A couple is dividing the internet with their explanation of why they purchased a Nissan Frontier instead of a Toyota Tacoma.
TikTok couple Tyler & Marissa (@outoffuel) say they recently chose a Nissan Frontier over a Toyota Tacoma.
At the beginning of the clip, Tyler stands at the back of their Frontier.
“Why don’t you want a Tacoma instead of this?” Marissa can be heard asking off-camera.
Tyler replies, “Well, there’s a lot of reasons actually. Tacomas are pretty highly priced. I would say that yes they hold their value more.”
Resell value is important to many car buyers. But Tyler says it isn’t as high on their list of priorities when it comes to buying a new car. He says the Frontier’s engine and price also swayed him to buy Nissan.
“This truck is fully loaded and we got it for $31,000,” he says. “You’re not finding that in a Tacoma. It’s also a 2022. I did want a V-6.”
The post has 328,000 views as of Tuesday.
Next, Tyler highlights some of the Frontier’s exterior features, such as a power port situated at the car’s rear.
“So if you look inside the bed this one actually was used,” Tyler says. “They already have the bed liner. It’s fully loaded with your outlet back here. We have the clamp railing on the side.”
Moving on to the interior, Tyler shares that it has heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and a sunroof.
“It does have four-wheel drive,” he adds.
Tyler appears to particularly appreciate the Nissan Frontier’s hauling capabilities. A Nissan dealer reports that the 2022 models’ towing capacity maxes at between 6,270 and 6,720 pounds, depending on which model you have. A Toyota dealer says that 2022 Tacomas, on the other hand, max out at between 3,500 and 6,800 pounds.
At this point in the video, Tyler peers inside the Frontier.
“It also has rear differential locks and the off-road package,” he says, adding that it has “big old beefy tires.”
For Tyler, the aesthetics of the Frontier were a deciding factor, too.
“It just has a more aggressive look. I like the look over Toyota,” he says.
Tyler says that he was further swayed by the fact that the Frontier is a V-6 rather than the turbocharged four-cylinder that the Toyota Tacoma has.
Later in the TikTok, Marissa shares one of her favorite features of the Nissan Frontier: the Fender speakers.
The couple was further enticed by the price.
“Overall, this is a very capable price for the price that we paid, $31,000 used,” Tyler says of their 2022 Frontier. “It only had 27,000 miles on it.”
Kelly Blue Book reports that 2022 Tacomas range in price from roughly $25,000 to nearly $45,000. The outlet states that 2022 Frontiers should cost between approximately $21,000 and $32,000.
The engine also greatly affected the couple’s purchasing decision.
Further, the fact that the Frontier isn’t sporting one of Nissan’s maligned CVT transmissions made the choice that much easier.
“This is a proven engine. It’s been with Nissan for a while. I would say this and the Pathfinder are both on good, good engines. And that’s why I chose the Frontier. I wouldn’t get any other Nissan that had a CVT or anything,” Tyler says.
Motor1’s assessment of the Nissan Frontier echoes Tyler’s. As Tyler alludes, the vehicle is outfitted with a traditional nine-speed transmission. The Frontier also offers plush amenities that aren’t always found in mid-size pickups.
However, we found that there was a considerable amount of body roll whilst driving the truck. Moreover, brake strain was noticeable when bringing the car to a complete stop from higher speeds.
Overall, the Frontier does appear to offer a lot of bang for drivers’ bucks compared to the Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, and the Toyota Tacoma.
The 2022 Frontier has had issues.
Car Complaints wrote that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced in 2022 that 180,000 vehicles were at risk of rollaways, which could result in a crash. Some 2020-2022 Nissan Frontiers were recalled as a result.
Another rollaway recall affecting 197,000 cars, which included some 2020-2022 Nissan Frontiers, was announced that same year.
Cars.com cited automatic transmission problems as the culprit behind the rollaways. According to the outlet, affected cars may indicate that they’ve been placed in park. However, the parking mechanism isn’t actively engaged, resulting in trucks possibly lurching forward or backward and crashing after gaining momentum.
That July, 10,000 Nissans were recalled for “inoperative rearview camera[s]” as well.
Several people who replied to Tyler and Marissa’s video echoed their sentiments. One person wrote that they too, believe “Tacomas are ridiculously overpriced.”
Another remarked, “He ain’t wrong about the price.”
Someone else said that they don’t hold favorable opinions of Nissans as commuter cars. However, their assessment of the brand’s pickups is favorable.
“I think Nissan sedans are junk with their cvt transmission but nothing wrong with these trucks congrats,” they said.
Even self-professed Toyota diehards are impressed with the Frontier.
“As a Toyota guy I can truly say the new frontier is beating the new Tacoma,” he commented. “This is probably the only Nissan worth buying.”
“From a Toyota guy. Definitely curious about these!” another devotee of the Aichi Prefecture opined.
Others weren’t convinced. One person said the reason Tyler didn’t purchase a Tacoma was simply the price. “He said it all in the first 10 seconds. Couldn’t afford one. Only reason not to buy one.”
Another said that they find Toyota’s design more appealing. “Bro!! Tacoma looks way more aggressive.”
Motor1 has reached out to Tyler and Marissa via email for further comment. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.