2023 Tacoma VS 2023 Frontier

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Engine Adventures strives to explore and test the AWD and 4WD systems of all crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. To do this we test vehicles in real world environments in a way that allows viewers to cross shop and explore any vehicle they may be interested in learning about.

[@WheresTheSauce]

I always said "For the price of a taco i can buy a frontier a small trailer and a quad to tow it with, make it further down the trail and have a better ride on the highway"

[@EngineAdventures]

The Frontier is a great truck all around, doesn't get the respect it deserves.

[@gar494]

Taco gives the extra little umph while Off road for sure but for way less the frontier still does just as good. While actually being enjoyable to drive On Road, Frontier all day

[@EngineAdventures]

Agreed!

[@angelgjr1999]

Yup, I refused to pay 45k for a base 4x4 4 cylinder Tacoma! Pro4x are going for 10k less

[@WhiteSubie]

Frontier all day!

[@EngineAdventures]

As a daily driver, definitely the Frontier. Off road only, I'd take the Tacoma.

[@Matt93Wittman]

With the 10-15k cheaper the frontier is you can make it​ way better than a tacoma. Really the only difference is the fox suspension and tires if you look at the parts@@EngineAdventures

[@EngineAdventures]

Yes those parts would certainly make a difference and I agree that the pricing of the Frontier is much better.

[@Frontier2022]

I liked the straight forward comparison. Great job 👍

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for the support!

[@fitoaguirre8766]

Still think tacoma is number one in street and off road & looks 👌

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! For the 3rd Gen Tacoma, I have to disagree with being #1 on the street, agree with being great off road, and looks are much more subjective so my opinion doesn't matter there.

[@spudbuilt4308]

Clearance on the Taco seemed a bit better. I own a Frontier, it's not a bad truck if you're someone not wanting a turbo 4 like the taco (2024) uses(every mid size truck but nissan is turbo 4)

[@EngineAdventures]

Yup, the turbo shouldn't be an issue if they build the engine right. Nissan's V6 and 9-speed were the best power train option for driveability until the turbo 4's came out. My new favorite midsize truck is the Colorado, but I still love the Frontier!

[@spudbuilt4308]

@@EngineAdventures I'm not a fan of turbo engines for daily driving (gasoline)

[@EngineAdventures]

I was the same way. These new turbos are much better. I honestly thought the 4th gen Tacoma I was testing was a hybrid and I had to double check. The torque comes on so early and there is almost no turbo lag. This setup is significantly better than the 3rd gen's V6.

[@spudbuilt4308]

@@EngineAdventures I don't trust a turbo 4 for daily driving, Tundra having issues with the iForce v6... time tells?

[@spudbuilt4308]

@EngineAdventures I'll let time answer if it's good or not.

[@miguelpina7074]

Both capable, the Frontier's v6 engine is more reliable and better priced. Looks better too

[@EngineAdventures]

The Frontier's power train drives way better too. The Tacoma is better off-road, the Frontier is better pretty much everywhere else.

[@roycemartin9068]

Frontier has a more reliable engine than Toyota Tacomas n/a v6? I don’t think so, pal

[@St.Irenaeus]

Frontier is the better truck.

[@EngineAdventures]

For most situations, I agree.

[@roycemartin9068]

Maybe it is right now. But what I know is that the Tacoma will be the better truck 15 years later because it’ll be the only one still left on the road

[@trixsevenoneroyalbluez1257]

Frontia

[@thedude828-ed2nn]

Id buy the frontier for way cheaper and with the extra cash id titan swap the suspension essentially making it a long travel suspension and throw 35s on it and call it a day. For those of you that dont know look up titan swapping a frontier and you wont regret it.

[@strikemaster200]

I think the frontier did a little better or the same!

[@EngineAdventures]

Yeah, while this hill is challenging for crossovers, most trucks manage it pretty well. The Tacoma is definitely my choice for off-road, everywhere else I prefer the Frontier.

[@sharkskin3448]

Pro4x = TRD OR Pro4x ≠ TRD PRO

[@EngineAdventures]

True, Nissan should make a Nismo Frontier to compete with TRD Pro.

