Nissan Frontier dimensions

The 2012 Nissan Frontier is a top pick in the compact-pickup segment due to its brawny nature, relatively nimble handling and high-tech features. Nissan Frontier Crew Cabin offers the following pros: Sturdy chassis; strong V6; simple cab controls; convenient front seats; stout bed lining and tie-down points; agile handling. Nissan Frontier Crew Cabin drawbacks are: Regular cabin body style not available; uncomfortable back seatings.

The 2012 Nissan Frontier is a compact pickup truck that's provided in extended-cab (king Cabin in Nissan-speak) and crew cabin body styles. King Cabin models come with fold-down back seatings and a 6-foot trunk bed, while crew cabin versions get a 60/40-split-folding back seat and a choice of a traditional 5-foot or auxillary 6-foot bed. There are also four versions available: S, SV, PRO-4X and SL.

The entry-level S is a rather bare-bones affair, with a traditional equipment list that contains 15-inch metal wheels, front bucket seatings and cloth upholstery. The S Preferred suite adds air-conditioning and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player.

Stepping up to the SV trim level contains the Preferred suite items along with 16-inch wheels (steel on models with inline-4 engines and alloy on V6-powered versions), updated tires, a chrome front bumper and a sliding back window. Inside you'll find updated cloth upholstery, keyless entry, cruise control, full performance accessories and a tilt-only helm. Features for the SV include the Sport Look suite that bundles 18-inch alloy wheels, dark grille treatment and body-colored bumpers, foglamps, eight-way manual front seatings, updated "sport" cloth upholstery, Bluetooth and an updated audio with Six-cd changer, an optional stereo slot and steering-wheel-mounted stereo controls. The Luxury Utility suite adds a spray-in bedliner, adjustable tie-down points, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth and the updated audio with six speakers and radio (automatic transmission only).

For those planning on taking the road less traveled, there's the PRO-4X, which features a traditional V6, 16-inch alloy wheels, off-road tires, a locking back differential, Bilstein off-road shocks and underbody skid plates, along with a body-color grille. Besides these hardware upgrades, the PRO-4X gets most of the Sv's features as traditional equipment, plus two-tone upholstery, a leather-wrapped helm, white-faced gauges, a trip computer, a first aid kit and a Rockford Fosgate luxury stereo system. The PRO-4X Luxury suite (crew cabin models only) adds a sunroof, roof rack and cross bars, heated mirrors, leather upholstery, heated performance front seatings (eight-way driver, four-way passenger) and a rear-seat center armrest.

The top SL trim, which is only provided on crew cabin models, loses the Pro-4x's off-road-oriented equipment but retains most of the items in the PRO-4X Luxury suite except for the sunroof, which is available as an feature. Add-on traditional features include 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and side steps that make for easier access to the cabin. .