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TacomaGeneral discussion forum for the 2005 and later Toyota Tacoma.
This is a discussion thread titled "Frontier vs. Tacoma (Round 2)", within the Tacoma forum, part of the Truck Forums category.
I saw the Ridgeline at the Fort Worth Auto Show. The Ridgeline is not a "man's" truck (if you can even call it a truck). Honestly, I'd feel down right embarrassed if seen driving one.
The Frontier failed the test for me on one major/basic issue. Nissan stopped making the regular cab model. I know I'm in the minority, but I just like the look of a regular cab truck. The only thing Toyota can do better is make the SR5 4X4 regular cab a little easier to find. I just drove from Cincinnati to south of St. Louis to buy my '07. It's not a standard model in KY, OH, TN, MI, PA, etc.
About six months ago I went and sat in a 2006 Frontier at the local dealership. I was not impressed at all. The sun visors were loose, the dash parts didn't fit together very well, and the overall appearance of the cabin was not up to par.
I've read through a lot of the comments dealing with Frontier vs Tacoma and one comment that keeps coming up is the Tacoma reliability. Just to give you some background, I have been involved in private practice in collision and defect investigations for almost ten years now, with no affiliation with any manufacturer. Over that time, my research has indicated that the Toyota Tacoma has received many times the complaints filed with the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration when compared to the same model year of Frontier.
For example, for 2005, 101 Tacoma complaints were filed with NHTSA compared to 21 complaints for the Frontier. For 2006, it was 73 complaints for the Tacoma compared to 13 complaints for the Frontier.
I know that this is a basic example, but is a large body of other research that also suggests the Tacoma does not have any superior reliability over the Frontier. In fact, the numbers suggest that the Frontier has the edge. Now, I'm not stating that as fact, as I haven't done the studies or compiled the numbers myself, but I would agree that the evidence I know of suggests Toyota does not have the edge in reliability. I think this idea comes from the "reputation" side of things, which is based on older mentalities when the other Japanese manufacturers WERE lacking in the quality control department which, IMHO, is no longer true.
BTW, I love the Tacoma! It kicks *** inside and out! However, I don't fit into the driver's seat that great. I think my legs are too long.
my research has indicated that the Toyota Tacoma has received many times the complaints filed with the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration when compared to the same model year of Frontier.
For example, for 2005, 101 Tacoma complaints were filed with NHTSA compared to 21 complaints for the Frontier. For 2006, it was 73 complaints for the Tacoma compared to 13 complaints for the Frontier.
Are you talking about the anonymous "type in your complaint here on the website" complaints?
I wouldn't put too much stock in those, tho some are good for a laugh (I saw one where the guy's complaint wat that he was beaten from a stoplight by an SRT-4 Neon, and that caused disrespect for him and his family )
Those on-line complaints are completely uncontrolled and unverifiable...you could sit there in an afternoon and enter a dozen fictitious complaints. NHTSA doesn't follow up on `em, either...I had a sticking-throttle issue on a Jeep Cherokee, and they never contacted me for any details or follow up.
i now have an 07 taco trd off road 4x4 access cab, my last truck was an 06 nissan frontier king cab 4x4. the nissan handled, braked, and towed better than the tacoma.
the tacoma has better fit and finish, rides nicer, gets a wee bit better mileage,a nicer interior, better stereo and has more features.
i would say allthough they are close that the frontier is the better of the
trucks.
my .02 is posted below
Long term Frontier King Cab 4X4 VS Tacoma Accescab 4X4 test
Having owned both new models of truck, and seeing all the Frontier vs. Tacoma topics I thought I would post a long term comparison of the two vehicles. Both are extremely refined tucks. Gone are the days when a truck was a utilitarian vehicle primarily used to haul cargo from jobsite to jobsite. Having owned the two trucks I have learned how differently refined they are. It seems to me that Nissan spent their time and effort on the engine and handling while Toyota put theirs into the ride, interior comfort and features.
