Why buy a 2005 Nissan Frontier rather than a 2005 Toyota Tacoma? The Nissan offers a more aggressive, edgy look when compared to the bulbous Toyota, and the Frontier’s V6 provides an additional 20 horses and two lb.-ft. of torque. Base prices are roughly equivalent and warranties are identical. These trucks are about as evenly matched as they can be, so the buying decision largely comes down to brand and style preference.

How does the 2005 Nissan Frontier stack up against other competitors? GM offers the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon (Isuzu’s version is the i-Series), a decent truck with an underpowered five-cylinder engine and an uncompetitive warranty. Dodge and partner Mitsubishi offer the Dakota and Raider. A Mitsu commercial displays a V8-powered Raider scaring a Frontier so much that it “wets” itself. Interesting, especially considering that the Nissan’s V6 offers 35 additional horsepower and is only two lb.-ft. shy of the Dodge/Mitsubishi V8’s torque ratings. The Ford Ranger (and twin Mazda B-Series) lack a crew cab option and ride on an ancient platform. That leaves newcomer Honda and its Ridgeline, a fine car-based truck that lacks the ruggedness of the 2005 Nissan Frontier.

How safe is the 2005 Nissan Frontier? The 2005 Nissan Frontier comes standard with dual front airbags, front active headrests, and antilock brakes. Upper level trims add traction control and a first aid kit. Front side-impact and side-curtain airbags are optional. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2005 Nissan Crew Cab four out of five stars for frontal crashworthiness and five stars for side impacts. NHTSA didn’t test a King Cab model. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested only the Frontier King Cab, with the Nissan achieving an overall Good rating, the highest available from the IIHS.