Off-Road Showdown: 2020 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X vs Gladiator Rubicon - Is Nissan's New V6 Enough? 

Preciate yall! Keeping everyone entertained!

Not sure if you mentioned it but, the Nissan is at least $20K cheaper than the Jeep. $20K will buy a bunch of mods and gasoline.

Nissan Frontier, proving a 16 year design can do almost anything that is sold today in it's class. It's almost like an insult to the rest of the class the longer it stays in production lol 😂

Frontier = 90% of the capabilities at 60% of the price = Value

I recently purchased a 2019 Pro 4x. I don't think people realize how functional and great the interior is inside one of these trucks until they experience it from the drivers seat. It does not do it justice through a computer screen. I test drove every other brand and could not stand the centre stacks and computers in any other truck. Thanks for keeping it simple Nissan!

Considering the Frontier is almost $20k less than the Gladiator i would take the Frontier any day.. Frontier will probably last longer also

I like the current body of Frontier because it is so old. Its the only pick up that still looks like a pick up from my favorite era of trucks. Every truck from the 90's looked like classy pick ups, but they weren't oversized or bubbly like they are today.

I still like the old Frontier. But I really wish that Nissan would bring back a good Xterra.

I had a Pro 4x for 5 years and it was the bomb (lived in Denver, played in the CO mntns and Moab). I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable, capable, mid-size truck.

For as old as the Frontier is, it's still a good looking truck!

The frontier pro 4x I had for a couple months while my Tacoma was in for frame replacement, and I loved it for working as a Forester. It took a major beating and always tracked straight through it all

What is it with this hard-plastic phobia? Who the heck cares? The Nissan interior is "not a great place to spend time" because the dashtop and window sills aren't cushy? Who sits there?

Here in Canada a Pro4x is about 40% less than the Rubicon. The Frontier would have made it up but would have touched the tree. It needed better tires but that’s an easy fix.

I would love them to test a Gladiator that is in the same price range as the frontier. That would be a more fair comparison.

I’m a Toyota guy but man I love frontiers, especially this generation. These things are just as reliable as Tacoma’s and look great with a little lift and some nice A/T tires. I actually prefer these frontiers over the 3rd gen Tacoma.

Having a 2018 Frontier Pro-4x, I'm not disappointed at all!! I've done many upgrades, so my capabilities are even closer to that Gladiator (at $30k less).

That Frontier will last years longer than the Rubicon for a fraction of the cost.

I have a 2011 Frontier with 126k miles on it, and I have to say it is the best vehicle purchase I have ever made. I have treated it like dirt.. I change the oil when I remember, it has been hit by a van, pushed a tree over... hauled all of my camping gear and done everything I have needed it to do. Best 19k I have ever spent... That is what I financed for my SV Frontier back then... MAN they have gone up in price LOL

Frontier/xterra/pathfinder is a very sweet platform. In 2005, that drivetrain, traction control systems, etc were ahead of the game.

At Almost a 20k price diffrence ( baseded on curent prices) thats a Lot of Mods that could be done on the nissan. Thank you to evrey one at tfl an stay safe....

I love my Pro-4X! You guys are probably the biggest factor that helped me decide to get one. Love what you do and how you do it!

I have a ‘17 Frontier, I love it. Don’t off-road much, but winter traction with good tires is incredible.

Really smart of Nissan testing the new powertrain and transmission before the new body comes, nice move Nissan

The Frontier is a lot of truck for the money. I find it's been-around-since-forever to be a selling point - it's sorted and reliable. You know what you're getting with it. Something a lot of folks don't know is the rear axle on the Pro4X is a Dana 40. It's a proprietary axle to Nissan so you're limited to modifying it, but a Dana 40 in a truck at this price point? SWEET!

The thing I like about the older Nissan Frontier is that they're 8000+ off right now. Even the Pro-4x are $28,000 now.

Frontier, old as dirt yet still has better rear brakes than the Tacoma LOL

Jeeps are crazy stupid expensive , not worth it in Canada . I would put my down on the Nissan and get some nice rock rails and what ever else you want and still bank a lot of money

Love that Nissan Frontier.

Living in Colorado you absolutely need a 4x4.My Frontier does more than enough I've had a Frontier since 07 and I had a Jeep Wrangler let's just say I no longer have the Wrangler and my nissan is still going strong.

I can put an ARB Locker in the front diff of my old xTerra Pro-4x for about $1100 and be WAY ahead of the pricing on that Rubicon. Hell, for the price diff I can buy a wrecked Titan Pro-4X, take the whole front clip off (Motor, trans, transfer case, front axle, control arms, etc.) and make a v8 powered xTerra AND have a locker. It's a build, but gonna be better than the Rubi-con.

