Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews
Toyota Tacoma
$478
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Nissan Frontier
$470
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Overall Reliability Rating
3
1
2
Above Average
The Toyota Tacoma Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 7th out of 7 for midsize trucks. The average annual repair cost is $478 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. While repairs tend to be more severe than average, the number of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Tacoma.
4
Excellent
The Nissan Frontier Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 1st out of 7 for midsize trucks. The average annual repair cost is $470 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Frontier.
“Bought this truck used in 2006 with 92,000 miles.
Has the 3.4 and is 4x4. Been the best truck I've ever owned.
Had the head gasket blow 2 weeks ago at 198,000 miles thanks to the crappy...”
“Bought this truck used in 2006 with 92,000 miles.
Has the 3.4 and is 4x4. Been the best truck...”
The Nissan Frontier ranks highest in interior and ranks lowest in value.
“My truck has 218,000 miles. I haven't had any major problems with it. Driving in the mountains of Western North Carolina it slows down a bit, but it will still accelerate on a 2-3% grade in fifth...”
“My truck has 218,000 miles. I haven't had any major problems with it. Driving in the mountains of...”
The Nissan Frontier and the Toyota Tacoma are both midsize, body-on-frame pickup trucks from major Japanese automakers. Both are built in the U.S. But there are some major differences.
The Nissan Frontier is the oldest pickup truck on the market, with a platform that was first unveiled for model year 2005. As a result, its materials, fuel economy and technology are not up to today’s standards. On the plus side, the Frontier is well-priced, and handles its practical duties as a work truck acceptably well, with no major problems.
The Toyota Tacoma, on the other hand, was all new for the 2016 model year. It can be configured for work truck duty, tooling around town in luxury, or conquering desert dunes. The Tacoma can also claim Toyota’s excellent standard driver assistance features, which include adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning and automatic high beams. None of these items is available on the Frontier.
If you’re looking for a very basic, no-frills truck at a lower price, the Nissan Frontier has you covered. If you want an up-to-date truck that can offer you more than just transportation, then go with the Toyota Tacoma.