Spin Around Town: 1999 Nissan Frontier 4X4 XE V6 King Cab

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Fit for a King

by Ingrid Loeffler Palmer
Photos by the author

A shiny red 1999 Nissan Frontier was delivered to editors in Denver during the same extended weekend that three groups of out-of-town friends came to visit. This gave us ample opportunity to squeeze into the truck for some extensive sightseeing that included Denver, Boulder and a few small mountain towns off a road headed west.

Our four-wheel-drive, V6-powered test truck handled all environments and road conditions exceptionally well, and we emerged completely satisfied with the truck's 3.3-liter, 170-horsepower V6 engine. Though no towing took place (it's supposed to be able to handle 3,500 pounds--5,000 if you opt for the $1,050 automatic transmission), we felt the V6 had plenty of power to transport a King Cab filled to the brim. Torque output of 200 foot-pounds peaked around 2,800 rpm, giving us an adequate supply of forward movement when we stomped on the gas. A five-speed overdrive manual transmission came standard on our test truck, and we found its shift lever easy to operate and tall enough that we didn't have to lean or reach over to change gears.

Showing off our Colorado oasis to a possible transplant from Chicago added about 100 miles to the Frontier's odometer. With three of us making the trip, we each took a turn sitting in one of the flip-down, side-mounted rear jump seats. Our 5-foot-2-inch female editor eventually ended up as the resident jump-seat rider; larger male occupants could barely scrunch up small enough to fit onto the seat for even a short drive. While not exactly comfortable, the seats offer a place for children or adults if you're in a pinch. Our editor found it more relaxing to stretch her legs out across the rest of the back cabin than to plant her feet on the floor, which was only a few inches lower than the jump seat itself. One nice feature is that both rear jump seats offered lap-and-shoulder seatbelts for added safety. Two large cupholders can be accessed from either position--a nice touch if you expect to have little ones in the back quite often. The passenger's seat automatically moves up and forward when you release it to climb into the back, but we wish the truck had a third door for easier entry and loading.

We are lucky enough to live in a region where one can go snowshoeing and play golf on the same day. So during our time with the Frontier, we utilized the truck for carting two pairs of skis to Breckenridge, Colo., for some downhill powder-hounding, and hauling about 20 bags of mulch and topsoil home from the garden center for early-spring gardening projects. The Frontier's bed--the largest and deepest available in its class-seemed fit for a king. It held everything we threw into it with room to spare, and offered both a vertical and horizontal divider to keep objects stored separately. We were also delighted with the wide, textured bumper steps that made climbing up into the bed effortless.

Nissan's Frontier was been redesigned a year ago and we still appreciate its stylish exterior. The truck looks rugged and sturdy with a few bulbous curves for character. Inside, the cloth fabric seats are soft with a subtle pattern. Layout of gauges and controls is well done with large, easy-to-read, easy-to-grip dials and buttons. Front cupholders are shaped to hold cans, mugs or juice boxes with security. A deep center cubby has plenty of room for several CDs, TalkAbout walkie-talkies or a few thick novels.

Complaints were few and far between. The truck's dash-mounted hand brake was difficult to disengage at times; we had to wriggle and shake it to get it released. It also took too much effort to attach the sunroof cover properly to avoid soaking scalp in the sun. We would prefer a cover that simply slides in and out of the truck's roof, making it easier to use and solving the problem of storing the detachable cover in the back-seat area. We wished for a third door, a standard V6 on all models--not just the King Cabs--and jump seats that are a bit higher, wider and softer to accommodate different-sized people.

Options on our test truck included a power package, value truck package, sport package, comfort package, off-road package, floor mats and an over-the-rail King Cab bedliner. For these amenities, customers would pay an extra $3,660--pushing the vehicle above the $20,000 mark. Our 4X4 XE V6 test truck is the second-snazziest Frontier available. The top-of-the-line 4WD V6 SE trim level adds standard body-colored trim and 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels fitted with P265/70-15 radial tires. Since we dubbed our XE model as rather kingly in nature, the SE model moves up a step higher--you might even say it would be fit for a queen.