2025 Nissan Frontier vs 2025 Ram 1500
The Nissan Frontier wins clearly, 93.3 to 69.5, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Ram 1500 is ahead on fuel & range.
2025 Nissan Frontier
The 2025 Nissan Frontier is sold in the U.S. as a gas large pickup truck with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Frontier 2WD, is EPA-r…
2025 Ram 1500
The 2025 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large pickup truck with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 HFE 2WD, is E…
2025 Nissan Frontier
Clear winThe Nissan Frontier wins clearly, 93.3 to 69.5, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Ram 1500 is ahead on fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2025 Nissan Frontieroverall 93.3 | 2025 Ram 1500overall 69.5 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 90.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 86.9 | 64.8 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 97.7 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 26.5 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 93.3 | 69.5 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Frontier: base trim S King Cab 4X2 · Ram 1500: base trim Tradesman 4X2. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Nissan Frontier wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (10 against 371 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 5.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (17 points against 4.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2025 Ram 1500 answers
- It carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4.
- It costs $300 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,900 against $3,200).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
39 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $32,050 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 3,779 cc | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 3.8L V6 DOHC | 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 eTorque, 60-degree gasoline V-6 with VVT, liquid-cooled |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 310 hp | 305 hp |
| Torque | 281 lb-ft | 271 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 3.21, 3.55 |
| Transmission speeds | 9 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 7.8 in |
| Overall height | — | 77.5 in |
| Overall length | — | 228 in |
| Overall width | — | 81.2 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 141 in |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 6 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40.9 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 39.2 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 40.9 in |
| Third-row legroom | — | 35.3 in |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | Upper and lower A-arms, twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | — | Five-link with track bar, stabilizer bar, twin-tube shock absorbers, solid axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 45.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 297 mm | 378 mm |
| Front brake type | Dual-piston vented disc | vented disc, 2-piston pin-slider caliper with ABS |
| Rear brake diameter | 287 mm | 375 mm |
| Rear brake type | Single piston vented disc | disc, single-piston pin-slider caliper with ABS |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 20 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 275/55R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 26 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 66 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 65.7 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
88 features · differences first, then sharedSafety26 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Cruise Control | std | — |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Front seat-mounted side–impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual stage supplemental front air bags | std | — |
| Roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | — |
| 4-wheel ABS disc brakes | std | — |
| Active Lane Management | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | — | std |
| Advanced Safety Group | — | opt |
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Blind-spot Monitoring with trailer coverage and Rear Cross Path detection | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | std | — |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| ParkSense front and rear park assist with automatic reverse stop | — | std |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Rear sonar system | std | — |
| Trailer Reverse Steering Control | — | opt |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | — |
| ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines | std | std |
Infotainment11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| NissanConnect® with Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted Bluetooth® controls | std | — |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| 8-inch color touchscreen | std | — |
| AM/FM/USB with 4 speakers | std | — |
| Base — six-speaker sound system | — | std |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio controls | std | — |
| Uconnect 12-in. Radio | — | opt |
| Uconnect 8.4 AM/FM/Bluetooth/SiriusXM Radio | — | std |
| Wired Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Wired Apple CarPlay® | std | — |
Convenience4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Remote engine start | std | — |
| 120-volt outlet with 400-watt capacity (rear of front center console, bed) | std | — |
| S Utility Package (KC): Spray-in bedliner, 120V power outlet in bed, 120V power outlet in rear center console | std | — |
| USB – 2 total (front Type A, Type C) | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Underseat heating ducts for rear passengers | std | — |
Seating6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way Power Driver Seat | — | opt |
| Heated front seats and steering wheel | — | opt |
| 6-way manual | std | — |
| 2-way Power Driver Lumbar | — | opt |
| 4-way manual front passenger seat | std | — |
| Base cloth | std | — |
Interior2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats and steering wheel | — | opt |
| Sunglass holder (overhead console) | std | — |
Exterior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 Off-road Group (standard on Rebel models) | — | opt |
| Crew Cab 5-ft. 7-in. box — 144.5-in. wheelbase | — | opt |
| Crew Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 153.5-in. wheelbase | — | opt |
| Exterior light – cargo/bed illumination | std | — |
| Grille – Black | std | — |
| Halogen headlights | std | — |
| LED rear lamps | std | — |
| Low Sport Package | — | opt |
| Night Edition Package | — | opt |
| Outside mirrors – Black | std | — |
| Protection Group (4x4 models only) | — | opt |
| Quad Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 140.5-in. wheelbase | — | std |
| Rear bumper – Black | std | — |
| Rear step-bumper with ball hitch provision | std | — |
| Sliding rear cab window | std | — |
Powertrain14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2-wheel limited slip | std | — |
| 26-gallon fuel tank | — | std |
| 3.0-liter Twin Turbo, Standard Output (SST), eight-speed automatic transmission | — | opt |
| 3.21 axle ratio | — | std |
| 3.55 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar eTorque, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | std |
| 3.92 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 33-gallon fuel tank | — | opt |
| 4x2 | — | std |
| 4x4 | — | opt |
| Anti-spin differential (electronic locking and anti-spin are mutually exclusive) | — | opt |
| Electronic part-time transfer case | — | std |
| Electronic-locking differential | — | opt |
| VQ38 3.8L V6 DOHC 310hp 9-speed automatic | std | — |
Cargo8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bed rail protectors | std | — |
| Bed Utility Group | — | opt |
| Integrated electronic trailer brake controller (requires Class IV trailer hitch; included with Trailer-tow Group) | — | opt |
| Locking tailgate with dampened opening, closure assist | std | — |
| Spray-in bedliner | std | — |
| Tie-down hooks (4) | std | — |
| Trailer Technology Package | — | opt |
| Trailer-tow Group | — | opt |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Frontier
Top recalls
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 26V023000 · 26,432 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V324000 · 79,755 vehicles
- minor Exterior Lighting 25V508000 · 13,719 vehicles
Ram 1500
Top recalls
- high Seat Belts 26V495000 · 1,271,294 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V225000 · 65,348 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V059000 · 456,287 vehicles
- high Exterior Lighting 24V942000 · 53 vehicles
- high Wheels 24V794000 · 33,777 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 26V560000 · 239,130 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan FrontierS King Cab 4X2 | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $32,050 (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $32,050 – $37,690 12 trims | — 12 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Frontier 2WD | 1500 HFE 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 21 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,200 | $2,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Nissan Frontier or the 2025 Ram 1500?
The Nissan Frontier wins clearly, 93.3 to 69.5, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Ram 1500 is ahead on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Nissan Frontier scores 93.3 and the 2025 Ram 1500 69.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Nissan Frontier or the 2025 Ram 1500?
2025 Nissan Frontier: 4 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 recalls. 2025 Ram 1500: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 8 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Nissan Frontier and the 2025 Ram 1500?
Where the 2025 Nissan Frontier wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (10 against 371 filed with NHTSA), lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 5, and lists more comfort and tech equipment (17 points against 4.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2025 Ram 1500 answers: it carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4 and costs $300 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,900 against $3,200).