Starting at
Starting at
| 310 | Horsepower (hp) | 159 |
| 6690 | Max. Towing (lbs) | 6800 |
| 8 | Touchscreen Size (in) | 7 |
Just because you want a pickup truck doesn’t mean you want to deal with the extra bulk of a full-size or heavy-duty model. Midsize trucks are more agile and can navigate tight spaces with ease. If you’re taking a trip to Chicago, Indianapolis, or St. Louis, this can certainly come in handy on city streets and in tiny parking lots. On the other hand, it’s also a plus on OHV trails, where you might have to squeeze between trees or boulders and navigate twisting paths with sharp turns.
Here at Illini Nissan, we want to ensure that you know about all your options before buying, so today, we’re looking at the 2023 Nissan Frontier vs 2023 Toyota Tacoma in a head-to-head comparison. The Tacoma has long been a popular option in its class and can be customized in various ways, from powertrain options to tech features. The Frontier, on the other hand, is a newer entry into the segment that has great standard equipment and rugged off-road trims available. Let’s dig in and see how these two mid-sizers measure up.
The 2023 Toyota Tacoma is available with two different engine options. To get the most affordable Tacoma possible, you’d have to settle for the 2.7L 4-cylinder engine, which delivers 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. To unlock the truck’s highest towing and hauling capacities, you’ll need to upgrade to the 3.5L V6 engine. With 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, this powertrain is impressive for a midsize truck and should give you pretty good acceleration and handling.
Instead of making you pay extra to get a powerful engine, the Frontier comes standard with a powerful 3.8L V6 under the hood. Delivering 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque, it’s clearly more powerful than the highest-tier Tacoma powertrain. That should come in handy whether you’re crawling over boulders in the wilderness or simply passing a slower truck on the freeway.
Generally, one advantage of a less powerful engine is that you get better fuel economy, saving you money over time; however, that’s not the case with the Tacoma. According to the EPA, the Tacoma’s 2.7L 4-cylinder engine gets 20 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway for its rear-wheel drive model, while the 3.5L V6 gets 18 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway. With its 3.8L V6, the Frontier gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 18 MPG in the city and 24 MPG with rear-wheel drive. While there is not a huge difference in fuel economy, the Frontier does edge out the Tacoma in highway efficiency.
The Tacoma does have a slightly larger maximum towing capacity. Properly equipped, the Toyota can tow up to 6,800 lbs, while the Frontier’s max towing capacity is 6,690 lbs. That 110 lbs probably won’t make much of a difference in your day-to-day driving, but if you happen to have a 6,700 lbs trailer, it could be a serious factor. But when it comes to hauling payload, the Frontier comes out on top with a 1,620-lb capacity, compared to the Tacoma’s 1,155-lb capacity. That’s a difference of 465 lbs, which can be quite significant if you need to haul heavy construction materials to a worksite or want to bring your ATV along for the ride on your next outdoor excursion.
Midsize trucks are popular among off-roaders since their smaller size makes them more nimble and easy to maneuver on tricky trails. Both the 2023 Frontier and the 2023 Tacoma have trim levels and features designed with off-roading in mind. The Tacoma has the Trail Special Edition, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro, while the Frontier has the Pro-X and Pro-4X. The Tacoma’s off-road options are more affordable. In fact, the Frontier’s most comprehensive OHV trim level, the Pro-4X, has a starting MSRP of $38,900, which is a bit cheaper than the Tacoma’s TRD Off-Road trim, the most affordable option in the Tacoma’s OHV lineup with a starting MSRP of $38,905.[a] The TRD Pro will set you back at least $47,185.
Does that extra money get you more features? Well, let’s look at both models closer. Both have beefy shock absorbers for a smoother ride on uneven surfaces, underbody skid plates to protect vital components and black overfenders that can accommodate large all-terrain tires. You’ll get an electronically-locking rear differential with either model, allowing extra traction in situations where one wheel is spinning out. Both also have special off-road gauges that allow you to keep track of things like roll and pitch at a glance in real-time.
Both also come packed with a little extra style to help you show off your capable ride. The Tacoma TRD Pro has a bold front fascia design featuring a heritage-inspired front grille that reads “TOYOTA” in block letters across the front, exclusive black badging, and a hood scoop featuring graphics. The Frontier Pro-4X has black exterior accents as well as lava red ones, like a red Nissan logo and red tow hooks that are both stylish and easy to spot when needed. The inside matches, with red contrast stitching on the seats and red accents on the dashboard, doors, and center console. With Nissan, you get your off-road capability for less, giving you extra money left over to spend on accessories, gear, or campsite fees for your next adventure.
Whether driving to work or heading off on vacation, it’s nice to have a state-of-the-art infotainment system to keep you entertained and informed throughout the drive. The Toyota Tacoma features a seven-inch touchscreen on its base trim and a larger eight-inch screen on higher trim levels. You can use this interface to control apps on your smartphone through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Connecting your device to the system is as easy as plugging it into one of the three available USB ports or placing it on the available wireless charging pad. An available 4.2-inch multi-information display puts key information in the driver’s line of sight between the physical gauges behind the steering wheel.
That’s not bad, but the Frontier does have more to offer. For instance, the Frontier’s base touchscreen is eight inches, and an optional upgrade can get you a nine-inch screen that enhances camera views and makes information easier to read at a glance. You also have more options when it comes to connecting your smartphone, like both USB-A and USB-C ports, an available wireless charging pad, and available wireless Apple CarPlay in addition to standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For driver assistance features like Traffic Sign Recognition, built-in navigation, and various alerts, the Frontier has a standard seven-inch driver-assist display behind the wheel, making it easy to keep track of everything without taking your eyes off the road for too long.
When it comes to driver assistance tech, both trucks have plenty of helpful features available. With either the Frontier or the Tacoma, you can get:
If you’re looking for a quality midsize truck, you can find a great deal on a 2023 Nissan Frontier here at Illini Nissan. From affordable base trims to rugged off-road models, we have the selection you’re looking for here at the dealership. And if you decide that you’d be happier in a full-size model, we also offer the Nissan Titan and Titan XD, along with plenty of Nissan cars, crossovers, SUVs, and EVs. With both new and used models, we pride ourselves on having plenty of different options for our customers to browse.
That’s because we know it’s important to pair every driver who visits us with a vehicle that’s just right for their driving needs. We don’t want you to settle for anything less than your dream ride, which is why our sales team is here to answer all of your questions, get you set up with test drives, and provide recommendations tailored to your preferences, necessities, and budget. Speaking of budget, we also have an expert finance department on hand to get you settled with a loan or lease with monthly payments that work for you.
Beyond sales, we also offer service and parts, making us a one-stop shop for all your automotive needs. Contacting us is easy, whether you prefer to communicate online, over the phone, or in person at our conveniently-located Champaign, IL dealership. Reach out today and see how we can bring your driving experience to the next level.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
