Light-duty trucks do a lot of things well. Most have the rugged workability and towing capacity that a larger pickup provides, while also being easy to drive and easy on the wallet when you pull up to the gas pump. The blend of workhorse and daily driver traits provides the best of both worlds for many shoppers.
Still, when the time comes to shop for a new truck in Southern California, there are a lot of big decisions to make. Perhaps the biggest is which automaker you’re gonna go with. So, which is the best truck brand? Let’s get to the bottom of it by hosting a small truck comparison of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma and the 2024 Nissan Frontier.
Tacoma vs. Frontier: Powertrains
The Tacoma has been redone for the 2024 model year, and it’s powered by a brand-new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, which is available in two different configurations:
• i-FORCE—278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.
• i-FORCE MAX hybrid—326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque.
Both are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard, and multiple trims can be optioned with a 6-speed manual instead. Rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available, with part-time 4WD standard across multiple grades.
On the other hand, all 2024 Frontier models are given the same motor:
• 3.8-liter V6—310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque.
The engine pairs with a 9-speed automatic transmission; no manual option is available. Aside from the PRO-4X and Hardbody trims, all Frontiers come standard with rear-wheel drive, with an optional upgrade to four-wheel.
Verdict: The base Tacoma engine is slightly less powerful but more torquey than the Frontier’s, and the Tacoma’s i-FORCE MAX motor is the most powerful by far. More Tacoma trims also have standard four-wheel drive and the option of a manual gearbox, which means it offers more power and versatility.
Tacoma vs. Frontier: Towing and Payload
Two different grades of Tacoma—SR5 and TRD PreRunner with i-FORCE—can unlock the maximum towing capacity, which is 6,500 pounds. Payload caps out at 1,709 pounds on the TRD Off-Road variant.
The Frontier has a slightly higher max towing capacity of 6,640 pounds when optioned with the King Cab body and rear-wheel drive. The max payload of 1,620 pounds is achieved with the same cab and drivetrain configuration.
Verdict: Both trucks are quite evenly matched, with nearly all models capable of over 6,000 pounds of towing capacity, although the Tacoma has a higher max payload overall.
Tacoma vs. Frontier: Bed Utility
Both the Tacoma and Frontier have two different bed lengths to choose from. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of each:
