2027 Nissan Frontier vs 2027 Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 edges it, 100 to 98, on fuel & range.
2027 Nissan Frontier
The 2027 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…
2027 Ram 1500
The 2027 Ram 1500 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large pickup truck with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 1500 2WD, is EPA-…
2027 Ram 1500
Slight edgeThe Ram 1500 edges it, 100 to 98, on fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2027 Nissan Frontieroverall 98 | 2027 Ram 1500overall 100 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 95.4 | 100 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||
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 | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Overall | 98 | 100 | |||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 2 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Nissan Frontier
Nissan Frontier: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available) · 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 2027 Ram 1500 wins
- It costs $150 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($3,050 against $3,200).
- It is rated 22 combined against 21 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
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
37 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | — | 6 |
| Engine displacement | — | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | — | 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 eTorque, eight-speed automatic |
| Fuel injection system | — | Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 305 hp |
| Torque | — | 271 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission speeds | — | 8 |
| Transmission type | — | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 8.3 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 | — | 378 mm |
| Front brake type | — | vented disc |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 375 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 20 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 275/55R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 26 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 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
46 features · differences first, then sharedSafety8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive cruise control | — | std |
| ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and center lines | — | std |
| Integrated electronic controller (requires Class IV trailer hitch; included with Trailertow Group) | — | opt |
| Active Lane Management (ALM) system | — | std |
| Advanced Safety Group | — | opt |
| Blind-spot Monitoring with trailer coverage and Rear Cross Path detection | — | std |
| ParkSense front/rear park assist with automatic reverse stop | — | std |
| Trailer reverse steering control | — | opt |
Infotainment5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Base — six-speaker | — | std |
| Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls | — | opt |
| Uconnect 12-in. Radio | — | opt |
| Uconnect 8.4 AM/FM/Bluetooth/SiriusXM Radio | — | std |
| Wireless charging pad | — | opt |
Convenience2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bed Utility Group | — | opt |
| 120V 2kW on-board power (Pentastar V6 only) | — | opt |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way power driver seat | — | opt |
| Heated front seats and steering wheel | — | opt |
| 2-way power driver lumbar | — | opt |
Interior3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats and steering wheel | — | opt |
| Tradesman Level 1 Equipment Group | — | opt |
| LED bed lighting | — | opt |
Exterior8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior power-folding mirrors with signal and puddle lamps | — | 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 power-folding mirrors with signal and puddle lamps | — | opt |
| Night Edition Package | — | opt |
| Off-Road Group (standard on Warlock and Rebel models) | — | opt |
| Protection Group (4x4 models only) | — | opt |
| Quad Cab 6-ft. 4-in. box — 140.5-in. wheelbase | — | std |
Powertrain13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 26-gallon fuel tank | — | std |
| 3.0-liter Hurricane I6 twin-turbo, Standard Output, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | opt |
| 3.21 axle ratio | — | std |
| 3.55 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 3.6-liter Pentastar® V6 eTorque, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | std |
| 3.92 axle ratio | — | opt |
| 33-gallon fuel tank | — | opt |
| 4x2 | — | std |
| 4x4 | — | opt |
| 5.7-liter HEMI V8 eTorque, eight-speed automatic transmission | — | opt |
| Anti-spin differential (electronic-locking and anti-spin are mutually exclusive) | — | opt |
| Electronic part-time transfer case | — | std |
| Electronic-locking rear differential | — | opt |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer-tow Group | — | opt |
| Bed Utility Group | — | opt |
| Towing Technology Group | — | 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
No recalls on file.
Ram 1500
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan Frontier | Ram 1500Tradesman 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — | — 18 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 2027 Nissan Frontier or the 2027 Ram 1500?
The Ram 1500 edges it, 100 to 98, on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Ram 1500 scores 100 and the 2027 Nissan Frontier 98. 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 2027 Nissan Frontier or the 2027 Ram 1500?
2027 Nissan Frontier: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Ram 1500: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 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 2027 Nissan Frontier and the 2027 Ram 1500?
Where the 2027 Ram 1500 wins: it costs $150 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($3,050 against $3,200) and is rated 22 combined against 21 (EPA mpg or MPGe). What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.