[@dustenoglass5045]

Agreed, I have an 05 Nismo Frontier and a 23 TRD pro and I kinda miss the power of the 4.0 compared to the 3.5, that’s why I kept it! 😅

[@justaname109]

I have a 23 pro4x and just upgraded suspension and put on 33’s and now my pro4x > trd pro and I’m still only at 48k vs 55k+ on a TRD pro, that’s for the 3rd gen. If we’re talking 4th gen TRD pro, I’m about 20k less

[@INNIMA]

@@EngineAdventuresthey wont nissan is a lame car company when it comes to cool factor

[@EngineAdventures]

They've done some insane stuff. The R35 was nuts when it came out. Top tier performance at a very low price. I'm not sure why, but are really struggling to get on board with the off-road trend of the Bronco, Wrangler, Raptor, and TRD Pro type. Bring back the Xterra with an awesome off-road Nismo package, give the Frontier that package, and do the same with the US spec Armada, and I think Nissan would have a much larger market presence.

[@gagelawrence8443]

If you're for sure off-roading, get the Tacoma. For every other truck-like task and to save $10k, get the Frontier.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I'd say not just offroading, but offroading quite regularly as the Frontier is still pretty off road capable, but the Tacoma is way more confident and a bit more comfortable when getting into the rough.

[@2009polostar]

How about comparing a 2024 Toyota Tacoma and a 2024 Nissan Frontier.

[@EngineAdventures]

I was just looking through my posted videos because I was sure I had compared the 24 Tacoma to the 23 Frontier (pretty much the same as the 2024), but alas I haven't posted that yet. I'll put it on my list

[@Clevelandsteamer324]

The Toyota will always have better re-sale value

[@EngineAdventures]

Good point. Does the higher resale value match the higher up front cost?

[@georgepierce720]

The Frontier had to go back and pick up the skid plate. The Frontier is cheaper for a reason guys.

[@EngineAdventures]

@@georgepierce720 The Frontier is much lower all around and had a worse break over angle. I do have a longer video comparing many of the midsize trucks I've tested. That video has scoring breakdowns that include dimensions (which is where the Frontier struggled).

[@ahsamahi4385]

I didn’t like Tacoma dual turbo engine, this type of engines not for off roads, so Frontier is the best

[@EngineAdventures]

This one is the older Tacoma, but I much prefer the newer turbo Tacoma to this anemic V6 naturally aspirated engine. There are concerns about longevity, but my guess is Toyota will work through those.

[@dustenoglass5045]

I have this exact Tacoma same color same trim, it’s a 2023 and it’s a 3.5 v6! The 2024 is the 4 cylinder turbo and I got the 23 because I feel the same about a 6,000lbs truck with a 4 cylinder.. For the price they should offer a v6 option!

[@Edward-Norton]

Is the Tacoma a TRD Pro?

[@EngineAdventures]

Yes it is

[@alexhancock6316]

The frontier took a slightly easier line and still had more trouble

[@EngineAdventures]

It was on a slightly easier line (Frontier doesn't have enough clearance to climb the rock) however it didn't struggle at all with this. I try to go as slow as possible, that's why it stopped, not for lack of capability.

[@alexhancock6316]

@@EngineAdventures I’m talking more about tire slippage, not speed. The Toyota 4x4 system seemed to send power to wheels and keep traction better than the frontier in this video, and less clearance for the frontier would further tip this comparison in the Toyota’s favor

[@EngineAdventures]

Yeah, the full videos definitely show everything a lot better. I do agree, the Tacoma is the better off pavement choice. For daily driving and towing the Frontier is much better.

[@alexhancock6316]

@@EngineAdventures agreed, the frontier is much more comfortable, has more HP and drives better for sure. Also a really good bargain for the price, even the 3rd gen tacos were more pricey and marked up like crazy

[@gar494]

@@alexhancock6316 Tires play in part in that too

[@panchovia]

If the Tacoma had the frontier powertrain it would be perfect. Have owned 5 3rd gen tacos 3 being pros. Prefer my frontier pro 4x premium. Love the styling and aggressive look of the taco but that powertrain is dreadful.

[@EngineAdventures]

That's actually a really good point that I hadn't thought of. I do prefer the Tacoma suspension and chassis, but the seating position is better in the Frontier. A mix between the two trucks could have made for an excellent vehicle. I just never enjoyed driving the Tacoma at freeway speeds, and especially disliked it when towing.

