terms of its value, that wasn’t actually the Frontier’s highest performing category. Frontier owners really enjoy the Frontier’s exterior design as well as its comfort level. 

Still, its price is its main selling point for many customers right now. The Frontier is a good enough truck that’ll likely save you thousands of dollars in the long run.