Nissan Frontier vs Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 24 mpg combined versus 21 mpg for the Nissan Frontier, a 3 mpg advantage and costs about $400 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Toyota Tacoma leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Nissan Frontier
Small Pickup Trucks 2WD · 57 configurations
2015–2026
Toyota Tacoma
Small Pickup Trucks 4WD · 90 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Nissan Frontier | Toyota Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 21 mpg | 24 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 19 mpg | 23 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 24 mpg | 26 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,950 | $2,550 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 423 g/mi | 379 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI, SIDI; ISS and AGS, 2.5, 4.0 | SIDI & PFI; 3-mode(Sport/Normal/Eco), w/SS, SIDI & PFI; 2-mode(Power/Normal) TM, w/SS, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; 3-mode (Sport/Normal/Eco) TM |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S9), Automatic 5-spd, Manual 5-spd | Automatic (S8), Manual 6-spd, Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrains | Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Gasoline or E85 | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 57 | 90 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Frontier vs Tacoma: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Nissan Frontier or the Toyota Tacoma?
The Toyota Tacoma is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 24 mpg combined versus 21 mpg for the Nissan Frontier, a 3 mpg advantage and costs about $400 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Toyota Tacoma runs about $2,550 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,950 for the Nissan Frontier — a difference of roughly $400 per year.
What engines do the Frontier and Tacoma offer?
Nissan Frontier: SIDI, SIDI; ISS and AGS, 2.5, 4.0. Toyota Tacoma: SIDI & PFI; 3-mode(Sport/Normal/Eco), w/SS, SIDI & PFI; 2-mode(Power/Normal) TM, w/SS, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; 3-mode (Sport/Normal/Eco) TM.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Nissan Frontier as Small Pickup Trucks 2WD and the Toyota Tacoma as Small Pickup Trucks 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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