The Nissan Frontier has definitely withstood the test of time. Despite its aging interior, it has continued to sell many units over the years, even beating out newer competitors. Newer model years of the Frontier also have far fewer reported issues and repairs than most trucks.

The Nissan Frontier as we know it will go away next year. A new model is finally in production. Sources say that it won’t be a complete redesign, but we expect to see a few differences. We hope that the Frontier’s standard features will be expanded. If you’re about to buy a 2019 Frontier, here’s what’s included in the current base trim.

Current interior

In comparison to some newer trucks, the Frontier’s cabin seems stale and unappealing. Still, the seats are comfortable and roomy enough for a long day of work. Cloth upholstery is standard and the seats have four-way manual adjustability. Power-adjustable seats can be purchased for an additional cost. Four large cupholders are also in the cabin, as well as a sizable center console.

For the 2019 model year, the 7-inch infotainment screen was made standard in all trims. It’s not overly complicated to use, and there are still plenty of physical knobs to make adjustments. A rearview camera, a four-speaker stereo, cruise control, and Bluetooth are all included.

Cab configurations

Drivers with the base Frontier can choose between either the King cab or the pricier Crew Cab. The King is standard and comes with two rows of seats. However, the second row doesn’t have adequate space for adult passengers.

A 6-foot-1 inch bed is standard, plenty of space for hauling most equipment. It doesn’t come with any standard tie-downs, but Nissan does offer an available Utilitrack system. If you have a Crew Cab, you also have the option to get a smaller 5-foot bed.

Safety features

Unlike most modern pickups, the Frontier’s standard safety offerings are very slim. It comes with standard airbags, traction control, and ABLS. Its rearview camera is the only advanced safety feature. Rear parking sensors are the only available upgrade on any Frontier trim.

Engine and transmission

The Frontier doesn’t have much to boast about in the engine department. The King cab comes standard with a four-cylinder engine capable of 152 hp. This is suitable for daily driving and light tow jobs, but little else. If you want to pay a little extra, you can have a V6 engine with 261 hp. Both of these engines can be paired with either a manual or automatic transmission.

Rear-wheel drive is standard, but you can upgrade to four-wheel drive in Crew cab trucks. Most critics found that the truck was easy to maneuver and had a quiet cabin. However, Edmunds reported that both the brakes and steering were unreliable on even pavement.

Towing power

The Frontier’s towing capacity is lower than almost all of its rivals. With the base engine, it can only tow up to 3,800 pounds and has a maximum payload of 900 pounds. If the Frontier is your primary work truck, you’ll probably need the more powerful V6 engine.

With the V6 under its hood, the base Frontier can tow up to 6,200 pounds. In the truck bed, you can carry up to 1,400 pounds.  A bed light is standard as well as a power-locking tailgate. 

The current Frontier is definitely lacking in many aspects. You may want to wait for the 2021 model to be released, but it likely won’t have the same price. You can buy a 2019 Frontier for around $19k, which is definitely a steal for a midsize pickup.