2007 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SE 4x4 Road Test

Sorta feels like a full size

There aren't many compact pickups on the market anymore. The Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series, as well as the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins, are the last ones that didn't yet receive growth hormones.

Are mid-size pickups good enough to satisfy those who usually buy full-size ones? The latest version of the Frontier has come a long way from the Nissan's old Hardbody, which was substantially smaller.

The latest version of the Frontier is substantially larger than the old Hardbody.

A tough appearance
Although small four-door pickups have been available in other continents for years, Nissan was the first to offer one to the North-American public in 2000. Was it a good move? It must have been, since almost all its rivals followed suit. The Dodge Dakota followed shortly after, the Double Cab Tacoma was launched in 2001, and crew cabs appeared at GM in 2002. As for Ford and Mazda, we're still waiting.

The Frontier looks good, with its imposing chrome grille and oversized wheel wells, which squish the headlights like the cheeks of a fat baby. Its tough-looking appearance is helped by the wide track of its wheels and ride height.

Hooray for plastic
You'll feel like you're at a Tupperware party when you climb into the Frontier. Although a pickup is basically a workhorse, it doesn't mean that you have to install a cheap-looking dashboard. I'm not criticizing the plastic as such, but visually, it lacks a little contrasting detail. Maybe it's the dull light-gray color that's to blame. The airbag cover on the steering wheel would benefit from a tighter fit.

Despite my complaints about its appearance, but the dashboard is nonetheless very ergonomic. The simplicity of the heating and ventilation controls, as well as the no-nonsense operation of the radio buttons are welcome. However, I find that the ventilation could be better, because the heater has a hard time defrosting the windshield while driving.

The seats offer few adjustments, but are comfortable nonetheless, and I really like the cloth that covers them. The rear seats offer an honest amount of legroom, and the versatile bench seat allows for a multitude of ways to load up cargo inside. The seatback is too upright, however, but its rivals are not much better in that regard.

The dashboard's ergonomics are excellent.