I have a 2015 Pro 4x, and I love it! It has always done everything we wanted. The only thing it can't do vs the Gladiator is remove the doors and roof. Not worth paying the extra 40k just to do that. Frontier is great!

"Tommy start your own channel, and break whatever you want, you almost gave your dad a heart attack. "

If you're able to, you should do an mpg comparison between a 2019 Frontier with the 5 speed and the 2020 Frontier with the 9 speed. See how much better the efficiency is with those 4 more gears.

Love the old school frontier. Cheaper simple and very capable.

I have a 2017 Frontier Pro-4x and for the price it’s the best truck you can buy, the drive train will last forever it can get through some of the thick mud we have here in Texas and it’s just a nice solid truck can’t go wrong.

I think the tires are what was hurting the Nissan. If you look closely at 11:37 you can see the abs trying to stop the lifted wheel in the front and put the power down. Also thanks Tommy for giving it another go instead of giving up! That make for better TV. Got to take the chances if you want the views.

I mean, the extra $20k on the Frontier can get you some serious modifications... custom front and rear bumpers with a winch, *real* rock rails, better tires, suspension lift kit, recovery gear, beefier skid plating, and even lighting if you're into that sorta thing. To name a few.

Your comment about the backup camera being a potato is arguably the best part of this video.

Sick of the "Razor Rock" trail. That frontier would make it. Lets find some obstacles without trees haha

Let’s see solid axle vs independent One purpose built one not... I’ll take the Nissan all day

Not a lot of talk about the terrible break over angle on the Jeep

My favorite thing about this truck was the 4-liter VQ. I had one as a rental a few years ago, and I was really impressed with it, thought it had some good power. My 4Runner with the Toyota 4.0 feels like it has two dead cylinders in comparison.

Best off road tires on that truck will make the difference

My favorite off-road channel by far. Keep up the good work guys!

I loved my 2016 pro 4x. That thing would go anywhere. Only reason I got rid of it was for more room in a full size for my family.

Thank you for adding that topnote with the Nissan update. It just shows that you're fair. I appreciate this

When you can’t afford either of them 😞

Bang for the $$$$$$. Nissan is it.....I own a 2019 and my dad owns an ‘08. Great trucks

You can get a slightly used Frontier Pro-4X for under 30k in Ontario. I just bought a 2019 with 20,000km for $29,000.

The Nissan Frontier is tops in 'my book',..and I will buy another someday soon. These are comfortable trucks that handle very well on highway and byway with some off-roading in between. I never did 'hate' the truck, I did however get really tired of the old and dated V6 and always wished that the 4.0 litre engine and automatic transmission combo would be better on fuel. Now that they ( Nissan ) have come out with a new engine and transmission,...I will be taking another look at the 'new' Frontier within the next year,..God willing and this pandemic! P.S. Thanks to Roman and Tommy for this video,..I do find them informative and enjoyable.

I'm tired of all reviewers only showing Rubicons, like everyone is buying that model

I own a 2018 Pro-4X and use it as my daily driver. I am retired and tow a light, 21 foot, center console boat a short distance to a local ramp 3 to 4 days a week. I also use it for light off-roading (mostly driving dirt roads or 2 track trails to reach hiking or mountain biking trails). In the last several years I have owned a Tacoma TRD Off Road and Silverado 1500 4X4. I enjoyed driving those trucks too, but I much prefer the Frontier for my mixed use driving needs. It tows the boat with less strain than my Tacoma did and is easier to park with better trail manners than my Silverado had.

Nissan Frontier is a beast! Oldest ride, longest line.

Just love that frontier. New transmission and engine but still the same truck. I am still satisfied with my 2017 Nissan pro 4X have 25k mile on it and will keep it till the wheels fall off. Goals 1 million miles. Thanks for the review and stay safe TFL truck crew.

Hey Tommy. I love my 2018 Nissan Frontier Pro4X. I like the simplicity of the interior, it’s a truck after all. The less fancy it is the less you car when someone hops in with muddy boots. Now the key is 3.69 gear ratio. My 2018 does not have that low of a gearing. It came with 3.35 and manuals came with 3.55. The 2020 is already geared to what I’m swapping my gears for. Does the new ones come with the C200K or M226? The M226 is almost identical to a Dana 44.

Good video. I would love to see a comparison of this new Frontier with the Colorado Z71 and the new Ranger pickups. :)

That Fiat will break down 100 times and leave you stranded on a trail before the Frontier will.

I’d rather have a $30,000 Frontier with $15,000 worth of aftermarket accessories than a $45,000 stock Jeep.

They should have put the Ranger up against the new Frontier!

