Larger engine with more horsepower and torque – Frontier’s 3.8-liter V6 engine produces more horsepower and torque than either of Tacoma’s available engines.3.8-liter V6 engine (vs. 2.7-liter 4-cyl. and 3.5-liter V6)
-More horsepower (310 hp vs. 159–278): 151 more horsepower than the 2.7-liter 4-cyl. and 32 more hp than the 3.5-liter V6
-More torque (281 lb-ft vs. 180–265): 101 more lb-ft of torque than the 4-cyl. and 16 more lb-ft of torque than the V6
Standard 9-speed automatic transmission (vs. 6-speed automatic) – Frontier’s standard 9-speed automatic transmission optimizes shift quality, performance, and fuel economy. Low gear ratios for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears enhance acceleration. Overdrive ratios for 7th–9th gears lower engine rpm at highway speeds. Tacoma offers a standard 6-speed automatic transmission.
Driver assistance features – Frontier offers several driver assistance features that are not available on any Tacoma. These include features that can help remind the driver to check the back seat for any articles left behind, detect and display the current speed limit, and warn the driver to take a break if driver fatigue is detected. Frontier offers:
-Standard Rear Door Alert2 (vs. not available)
-Available Traffic Sign Recognition3 (TSR) (vs. not available)
-Standard Intelligent Driver Alertness4 (I-DA) (vs. not available)
Safety features – Frontier offers some standard and available safety features that are not available on any Tacoma. Frontier also offers one standard safety feature that is only available on Tacoma as an extra-cost option or on higher trim levels. Frontier offers:
-Standard trailer sway control (vs. available)
-Standard Easy-Fill Tire Alert (vs. not available)
-Standard Intelligent Forward Collision Warning5 (I-FCW) (vs. standard, but not intelligent)
-Available Rear Automatic Braking6 (RAB) (vs. not available)
-Available moving object detection7 (Intelligent Around View® Monitor8 [I-AVM]) (vs. not available)
Wider cargo bed – Frontier’s cargo bed is 4.7 inches wider overall and 2.9 inches wider between the wheel wells so it can accommodate wider cargo than Tacoma.
-Wider cargo bed overall (61.4 inches vs. 56.7): 4.7 inches wider overall
-Wider cargo bed between wheel wells (44.5 inches vs. 41.5): 3 inches wider
-Available tow/haul mode (vs. not available)
-4-wheel disc brakes (vs. front disc/rear drum)
-Full-length box section frame rails (vs. boxed front only)
-Damped tailgate with closure assist (vs. no closure assist)
-Zero Gravity front seats (vs. not available)
-Available heated steering wheel (vs. not available)
-Standard wiper-linked auto-on/off headlights (Intelligent Auto Headlights [I-AH]) (vs. available and not wiper-linked)
-Standard push button ignition and remote keyless entry (vs. available)
-Larger customizable vehicle information display (7 inches vs. 4.2)
-Larger touch-screen center displays
-Larger standard display (8 inches vs. 7)
-Larger available display (9 inches vs. 8)
-Available premium audio system with more speakers (10 speakers vs. 6)
-More rear head room10 (King Cab vs. Access Cab: 36.6 inches vs. 34.9)
-More rear leg room10 (King Cab vs. Access Cab) (26.2 inches vs. 24.6)