After a radical
restyling for the 2001
model year, that included a brand new front-end treatment and factory
installed Eaton supercharger, the 2002 model receives its share of improvements.
Among them, the longest bed in the compact crew cab class and an interior
overhaul.
The optional
Frontier Crew Cab Long Bed increases bed length an impressive 25%, from
56.3" to 74.6", for 2002. And in an "in-your-face"
to archrival Toyota the new bed is .1" longer than the Tacoma's regular
and Xtracab trucks.
The Frontier's
new interior is almost as radical a leap as the 2001's exterior. Now shared
with the Xterra compact SUV, the instrument panel consists of three large
round gauges, somewhat similar to the IP in the Lexus GS 400 series sedans, and
new HVAC controls. A 25% larger glovebox resides in the smoothly revised
passenger area.
The interior
also offers a brand new sound system. You may remember at last year's
SEMA show Nissan displayed its 2000-watt plus Rockford-Fosgate
customized Frontier. Though you won't find quite that much power available
in the new Frontier, Crew Cab owners will be able to order an optional
nine-speaker, 400-watt Rockford-Fosgate sound system for their trucks.
That's 300-watts more than the factory stereo system with a price under
$600! Nissan claims the same system would cost audiophiles over $1000
using aftermarket components.
OK, so the
bed and new interior are substantial improvements over the 2001 Frontier
but we think that the most extreme revision and change in thought at Nissan
for 2002 is the replacement of the traditional 'import-esque' dash mounted
twist-and-pull parking brake with a much welcomed foot-operated system.
We think we hear the sound of tens of thousands of future Frontier owners
shouting hallelujah! Can we get an Amen?!
The 2002
Frontier Crew Cab's powertrain continues to be centered around the workhorse
SOHC 3.3-liter V6 engine, equipped with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic
transmission. The 210-hp supercharged engine also remains unchanged for
2002 but is expected to see 30 more horsepower for 2003.