Those tires on the Nissan just ain't good enough for the razor rocks

How about a low range drag race between 4.0 and 3.8 Frontier.

I love my Frontier. It's the Desert Runner so only a 4x2 with a limited slip. After I got it , I was like "man I should've gotten the Pro-4X." But, living in Florida I've never needed 4X4 and it's amazing in the Sand.

90% of the capability for 60% of the price. I have been saying things like this forever but lots of people think there is only one way to skin a cat. Granted if rock crawling is your bread and butter go for the wrangler. But for everything else you would be amazed at what small lift, tire, and rear locker would do to any random 4x4.

I just bought a used 2007 Frontier 4WD, and this video answered one of my biggest questions: how the Frontier's independent front suspension compares to a solid front axle. The good: better ride in general on uneven terrain; the down side: not quite as good at extreme rock/obstacle crawling. And it also illustrated well the limits of a non-locking front differential. (My truck also has Goodrich Rugged Terrain T/A P265-70R16 tires (approx. 30.6" diameter, 16.6" tread width), so those are solid all-purpose tires.) This is exactly the information I was hoping to find today on RU-vid: a good video that gives me an indicator of the practical outermost limits of my new ride in the hands of an experienced driver. Granted, my '07 doesn't have that shiny new 3.6-liter V6 or the new trannie, but it's still a really good resource. Thanks!

I bought the Pro-4X, love it!

I have a stock 2018 Frontier Pro4X with 90,000 miles on it. I am very happy with it . I back country camp and explore in the Southwest Deserts. The truck is very capable. I have considered beter off road tires but I don't want to loose highway mpg. 18 to 20 mpg on the highway . 15 mpg off road. The 20 gallon tank is nice in Death Valley or Big Bend National Parks.

The Crown Vic is smiling down from Heaven rooting for the Frontier to keep going.

Glad to see a frontier back in the channel! Great video guys! I have 2010 pro4x and I love it. Just want to find a good reliable 2 inch lift. Any suggestions?

It was kind of funny how the gladiator lifted the drivers front wheel off the ground as Jr. Says how it doesn't lift tires off the ground.

Definitely adding this one to the list. As someone who is just getting into off-roading and looking to buy a new vehicle.

Definitely appreciate these videos even more so now. Thank you!

All I want is that frontier. I have been drawn to it big time.

If FCA exec's read these comments here it goes: the Gladiator isn't selling well because it is so underpowered...

I'd love to see the diesel Colorado ZR2 vs the diesel Gladiator when it comes out. Towing mpg, Ike gauntlet, off-road, and unladen mpg loop! Keep up the good work guys and stay safe with this whole covid19 pandemic going on.

Heard the gladiator is being recalled. Fiat needs to step up reliability. I'll stick with the Frontier.

These tests are great, would be nice if you guys standardized a tire to make things a bit more of a straight truck comparison though.

Am I the only one who thinks the red dash in the tan Rubicon is stupid?

I couldn't care less about bells and whistles, as long as the drive train/power plant is strong and the sound system is good, the inside can stay in 2005. My Frontier has been good to me. If I don't get a Toyota I'm sticking with the Frontiers. Fun, fast, easy to drive.

I have a 2016 sv 4x4 go off road a lot never got stuck in mud,snow, rocky ledges or anything, why spend over 20 grand on a truck that won't last much longer then the Chrysler Cordoba did

This is a great video for people that know nothing about off road driving. The trail is a joke to everyone else with just a couple of months experience. You don't need lockers for that mild trail. The Nissan could have cleared the moderate part where the tree was with a better set of tires. You guys are always fun to watch for a good laugh! Thanks Heckle and Jeckle. Oh and Razor Rocks...REALLY! LOL!!! I ran trails way worse than this with my first jeep stock, no lockers, and Good Year Duratracs.

Lol Jeep finally learning their prices are too stupid to sell

I recently bought a 2020 Nissan Frontier and I am getting 18.5 miles per gallon, it’s the SV 4x4 and that was my first fill up and I am happy since it’s not even good and broke in yet😎.

Jeep is Jeep with a bed thats barely useable. Frontier is an old truck with good genes and a great price. for off roading and camping I'll take Frontier.

Up here on Canada's East Coast, you can buy a super-low mileage 2019 Pro4x with leather, nav. sunroof and the superior Rockfort Fosgate stereo for less than half the price of a 2020 Rubicon Gladiator. Guess I'll be buying that like-new Pro4x and investing in beaten-down stocks with the money I'll save. Seems like the better investment.

When are we going to see the Gladiator vs the ZR2? And I Don't mean Bison. Bison has a lower approach angle vs the ZR2.