[@panchovia]

@@EngineAdventures I prefer the Tacoma’s fox suspension also and off road tech. But you are right on the highway at 80+ it’s miserable if you leave it in D. Gotta put it in 4th just to stop all the downshifting and even still on steep hills it’ll shift to 3rd. Mine would scream just to maintain the speed limit if I left it in D. I’am sure a tune would help, there are a lot out there but some guys like me don’t want to void the warranty. Frontier does 9/10 of what the Tacoma can stock for stock off road. Modified they are both = in terms of off road ability. Been a Taco fan ever since my dad let me drive his 2003 trd supercharged trd off road Tacoma . That thing was perfect on and off road. 2nd gen would had been nice loved seeing them never had the pleasure of owning one. 3rd gen’s are disappointing. I tried 5 different times just couldn’t love them. This 24 model frontier reminds me a lot of my dad’s Tacoma.

[@protocolsev]

Frontier seems equally capable. Maybe a little more unsure than the Tacoma

[@EngineAdventures]

Yeah, they are pretty close. The TRD Pro is better at high speed stuff, but I'd say they are nearly equal for crawling.

[@CiviTac]

TRD Pro isn’t a good comparison. The TRD Off-road has the more similar suspension and price point to the PRO-4X. Yet everyone keeps trying to compare these two, kind of silly

[@EngineAdventures]

That's true, I can only test what's available to me. Fir most of these tests the Frontier performed just as well as the TRD Pro. Would it really make that big of a difference to have the TRD off-road in this short instead?

[@CiviTac]

@@EngineAdventures no you did a good job. Your comparison was good but I’m just saying the trd off-road is the real competitor in the market

[@EngineAdventures]

That's true. It's like comparing a Tundra TRD Pro to an F-150 Raptor. Both are the top dogs in their lineup, but the TRD Pro is not the same level as the Raptor.

[@mp211204]

Frontiers suck lol, I know I had one

[@EngineAdventures]

I much prefer it over the 3rd Gen Tacoma, but midsize trucks don't work for me anyway.

[@serge4506]

Lets get a Colorado instead of the Frontier

[@EngineAdventures]

Will do! I'll try and get that one up next week for you. I've got a lot more of these coming, been filming vehicles on this hill for about 5 years now, so I have a decent library of vehicles to choose from.

[@MrStrutus]

GMs are garbage.

[@Frontier2022]

I was thinking of a Colorado. My brother has a 2017 and just lost his transmission without any stressful use. Im going Nissan!

[@jeanclaude7018]

Why GM disposable truck?

[@EngineAdventures]

Usually if you take care of the vehicle it will last as long as you want.

[@plg7699]

Similaire 🤨

[@EngineAdventures]

Yup, they both have strengths and weaknesses, but are fairly similar overall. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@elvisisalive2716]

i like Nissan but that Frontier is so ugly and weird to drive. I though the Taco seating position was funny but the Frontier is brutally awkward.

[@EngineAdventures]

Interesting, most people I've talked to that have been in both much prefer the Frontier. I also prefer the Frontier.

[@manoloprpr]

@@EngineAdventures I like the seating position of the Frontier at 5'11". Taco I feel Im seating on a Big Wheel stretching my legs out

[@billsouza4457]

Are you talking the current gen? If so you are in the minority my friend.

[@elvisisalive2716]

@@billsouza4457 I know I am, I just hated the Frontier. We have 2 of them in the company and they feel so odd, the Taco doesn't bother me at all. It's like the dash is too high, just odd, maybe its the hood.

[@Ryan152103]

Nah modern Frontier looks way more clean and aggressive than the current Taco. Current Taco looks like a robotic Tonka truck.

[@yssha5342]

Gen 3 yes. Gen 4 heck no

[@EngineAdventures]

Interesting, the Gen 3 in my experience is the worst driving midsize truck on road, off road it's great. The Gen 4 has much better driving characteristics and is near the top now for midsize trucks.

[@billsouza4457]

@@EngineAdventures I think people are turned off by the Gen 4 price and 4 banger turbo reliability worries. The reliability worries could turn out to be a nothing burger but the price is the price.

[@EngineAdventures]

Yeah, the Tacoma has generally been more expensive than the competition, but this new generation seems even more so.