The Frontiers engine is smoother and quieter at all rpm than the Tacomas fast revving 4 liter mill. Driving the Frontier particularly on the highway makes this trait very evident. My first highway drive in the Tacoma I found its 4.0L engine sounded a bit loud at cruising speeds.
The refined shoe goes on the other foot though immediately once you climb into the cabin of the Tacoma. The Toyota has a more refined interior and a better ride. The seating position in the Tacoma although lower I find more comfortable and the extra leg room is appreciated. Also appreciated is the telescopic wheel,and a console arm rest that is long enough for short arms to use comfortably on the highway. On the topic of arm comfort the Toyota has much more comfortable arm rests and console. I found the Nissans interior scratched up quite easily,far too easily actually. The stereo in the Toyota is sounds noticably better to that in the Frontier, the cruise control and stereo controls on the Tacomas leather wrapped steering wheel are a bit nicer to use than that in the Nissan. I prefer the action of the shift gate and leather wrapped shifter on Toyotas automatic transmission. The Tacoma just has a nicer more featured
interior. The Frontier does offer a leather interior, and sunroof not offered by toyota,and it has heated mirrors and a oil pressure guage too.
Both my Frontier and Tacoma are/were extended cab models and I find the extra rear room in the Tacoma an asset. The rear seating in the Tacoma is roomier, an adult would be far more comfortable in the back of the Access cab than the Frontier King Cab. The Toyotas storage bins built into the bottom of the seat trump the little box the Nissan has under the rear seats.
The Tacoma is a nicer riding vehicle, it has a nicer ride than the Frontier, it feels almost carlike compared to the ride of the Nissan.While the Tacoma has a nicer ride the Frontier is a better handling truck. Run them both down a twisty road and the Nissans superior handling is evident. The Frontier is no sports car but it feels well planted in corners and is more confident at speed and has better manners than the Toyota exhibits in the corners
The Tacoma does not tow as well as the Frontier, the extra torque from Nissans very refined 4.0 liter engine makes it a better tow unit. Despite giving up some power to the Nissan I find the Tacoma accelerates faster, most noticeably from a dead stop. The Tacoma engine seems to rev faster and stay in the sweet spot of its power band better than the Frontier does and it's tranmission seems to shift a bit quicker too. Fuel mileage is about the same with both having 4.0 liter engines. Both trucks have more than enough power to rip up any hill and neither trucks tranmission hunts
around on grades.
Once you are moving you have to stop, the Frontiers 4 wheel discs have better feel than the front disc/rear drum set up the Tacoma comes with. The Toyota brakes feel soft in comparison to the set up in the Frontier.Don't miss read this the Tacomas brakes work well, they just lack the feel the Frontier has.
Off road is a pursuit I do not take too seriously, however I do go off road a bit and really do not find one truck to be any better than the other. Both have gone through anything muddy or rough I have pointed them at with equal ability. In sand however the lighter weight of the Tacoma makes it a bit easier to wheel. While the Nissan may have more ground clearance, the Toyota better approach and departure angles. Six of one....
I prefer the composite bed in the Tacoma, that said I am certain its tailgate will not support much of a load . I think the Frontiers utilitrack system is superior to the sliding plastic hooks Toyota provides. I would feel more confident about a motorcycle tied down in the bed of the Nissan than the Toyota. I do like the Toyotas in-bed storage compartments they are great for storing tie downs or small items. The in-bed power converter the Tacoma has is a feature every truck and SUV should come standard with, having power at the tailgate for a tool or charger is very handy .
The airbox on the Nissan is easier to service and easier to modify if you are looking to cut it open to gain a bit more power or mileage than Toyotas . On the other hand the dipstick and oil filter on the Tacoma are easier to access than the Nissan. Whom ever designed the dipstick and oil filter on the Nissan was obviousy a sadist. There is better aftermarket support for the Tacoma than the Frontier, and for what it's worth my butt dyno says the Tacoma responded better to an AFE intake than the Frontier did.
