2025 Ford F-150 vs 2025 Nissan Frontier

The 2025 Nissan Frontier, with its new Afterburn Orange paint, evoked memories of a quirky aunt who once chose a pumpkin orange Chevy pickup to stand out in parking lots. This vibrant hue suited the Frontier PRO-4X, the off-road-ready version of Nissan's pickup, which was also available in S, SV, SL, and PRO-X trims. The Frontier offered versatility with King Cab or Crew Cab body styles and a choice of standard or long cargo beds. Prices ranged from $32,050 to $41,810, excluding a $1,510 destination charge. Our PRO-4X test vehicle, equipped with various packages and optional features, reached an MSRP of $50,245. Despite its cost, the Frontier included a standard Nissan Maintenance Care package for added value.

Nissan made subtle styling updates for 2025, enhancing the Frontier's modern appeal with black exterior trim and a larger infotainment screen. The cabin featured user-friendly switchgear, allowing easy operation of various systems even with gloves on. While hard plastic surfaces were prevalent, the materials felt higher in quality compared to competitors like the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma. The Frontier's solid construction, combined with its traditional controls, made it unexpectedly appealing despite being one of the older models in its segment.

The 2025 Ford F-150 Tremor SuperCrew, equipped with a short cargo bed and a 5.0-liter V8 engine, had a base price of $66,810, including a $1,995 destination charge. Options like Equipment Group 402A and a twin-panel sunroof increased the MSRP to $82,240. The Tremor, an off-road-focused version of the F-150, offered a mix of body-color and black exterior details, Active Orange accents, and exclusive wheels with all-terrain tires. The new Space White Metallic paint complemented the Tremor's rugged design and effectively concealed dust and dirt.

Inside, the F-150 Tremor featured a black interior with orange accents and optional leather upholstery. The cabin's industrial appearance suited its purpose, and the digital instrumentation and touchscreen infotainment system minimized screen interaction with numerous knobs and buttons. While some buttons could have been larger, the overall usability was commendable. The Tremor's cabin provided a comfortable and functional environment, with features like heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, and ample storage space.

Under the hood of the 2025 Nissan Frontier was a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The PRO-4X model featured a shift-on-the-fly 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case. While not particularly fuel-efficient, the Frontier exceeded EPA estimates, achieving 18.8 mpg on a mountainous evaluation loop. The 2025 Frontier's towing capacity increased by 500 pounds, with a maximum of 7,150 pounds for RWD Frontier S King Cab models. The PRO-4X had a tow rating of 6,680 pounds and a payload rating of 1,220 pounds.

The Frontier PRO-4X's off-road capabilities were enhanced with Bilstein shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, and skid plates. While the suspension reacted stiffly to challenging terrain, the V6 engine provided satisfying performance. The Frontier's handling was surprisingly sporty, with minimal body lean in curves and decent grip from the all-terrain tires. However, the oversized steering wheel and hydraulic assist system made low-speed maneuvering challenging.

The 2025 Ford F-150 Tremor's 5.0-liter V8 engine delivered 400 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, offering a maximum towing capacity of 9,900 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,725 pounds. The V8's sound was impressive, and its performance, combined with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided ample power for various driving conditions. The Tremor's off-road capabilities were enhanced with a long-travel suspension, skid plates, and a 3.73 electronic locking rear axle. Driving modes like Deep Snow/Sand and Rock Crawl, along with Ford's Trail Control system, further improved its off-road prowess.

Despite its size, the F-150 Tremor was enjoyable to drive on trails, offering a firm and quiet ride on highways. The truck's all-terrain tires limited handling on twisty roads, but its size required careful navigation in tight spaces. The Tremor's parking sensors and surround-view camera system were invaluable for daily driving tasks.

The 2025 Nissan Frontier featured Nissan's Zero Gravity seat design, providing comfort for the driver and front passenger. The test truck included leather seats, a six-way power driver's seat, and heated front seats. However, the back seat was less accommodating, with a short seat cushion and nearly vertical backrest angle. Storage options included a rear seat storage area, various nooks and crannies, and a sizable bin under the center console armrest. The cargo bed featured Nissan's Utili-Track system, a spray-in bedliner, and illumination but lacked a step for easier access.

The 2025 Ford F-150 Tremor offered running boards for easier entry and exit, with oversized, power-adjustable front seats and a spacious rear bench providing long-haul comfort. The test truck included perforated leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The optional panoramic sunroof and power sliding rear window enhanced the driving experience. Storage space was plentiful, with the Mobile Office package transforming the center console into a workstation. The Tremor's cargo bed featured the Pro Access tailgate, a hard tonneau cover, and a retractable rear step for easier access.

The 2025 Nissan Frontier featured a 7-inch digital driver display and a new 12.3-inch touchscreen for the NissanConnect infotainment system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and NissanConnect services. The system offered a complimentary three-year subscription to the Premium services plan and five years of the Select and Plus plans. While the infotainment system was an improvement, its interface remained clunky, and voice recognition technology was poor. The test truck's wireless smartphone charger and 10-speaker Fender audio system provided convenience and quality sound.

The 2025 Ford F-150 featured dual 12-inch displays, including a digital instrument panel and Sync 4 infotainment touchscreen. While the screens seemed small by modern standards, their usability was impressive. The infotainment system and 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system were excellent, with seamless smartphone integration and outstanding voice recognition technology. The Tremor also included a widescreen head-up display, helpful cameras for off-roading and parking, and trailering assistance features.

The 2025 Nissan Frontier came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, while a surround-view camera system with off-road mode was newly standard on the Frontier SL. The Frontier received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with concerns about its three-star driver protection and rollover resistance ratings. The IIHS had not released complete safety ratings at the time of publication.

The 2025 Ford F-150 Tremor featured new safety technologies, including oncoming-traffic detection, evasive steering assist, intersection braking assist, and predictive speed assist. The BlueCruise hands-free driving technology was standard, offering impressive performance despite occasional limitations. The F-150 earned high marks in crash tests, receiving a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and performing well in IIHS tests.