Nissan Titan vs Nissan Frontier

If you’re in the market for a truck two of the best options you have are the Nissan Titan and Nissan Frontier. But while they’re both great trucks, they fill completely different needs and serve different markets.

But what does each truck offer and which one is right for you? To help you decide we’ve highlighted both trucks for you here. From engine options to towing specs, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make an informed decision and get the right truck for you.

The Nissan Titan

If you’re looking for a full-size pickup truck from Nissan, the Titan is what they offer. It’s their largest truck option, and while it won’t tow as much as a Ford or Dodge 3/4-ton pickup truck, it’s certainly no slouch.

Nissan first released the Titan for the 2004 model year and since then they’ve focused on producing a high-quality full-size pickup truck capable of completing a wide range of jobs.

Engines and Performance Specs

While the Nissan Titan has been on the market for over fifteen years, there are still only four engine options for you to consider. There are three different gasoline engines and one diesel engine option for you to consider, but from 2004 to 2014 there was only the 5.6L V8 gasoline engine.

Furthermore, while there were two engine options from 2015 to 2019 but starting with the 2020 model year only an upgraded 5.6L V8 gasoline engine is available. It pushes out an impressive 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, but you won’t be able to find a diesel Nissan Titan from this model year on.

Towing and Payload Specifications

No matter how you look at it, the Nissan Titan is a big and powerful truck. Even the least powerful Nissan Titans can tow at least 6,500 pounds, while the most powerful Titans can tow up to 9,740 pounds. And while the model year of the truck certainly plays a role in how much it can tow, it really affects the potential minimum towing amount instead of the maximum.

For instance, a 2004 Nissan Titan can tow between 6,500 and 9,400 pounds depending on the package and configuration. Meanwhile, a 2017 Nissan Titan can tow between 9,040 and 9,740 pounds depending on the package and configuration.

The overall payload for a Nissan Titan stays fairly similar from year to year, but overall it does tend to improve a little from year to year. Depending on the model year and configuration of the Titan the maximum payload is somewhere between 1,184 and 1,951 pounds.

Nissan Frontier

While the Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck, the Nissan Frontier is a much smaller truck option. It’s a compact pickup truck, and while this means it’s typically more affordable, it also means there’s less space and it has lower performance specs compared to the larger Titan.

But if you don’t need the higher performance specs of a Titan and want something a bit more manageable on the road, the Frontier might be the perfect choice.

Engines and Performance Specs

The first Nissan Frontier hit the US market in 2000, and since then there have been six different engine options you can find under the hood. All six engine options are gasoline-powered options, although the performance specs vary quite a bit ranging from 143 to 310 horsepower.

There are both four-cylinder and six-cylinder engine options available, although the newest model years only come with a six-cylinder option.

Towing and Payload Specifications

While the Frontier can’t quite keep up with the Titan when it comes to towing specifications, the maximum payload specifications are relatively similar.

Depending on the model year you go with, the Frontier can tow anywhere between 3,500 and 6,720 pounds. This means the most powerful Frontiers can match the least powerful Titans, but for the most part, the Titan can usually outperform a Frontier.

The maximum payload specifications for the Frontier range from 983 to 1,867 pounds. This puts the Frontier just a smidge behind the Titan, but overall it’s extremely similar.

When You Want to Upgrade to a Nissan Titan

The Nissan Titan is a larger truck than the Frontier, and it’s what you need if you’re looking for a little more space or to tow something a bit larger. If you’re looking to tow something below 6,000 pounds you should be able to find a Frontier that meets your needs, but any Titan should do the trick.

But if you’re looking to tow more than that you really need to go with a Titan instead. The Titan comes with a larger and more powerful engine, and with the right package it can tow significantly more than the Frontier.

The Titan is also the way to go if you want an 8-cylinder engine or a diesel since the Frontier doesn’t come with either of these options. You’ll likely have to spend a bit more for a comparable Titan, but you’re also going to get a jump in performance that helps to justify the higher price tag.

Final Thoughts

Are you interested in either the Titan or the Frontier or do you still have questions about either truck? The experts at Tim’s Truck would love to help you out.

They’ll happily answer any questions you might have about either truck and help you figure out whatever you need to do to track down and get behind the wheel of the perfect truck for you.

Pre-Owned Nissan Titan Inventory