Compare the2022 Ford RangerVS 2021 Nissan Frontier

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Ranger has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Frontier doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Ford Ranger has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Frontier doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Ranger’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Frontier doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Ranger offers optional parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Frontier doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Ranger’s optional blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Frontier doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Ranger’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Frontier doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Ranger’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Frontier doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Ranger has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Frontier doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Ranger and the Frontier have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras and available four-wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Ranger is safer than the Nissan Frontier:

	Ranger	Frontier
OVERALL STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	2 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Ford Ranger SuperCrew is safer than the Frontier Crew Cab:

	Ranger	Frontier
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	108	313
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	4 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	20 cm	32 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.3/.4 kN	.6/3.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	0%/1%
Lower Leg Evaluation	MARGINAL	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.76/1.15	1.77/1.37

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Ranger is safer than the Frontier:

	Ranger	Frontier
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	16 mm	44 mm
Distance Below Top of Head	46 mm	48 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Pass
Torso Acceleration	11.9 g’s	12.4 g’s
Neck Force Rating	Low	Medium
Max Neck Shearing Force	0	152
Max Neck Tension	437	645

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ranger the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 214 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Frontier was not even a “Top Safety Pick” for 2016.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ranger’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ranger’s reliability 20 points higher than the Frontier.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ranger second among midsize pickups in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Frontier isn’t in the top three.

Engine

The Ranger’s 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 281) than the Frontier’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Ranger is faster than the Nissan Frontier:

	Ranger	Frontier
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.9 MPH	88.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ranger gets better mileage than the Frontier:

			MPG
Ranger
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
Frontier
	RWD	3.8 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	17 city/23 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Ranger’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Frontier doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Ranger has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Frontier doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Ranger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Frontier.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Ranger’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Frontier:

	Ranger	Frontier King Cab	Frontier Crew Cab
Front Rotors	12.2 inches	11.1 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	11.3 inches	11.3 inches

The Ranger stops shorter than the Frontier:

	Ranger	Frontier
70 to 0 MPH	190 feet	199 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	150 feet	156 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Ranger’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Frontier PRO-4X’s standard 75 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Ranger has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Frontier base model’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ranger’s wheelbase is longer than on the Frontier:

	Ranger	Frontier
Extended Cab Standard Bed	126.8 inches	125.9 inches
Crew Cab Short Bed	126.8 inches	125.9 inches

The Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 handles at .75 G’s, while the Frontier Short Bed PRO-4X Crew Cab 4x4 pulls only .70 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Frontier Short Bed PRO-4X Crew Cab 4x4 (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.4 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ranger’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Frontier King Cab 4x4’s (42.5 feet vs. 43.33 feet). The Ranger Tremor’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Frontier Long Bed Crew Cab’s (43.1 feet vs. 47.75 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ranger SuperCrew Tremor has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Frontier (9.7 vs. 8.9 inches), allowing the Ranger to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Ranger SuperCab has .1 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 5 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Frontier King Cab.

The Ranger SuperCrew has .7 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room and .9 inches more rear legroom than the Frontier Crew Cab.

Cargo Capacity

The Ranger SuperCab has a much larger cargo box than the Frontier King Cab shortbed (51.8 vs. 33.5 cubic feet).

The Ranger SuperCrew has a much larger cargo box than the Frontier Crew Cab shortbed (43.3 vs. 27.1 cubic feet). The Ranger SuperCrew has a much larger cargo box than the Frontier Crew Cab longbed (43.3 vs. 33.5 cubic feet).

The Ranger’s cargo box is larger than the Frontier’s in almost every dimension:

	Ranger SuperCrew	Ranger SuperCab	Frontier King Cab	Frontier Crew Cab
Length (short/long)	61”	72.8”	73.3”	59.5”/73.3”
Max Width	61.4”	61.4”	61.4”	61.4”
Min Width	44.8”	44.8”	44.4”	44.4”
Height	20.8”	20.8”	18”	18”

Payload and Towing

The Ranger’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Frontier’s (7500 vs. 6250 pounds).

The Ranger 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Ranger can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Frontier can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Ranger uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Frontier doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Ranger has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Frontier:

	Ranger	Frontier
Extended Cab	1905 lbs.	1460 lbs.
Crew Cab	1818 lbs.	1020 lbs.
Extended Cab 4x4	1696 lbs.	1340 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1609 lbs.	1020 lbs.

The Ranger has much higher optional payload capacities than the Frontier:

	Ranger	Frontier
Extended Cab	1905 lbs.	1460 lbs.
Crew Cab	1818 lbs.	1460 lbs.
Extended Cab 4x4	1696 lbs.	1360 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1609 lbs.	1360 lbs.

Servicing Ease

The Ranger uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Frontier uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

An Extended Service Interval Monitor is standard on the Ranger to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Nissan doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Frontier.

Ergonomics

The Ranger offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Frontier doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The engine computer on the Ranger automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. The Frontier’s starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Ranger has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Frontier doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The Ranger’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Frontier’s power windows’ switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ranger’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Frontier doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Intelligent Access standard on the Ranger Lariat allows you to unlock the driver’s door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Nissan Frontier’s Push Button Start doesn’t unlock the doors.

The Ranger Lariat’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Frontier’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Ranger’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Frontier’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Ranger has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Frontier has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the PRO-4X.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Ranger detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Frontier doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Ranger XLT/Lariat offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Frontier doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Ranger offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Frontier doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ranger is less expensive to operate than the Frontier because typical repairs cost much less on the Ranger than the Frontier, including $1 less for front brake pads, $119 less for a fuel pump, $38 less for front struts and $320 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Ranger, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Frontier isn't recommended.

The Ford Ranger outsold the Nissan Frontier by over two to one during the 2021 model year.