Car Grills
2009 Nissan Frontier Truck.
One result of the Nissan Frontier's 2009 facelift is the PRO-4X trim level. Equipped with off-road suspension and shocks, the pickup is basically the same underneath as the 2008 NISMO Frontier, but the PRO-4X name change puts it in sync with the terminology used for big brother Titan's off-road package.
Nissan fitted the PRO-4X with a roof rack and added to the truck's sporty look with 16 inch alloy wheels and BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A tires. Color keyed bumpers and front foglights complete the pickup's unique exterior appearance.
Underneath, the PRO-4X sports Bilstein off-road gas shocks and an electronic locking rear differential. Additional skid plates protect the bottom of the radiator, differentials, transmission and transfer case from bumps and bruises.
Inside, the truck's red-stitched seats have a PRO-4X logo on their backs. White face gauges are easy to see and controls are within easy reach on the truck's updated center control panel.
Driving the 2009 Frontier Trucks
Our day-long Frontier road tests started out along the Columbia River and progressed upwards into the mountains of Washington state. I drove a 2WD King Cab Frontier first (an XE trim level truck with a 4-cylinder engine and 5 speed transmission). XE's are 'no frills' pickups, with cloth covered (manually adjustable) seats, a basic audio system and (heaven forbid) manual windows.
Driving the XE was good timing, because I've been thinking about the first compact trucks lately, and how they've evolved into the feature-packed drives we've become accustomed to. And I've wondered... are people still willing to buy a pure utility truck?
The XE is as close as we can get to those early trucks, and it was a pleasant surprise. Controls and switches were all very easy to locate and reach. That may sound simplistic, but I've seen first-hand how frustrating it is for some drivers to figure out complex dash controls on new vehicles -- features sometimes go unused because people never get comfortable with their operation.
The XE's 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine came to life with little fanfare. I put the shifter into 1st, eased out the clutch pedal and aimed the Frontier down the highway (he clutch pedal wasn't too stiff and the engagement was very smooth). Shifting was effortless and the shift knob is easy to reach regardless of which gear you are in.
We get so accustomed to driving V8s and V6s that it's easy to forget how peppy a 4-cylinder engine can be. Driving on winding roads up into higher elevations, the XE's engine not only had plenty of power, but the truck was actually a lot of fun. I found myself shifting up and down through the gears as I switched from curves to straight stretches.
Chrysler 300 Grills
