First introduced in 1998 as a compact pickup, the Nissan Frontier grew to become a mid-sized truck with a 2005 redesign. The Frontier’s gas mileage ratings fall a shade behind the Toyota Tacoma, with the current model’s highway ratings topping out at 23 miles per gallon (MPG) in the 4-cylinder manual transmission-equipped 2WD. The 2008 Nissan Frontier is available with two engines: a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder rated at 152 horsepower (HP) and a 4.0-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 engine rated at 261 HP.

While a diesel engine is not currently available in Frontiers sold in North American a torquey 2.5 liter DOHC intercooled turbo-diesel is available under the hood of the Frontier overseas, where it is known as the Navara. As a point of comparison, manual transmission-equipped diesel King and Double cab Navaras are rated at 23.9 urban / 32.8 extra urban MPG in the UK. That’s roughly 19.9 city and 27.3 highway here in the States.
Nissan Frontier Gas Mileage - 1998-2008
| Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Disp. | Fuel | Trans. | City | Hwy |
| 2008 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 22 |
| 2008 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (M6) Manual | 16 | 20 |
| 2008 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 15 | 20 |
| 2008 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 19 | 23 |
| 2008 | Nissan | Frontier 4WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (M6) Manual | 15 | 19 |
| 2008 | Nissan | Frontier 4WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 14 | 19 |
| 2007 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 25 |
| 2007 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 19 | 24 |
| 2007 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 16 | 21 |
| 2007 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (M6) Manual | 17 | 21 |
| 2007 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (M6) Manual | 17 | 21 |
| 2007 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 16 | 20 |
| 2006 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 19 | 24 |
| 2006 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 25 |
| 2006 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 16 | 20 |
| 2006 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (M6) Manual | 17 | 21 |
| 2006 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (M6) Manual | 17 | 21 |
| 2006 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 4.0 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 15 | 20 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 27 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 24 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 20 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 15 | 19 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 17 | 21 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 15 | 18 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 15 | 18 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 15 | 18 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 16 | 20 |
| 2004 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 20 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 25 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 23 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 15 | 19 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 17 | 20 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 15 | 19 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 20 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 20 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 15 | 18 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 16 | 20 |
| 2003 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 15 | 17 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 23 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 25 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 15 | 18 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 16 | 19 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 16 | 20 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 15 | 18 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 15 | 18 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 15 | 19 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 15 | 18 |
| 2002 | Nissan | Frontier V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 16 | 18 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 26 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 24 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 15 | 18 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 16 | 19 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 15 | 18 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 16 | 19 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 15 | 17 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 16 | 18 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 15 | 18 |
| 2001 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 15 | 19 |
| 2000 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 26 |
| 2000 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 24 |
| 2000 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 18 | 21 |
| 2000 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 19 |
| 2000 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 16 | 19 |
| 2000 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 15 | 19 |
| 2000 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 16 | 18 |
| 1999 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 24 |
| 1999 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 26 |
| 1999 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 18 | 21 |
| 1999 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 16 | 19 |
| 1999 | Nissan | Frontier Truck V6-4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 15 | 19 |
| 1998 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 24 |
| 1998 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 26 |
| 1998 | Nissan | Frontier Truck 4WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 18 | 21 |
Note: the EPA tweaked their testing procedure, starting with the 2008 model year, with the end result being that the 2008 MPG estimates are now lower than previous years. As always, YMMV.






2 comments ↓
I am looking at purchasing a 1999 Nissan Frontier 4×4 with a 5 spd. manual and 3.3 L engine. Your ratings of MPG are for US gallons and not Canadian Gallons, correct? With the Canadian gallon being larger the MPG would be higher. Our gallon is equivalent to 4.254 liters. And the US gallon is how many liters? 3.75 or something similar? Does your converter show this or is there something quick I can figure the translation out to? Thanks. Brian
Yep … the ratings are for US gallons.
1 US gallon = approximately 3.79 liters
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