Head-to-head
2026 Nissan Frontier vs 2026 Ram 1500
The Nissan Frontier wins clearly, 93.6 to 70, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range.
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2026 Nissan Frontier
The 2026 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…
vs
D2026 Ram 1500
The 2026 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large pickup truck with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 2WD, is EPA-…
More Nissan Frontier head-to-heads More Ram 1500 head-to-heads Every Frontier vs Ram 1500 model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Nissan Frontier
Clear winThe Nissan Frontier wins clearly, 93.6 to 70, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range.
Tech & comfort 2026 Nissan Frontier leads by 91.5
Safety 2026 Nissan Frontier leads by 23.8
Space & cargo 2026 Ram 1500 leads by 16.7
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Frontieroverall 93.6 | 2026 Ram 1500overall 70 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 95.4 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 89.5 | 65.7 | |||||||||||||||
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 & cargow 2 | 83.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 96 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 8.5 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 93.6 | 70 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Frontier: base trim S RWD · Ram 1500: base trim Tradesman 4X2. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Nissan Frontier wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (11 against 103 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 22 standard driver-assist features against 5.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (29.5 points against 2.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Ram 1500 answers
- It carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4.
- It seats 6 against 5.
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
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $33,550 | — |
| 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 |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | Sequential multiport electronic returnless |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 310 hp | 305 hp |
| Torque | 281 lb-ft | 271 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 19 mpg | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 21 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 24 mpg | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.692 | 3.21, 3.55 |
| Transmission speeds | 9 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 9.3 in | 7.8 in |
| Overall height | 71.8 in | 77.5 in |
| Overall length | 210 in | 228 in |
| Overall width | 73 in | 81.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 126 in | 141 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Total interior volume | 100 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 6 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.9 in | 40.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | 38.6 in | 39.2 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.3 in | 40.9 in |
| Second-row legroom | 33.2 in | 35.3 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,466 lbs | 5,253 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,466 lbs | 4,836 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,012 lbs | 7,200 lbs |
| Payload capacity | 1,490 lbs | 2,360 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent double wishbone | Upper and lower A-arms, twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | Overslung multi-leaf with Dana axle | Five-link with track bar, stabilizer bar, twin-tube shock absorbers, solid axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Engine speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion | Electric power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 42.7 ft | 45.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 297 mm | 378 mm |
| Front brake type | Dual-piston vented disc | vented disc |
| Parking brake type | Mechanical, foot operated | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 287 mm | 375 mm |
| Rear brake type | Single piston vented disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 265/70R16 | 275/55R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 21 gal | 26 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 58.2 in | 66 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.3 in | 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
107 features · differences first, then sharedSafety28 differ · 28 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Intelligent Cruise Control | std | — |
| Intersection Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Dual stage supplemental front air bags | std | — |
| Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| RearView Monitor | std | — |
| Roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Rear sonar system | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | — |
| 4-wheel ABS disc brakes | std | — |
| Active Lane Management system | — | std |
| Adaptive cruise control | — | std |
| Advanced Safety Group — surround 360-degree camera, evasive steer assist, intersection collision assist, traffic sign recognition, drowsy driver detection, hands-free active driving assist | — | opt |
| Blind-spot Monitoring with trailer coverage and Rear Cross Path detection | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Electronic Brake force Distribution | std | — |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| ParkSense front/rear park assist with automatic reverse stop | — | std |
| ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines | — | std |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
Infotainment14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering wheel-mounted Bluetooth® controls | std | — |
| 8-inch color touchscreen | std | — |
| AM/FM/USB with 4 speakers | std | — |
| Base — six-speaker sound system | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | std | — |
| Siri® Eyes Free | std | — |
| SiriusXM® Radio with advanced audio features | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio controls | std | — |
| Streaming Audio via Bluetooth® | std | — |
| Uconnect 12-in. Radio | — | opt |
| Uconnect 8.4 AM/FM/Bluetooth/SiriusXM Radio | — | std |
| Voice recognition for navigation and audio | std | — |
