Nissan offers the 2005 Frontier in two body styles – the King Cab and the Crew Cab. Four-passenger King Cab models feature small rear doors for access to the fold-down jump seats. Exclusive to this Frontier is a two-wheel-drive XE model with a 2.5-liter, 16-valve, dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine pushing 154 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 173 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm. Move up the lineup to find SE, LE, and NISMO models, all of which are available with either two- or four-wheel drive and are motivated by a 4.0-liter, 24-valve, dual overhead cam V6 offering 265 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 284 lb.-ft. of twist at 4,000 rpm. Every 2005 Nissan Frontier rides on an independent front suspension with a stabilizer bar while a live suspension with leaf springs is bolted to the rear.

Starting with the base XE, standard equipment includes four-wheel, vented disc, antilock brakes; a five-speed manual transmission; 15-inch steel wheels and 235/75 all-season tires; a tire pressure monitor; front active headrests; and a chrome rear step bumper. If that seems like a lean standard features list, that’s because all of the good stuff has been reserved for the options list. Among them is a five-speed automatic transmission; a Preferred Package that includes air conditioning, a radio with a CD player, tilt steering, and a sliding rear window; cruise control; and side-impact and side-curtain airbags. Pricing for the bare-bones 2005 Nissan Frontier XE starts at $16,180 including a $580 destination charge.

With a base price between $18,500 (two-wheel-drive King Cab) and $23,350 (four-wheel-drive Crew Cab), SE models add the XE’s Preferred Package, a six-speed manual transmission, larger brakes, and 16-inch steel wheels with 265/70 tires. There’s also a broader array of options including 16-inch alloy wheels, convenient power features, traction control, and a power sunroof for Crew Cabs.

One notch above the SE is the LE, priced from $22,300 to $26,650. Look here for standard items such as 17-inch alloy wheels and 265/65 tires, tubular running boards, Nissan’s Utili-Track cargo system, and a sprayed-in bedliner. Crew Cab LE models also get a roof rack with a 125-lb. carrying capacity. Buyers looking for more content can add an audio package with an MP3 player and six-disc CD changer; four-wheel-drive models can be fitted with Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Control, and stability control; and Crew Cab LE Frontiers can be fitted with power, heated leather seats and a 300-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system.

Finally, at the top of the heap is the 2005 Nissan Frontier NISMO, a truck dedicated to true off-road enthusiasts. Added here are Bilstein shocks, unique 16-inch alloy wheels and 265/75 off-road tires, skid plates, and a locking rear differential.

In order to evaluate this redesigned truck, we spent a week in a four-wheel-drive 2005 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab with a $30,130 sticker price. That significant chunk of currency included the addition of side-impact and side-curtain airbags, the Rockford Fosgate sound system, the power sunroof, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Control, and stability control. Paying more than 30 grand for a pickup truck, especially a midsize, may seem questionable, but actually the Frontier can be viewed as a relative value. In comparison, a comparable Chevrolet Colorado with an underpowered five-cylinder engine has a higher base price and a Ford Ranger SuperCab (Ford doesn’t offer a crew cab) has the same base price. Of course, that doesn’t take into consideration deep rebates on the Chevy and Ford, discounts that ultimately lessen resale value. More importantly, the Frontier plays on equal ground with the Toyota Tacoma in terms of price, equipment, and power.