Nissan Frontier Gas Mileage

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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 – 1998-2010

Year Manf. Model Engine Disp. Fuel Trans. City Hwy
2010 Nissan Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (L5) Auto 17 22
2010 Nissan Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M6) Manual 19 23
2010 Nissan Frontier 2WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (L5) Auto 15 20
2010 Nissan Frontier 2WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (M6) Manual 16 20
2010 Nissan Frontier 4WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (M6) Manual 15 19
2010 Nissan Frontier 4WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (L5) Auto 14 19
2009 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (M6) Manual 16 20
2009 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (L5) Auto 15 20
2009 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M5) Manual 19 23
2009 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (L5) Auto 17 22
2009 NISSAN Frontier 4WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (L5) Auto 15 19
2009 NISSAN Frontier 4WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (M6) Manual 15 19
2008 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M5) Manual 19 23
2008 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (L5) Auto 15 20
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 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 (L5) Auto 19 24
2007 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M5) Manual 22 25
2007 NISSAN Frontier V6-2WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (M6) Manual 17 21
2007 NISSAN Frontier V6-2WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (L5) Auto 16 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 (M5) Manual 22 25
2006 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (L5) Auto 19 24
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 (L5) Auto 15 20
2006 NISSAN Frontier V6-4WD 6 cylinder 4.0 liter R (M6) Manual 17 21
2004 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (L4) Auto 20 24
2004 NISSAN Frontier 2WD 4 cylinder 2.4 liter R (M5) Manual 22 27
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 P (M5) Manual 15 18
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 R (M5) Manual 17 20
2004 NISSAN Frontier V6-4WD 6 cylinder 3.3 liter R (M5) Manual 17 20
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 P (L4) Auto 15 18
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 R (M5) Manual 17 20
2003 NISSAN Frontier V6-2WD 6 cylinder 3.3 liter P (M5) Manual 15 19
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 (M5) Manual 15 17
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 (L4) Auto 15 18
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 (L4) Auto 16 20
2002 NISSAN Frontier V6-2WD 6 cylinder 3.3 liter P (L4) Auto 15 18
2002 NISSAN Frontier V6-2WD 6 cylinder 3.3 liter R (M5) Manual 16 19
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 R (M5) Manual 16 18
2002 NISSAN Frontier V6-4WD 6 cylinder 3.3 liter P (M5) Manual 15 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 R (L4) Auto 15 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
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 (L4) Auto 16 19
2000 NISSAN Frontier TRUCK V6-2WD 6 cylinder 3.3 liter R (M5) Manual 17 19
2000 NISSAN Frontier TRUCK V6-4WD 6 cylinder 3.3 liter R (M5) Manual 16 18
2000 NISSAN Frontier TRUCK V6-4WD 6 cylinder 3.3 liter R (L4) Auto 15 19
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.

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5 thoughts on “Nissan Frontier Gas Mileage”

  1. 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

  3. I just purchased a 2005 nissan frontier with a auto trans and 4.0 v6. On a recent trip I got 15 miles per gal hwy. Can I do anything to improve this. It has 78 k. Thanks John

  4. @John – All the usual stuff … At 78K your Frontier may be due for a tune up. Check the previous owners records (if there are any). Swap out all the usual stuff – filters, plugs, plug wires, etc – with quality components. Switch to a synthetic oil. Check tire pressure.

    How fast were you driving on your highway trip, on average? Did you stay mostly in lane or change lanes frequently? How much cargo were you hauling?

    Is your truck lifted? Does it have oversized tires? Both of these things can lead to lower fuel economy on the highway, due to the increased drag.

    Consider adding an aftermarket fuel economy gauge, like the AutoMeter EcoMeter … these devices can help you develop a light-footed driving technique.

  5. I have a 2004 frontier 4×4 5 speed man. with the 3.3 liter. I am right at 135,000 and have just done a tune-up. I am right around 16mpg and drive on country roads mostly at an average speed of 60mph. I am only driving in the city for about 10 min a day compared to about 40 min on highway. It seems to me like my truck is geared too low almost as if it needs a sixth gear. At 65-70 mph I am around 2,500 rpms.
    1st question: is this normal fuel mileage…

    2nd question: on the chart above what does the “R” or “P” fuel represent?

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