I think this covers the differences on these two fine trucks, every test has to have a winner and a loser and in my opinion the Nissan Frontier is the winner. The Toyota is more comfortable,has more features and is a bit quicker,but Nissan holds the winning hand with its better handling, braking, towing and loading capabilities,they are trucks and IMO the nissan has the stronger cards in this area.
For example, for 2005, 101 Tacoma complaints were filed with NHTSA compared to 21 complaints for the Frontier. For 2006, it was 73 complaints for the Tacoma compared to 13 complaints for the Frontier.
don't forget the toyota outsells the nissan by about 6 to 1 margins.
my frontier had problems with the heater, a recall for a gas cap, the drivers seat wore out and needed replacing at 14000 miles. the tacoma has not been in the shop for anything but oil changes
I think a lot of the comparisons dont mean a thing. Why? Well, lets first talk about the trucks appearances. Its a personal preference in which one looks better. Next is comfort. Some people prefer the seats, arm rests, etc of one vehicle, others prefer the other. Just like the options of beds and chairs for the home, everyones butt is going to feel better on the many options. If that wasnt the case, then we would only have one or two options of what type of bed we can buy. Once again, we shouldnt base our opinion on what someone else has written on comfort.
Road handling, well there are many factors in what can change and control handling. Tires, tire pressure, springs and shocks, bushings, etc, etc. You can easily take a vehicle that handles mediocre, upgrade the suspension components and have a much better handler. The handling difference might be contributed to the "newness" of the vehicle, perhaps given a few thousand miles the once better handling truck is now a worse ride. To be fair you have to compare very similar vehicles, similar in weight, wheelbase, width, ride height, suspension type (eg: off-road to off-road), etc. Obviously a truck with a standard suspension with no lift and street tires is going to handle much different (should be better) then a truck with a off-road suspension package and all-terrain tires.
Any newly designed vehicle is going to have its issues. The only problem I've had is with the clutch pedal squeak, which was fixed. Is this a major flaw? No. Was a safety concern? No. Should it prevent someone from buying a Tacoma, especially considering Toyota fixed the issue at the plants on the 06+? No. I have yet to see any real safety related bulletins issued on the Tacoma. I take most of the complaints lightly. Most complaints are just some whiney idiot. Like some that complain that great big mud tires are noisey on the highway. Or their newly purchased truck doesnt get the cornering performance or mileage as their Honda Accord. No **** shirlock! Some people will complain regardless...
With that said, I bought the Tacoma because I think it looks better then the Frontier and the other options. It tows great, handles good, and is very comfortable to ride in on long trips. The few concerns I may have with it can be easily fixed... such as the lack of heated mirrors. Muth offers a kit for the Tacoma, so that shouldnt be a factor in deciding between the Tacoma and Frontier.
As for the person (RDNF) saying the Frontier tows better because it has more torque, but then goes on to say the Tacoma accelerates better, but still concludes the Frontier is a far superior towing vehicle... you lost me... If the Tacoma can accelerate better, and neither truck has a problem at speed, that to me means Toyota has the power and gear range better synced then the Nissan.
__________________
Roger
05 Tacoma 4x4 TRD DC Off-Road
Shrockworks Front Bumper, K&N Intake/AEM Filter, XM Satellite, Retrax Tonneau Cover and Yakima track rack system, OEM roof rack
As for the person (RDNF) saying the Frontier tows better because it has more torque, but then goes on to say the Tacoma accelerates better, but still concludes the Frontier is a far superior towing vehicle... you lost me... If the Tacoma can accelerate better, and neither truck has a problem at speed, that to me means Toyota has the power and gear range better synced then the Nissan.
don't go putting words in my mouth, i said it towed better.I did not say it was a "far superior" tow vehicle. The Tacoma accelerates from a STOP faster because its about 500 pounds lighter and it has a stiffer set of gears in the differential. if you doubt the extra torque and 25 more hp the frontier has try a roll on race from 20 mph with one, it will beat you.
both are AWESOME vehicles, i would reccomend either to anyone
looking for a midsize truck.
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