| Wired Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Wired Apple CarPlay® | std | — |
Convenience9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 12-volt power outlet (1 on instrument panel) | std | — |
| 120-volt outlet with 400-watt capacity (rear of front center console, bed) | opt | — |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Power door locks | std | — |
| Power windows with driver one-touch auto-down | std | — |
| Push-button start | std | — |
| Rear power windows | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry | std | — |
| USB – 2 total (front Type A, Type C) | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Underseat heating ducts for rear passengers | std | — |
Seating6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way manual | std | — |
| 2-way manual lumbar | std | — |
| 4-way manual (front passenger seat) | std | — |
| Front seat Active Head Restraints | std | — |
| Rear seats – 60/40 split back cushion flip-up with adjustable headrests | std | — |
| Seating – Base cloth | std | — |
Interior3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| Driver's seatback pocket | std | — |
| Steering wheel switch illumination | std | — |
Exterior17 differ · 17 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| LED headlights | std | — |
| 16-inch aluminum-alloy, center cap, painted finish wheels | std | — |
| 265/70R16 all-season tires | std | — |
| 4x4 Off-road Group — tow hooks, skid plates, rear electronic locking axle, off-road shocks, hill-descent control, all-terrain tires | — | opt |
| Cargo bed lights – stop lamps | std | — |
| Center high mount stop lamp | std | — |
| 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 | — |
| Intelligent Automatic headlights | std | — |
| LED rear lamps | std | — |
| Outside mirrors – Folding | std | — |
| Protection Group (4x4 models only) — tow hooks, front suspension skid plate, transfer case skid plate, electronic power steering skid plate, fuel tank skid plate | — | opt |
| Quad Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 140.5-in. wheelbase | — | std |
| Skid plate – Front composite | std | — |
| Sliding rear cab window | std | — |
| Tailgate spoiler | std | — |
Powertrain16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | 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 |
| 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 eTorque, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | opt |
| 9-speed automatic transmission | std | — |
| Drive configuration – Rear-wheel drive (4x2) / Part-time 4-wheel drive (4x4) | std | — |
| Electronic part-time transfer case | — | std |
| Electronic-locking differential (raised ride height available on all axle ratios; standard ride height available only on 3.92 axle ratio; included with 4x4 Off-road Group) | — | opt |
| Idle Stop/Start | std | — |
Chassis2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Front suspension – Independent double wishbone with twin tube shock absorbers | std | — |
| Rear suspension – Overslung multi-leaf with Dana axle, twin tube shock absorbers | std | — |
Cargo11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tow/haul mode switch | opt | — |
| Bed rail protectors | std | — |
| Bed Utility Group (upper adjustable tie downs, bed extender, bed step, bed lighting, spray-in bed liner) | — | opt |
| Hitch ball provision on rear bumper | std | — |
| 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 | opt | — |
| Tie-down hooks (4) | std | — |
| Trailer reverse steering control | — | opt |
| Trailer Technology Package — trailer hitch line-up assist, integrated trailer health monitor, trailer reverse guidance, surround 360-degree trailer camera, tow-specific navigation, digital rearview mirror with tow mode | — | opt |
| Trailer-tow Group — integrated trailer brake controller, trailer tire-pressure monitoring system, trailer reverse steering control, trailer light check, trailer tow mirror | — | opt |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Frontier
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★☆
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★☆☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★☆☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 11 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Power Train (3), Structure (2), Unspecified (2)
Top recalls
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 26V023000 · 26,432 vehicles
Ram 1500
Safety Signal 64 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 9
Owner complaints 103 · 3 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (51), Unspecified (16), Engine (13)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V622000 · 5 vehicles
- high Tires 26V623000 · 16,385 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 26V495000 · 1,271,294 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V225000 · 65,348 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V059000 · 456,287 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 26V560000 · 239,130 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan FrontierS RWD | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $33,550 (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $33,550 – $41,870 6 trims | — 14 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Frontier 2WD | 1500 2WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 21 | 22 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,200 | $3,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Nissan Frontier or the 2026 Ram 1500?
The Nissan Frontier wins clearly, 93.6 to 70, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Ram 1500 is ahead on space & cargo and fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Nissan Frontier scores 93.6 and the 2026 Ram 1500 70. 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 2026 Nissan Frontier or the 2026 Ram 1500?
2026 Nissan Frontier: 4 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Ram 1500: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 9 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 2026 Nissan Frontier and the 2026 Ram 1500?
Where the 2026 Nissan Frontier wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (11 against 103 filed with NHTSA), lists 22 standard driver-assist features against 5, and lists more comfort and tech equipment (29.5 points against 2.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Ram 1500 answers: it carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4 and seats 6 against 5.