I have a 12 pro4x 6speed. Best upgrade for any frontier is tires. I put on bfg ko2 and blast trails no problem at all.

Look, guys, I do love your videos and these mismatch videos are always fun but come on. The Nissan is not in any way all new. Yes, it has what will be the future engine and transmission but literally everything else on the truck is 15 years old. And seriously, no one is cross-shopping a Gladiator Rubicon and a Frontier, even if it is the Pro4x. I'm not a Jeep guy but I have great respect for the factory capabilities and let's face it, nothing on the market matches the Rubicon series products for factory offroad capability. So anyone considering going hardcore off roading without doing any mods ( no one) has only one choice. The others who buy Jeep are just poseurs who dig the aura and cool factor Jeep products offer. Which is why they can get away with selling a product like the Wrangler and Gladiator for the prices these vehicles command to people who will never get them dirty. People buying the Nissan are usually looking for a hardworking, reliable truck that gets the job done. And these little trucks do just that. They are more than capable enough to get ninety nine percent of owners anywhere they are actually willing to risk their truck. The Pro4x will get you a bit further down the trail but that's not why most people buy them. Again, there's a little poseur factor in any beefy looking four wheel drive plus the Pro4x package does get you a lot of goodies for the money above the other trim levels. Now, after seeing this line mentioned in a trillion (yes, exaggerating) videos please understand that the only people who even mention "hard plastics", much less complain about them, are auto reviewers and people who don't intended to get their trucks dirty. Real people don't care. Yes, they notice but it's not a big deal. Especially when the price starts escalating. And while I'm whining let me ask. What the hell is the deal with the fake longing for manual transmissions? I ask that because on every car review channel the hosts act like their mother just died when they find that another brand has eliminated the manual option on one of their cars. But somehow they themselves virtually never have a manual trans equipped version of any of their test vehicles even when it's an option AND they purchased the vehicle themselves so they could have transferred or ordered it in even if one wasn't immediately available on a local dealer lot. You guys made special mention that the Nissan isn't available with a manual and acted like that was a fault but you bought an automatic Gladiator Rubicon when you could have had the manual. Look, manufacturers don't provide options that people CLAIM to desire because in the real world not enough people actually buy what they claim to desire. Manual transmissions chief among those pretend desires. I'm not just singling out TFL. Almost every car or truck channel bemoans the lack of manuals and then has a fleet of personal and review rigs that offered a manual that they didn't buy or request when they had the option to do so. Put your money where your mouth is or stop with the "I wish it had a manual", B.S.

The frontier is such a great value and as mentioned you don’t sacrifice that much really. Plus I’d rather start cheap and build exactly what I want. Although as a platform to build on I don’t think the jeep can be beat. But vs the tacoma trd pro/zr2 you aren’t losing much at all and save so much.

I have the 2012 Nissan Xterra PRO 4X and love mine. I would go with this Frontier if I were to get a new off-roader. Jeeps, well not my cup of tea

I have a previous gen Frontier and the only down side of it has been a severe lack of aftermarket support for anything overland or off-road accessories. I love it but I wish the aftermarket support was about half as good as it is for Toyotas or Jeep's.

Why the frontier is so low. It will help more if it was higher for another 2 inches. This also proof that a true offroad car will do it better with a front locker. I think the industry needs to update!

I really like jeeps, but I have already owned 4 Cherokee's and a pretty built Rubicon that was on 39s. that I have had over the years. I really like the look of the frontier pro-4x. I used to have a nissan titan and it was a great truck! I recently decided Im Gonna buy a Nissan Frontier Pro-4x in the next month or so. I have a ton of plans for it between suspension, full custom stereo, bed rack, roof tent, etc. I'm pretty excited to get going on it! Been wanting a new project for a while!

I'll take Frontier any day !(reliability)

I just bought a 2019 Nissan Frontier SV 4x4. I'm glad I did!

Do I see a face off coming Between Jeep Gladiator and Colorado ZR2

You guys should also do work related videos like loading pallets for payload results, driving stability.

“The gladiator is the only truck in the whole market with a sway bar disconnect” Ram Power Wagon: Am I a joke to you?

The good thing abut that tiny infotainment system is that it is easy replaceable with an aftermarket unit (Pioneer, Kenwood, JVC, etc) which will give you a bigger screen and all the latest features.

I would take the frontier ANY day over the gladiator. While the interior is lacking, imagine the infotainment, leather works dash, leather covered panels, updated camera for front and rear, 4" lift, 35" tires, rock rails, winch.. I could load that truck out for under 10k.. And still have 10-15k left in the bank!

Nissan frontier to me is arguably the best in class 15 years going, cheap, bulletproof, very capable. I only wish they had the single cab in the US