2003 Nissan Frontier King Cab S/C 4x2

Supercharging for trucks is not new, but certainly adds an aura of upscale performance to an otherwise proletariat pickup. Witness the success of Ford's F-150 Lightning. The company sells all it can build of that limited edition model. Nissan conjured up some of the same marketing magic for its smaller Frontier, powered by a V-6 instead of a V-8 found in the full-size F-150. The question is, does this waving of the performance wand truly transform the Frontier, or is it just a lot of hocus-pocus?

Nissan bulked up the Frontier with body cladding for a more athletic, if not muscular presence.

As with most magic acts, that depends on who's watching. To the trained eye, stomping on the go-pedal of this 210-hp 3.3-liter V-6 won't be mistaken for the strike of a Lightning. On the other hand, if you're used to driving a Frontier with the base engine, a 143-hp, 2.4-liter inline-four, the performance gains of the supercharged model are by no means an illusion. Get on the throttle when pulling onto the freeway or climbing a tough off-road trail and this puppy scampers right out. Surprisingly enough, the supercharger whine is not all that noticeable nor does it kick you in the backside. This Roots-type blower feels more like a smoother centrifugal unit. The surge is there, but it doesn't overwhelm you (despite the macho image portrayed in the ad campaign).


Comparing the supercharged engine to its naturally aspirated sibling may help to explain why. With a slight power increase on the non-supercharged engine for 2003, the difference in output between them is about 30 horses (180 versus 210 hp) and 29 lb.-ft. of torque (202 versus 231). Nissan may have been concerned with maintaining its excellent reputation for reliability, because power increases of 30 to 40 percent or even more are not uncommon with the addition of a supercharger (depending on boost level and type of unit). Yet a hopped-up engine may not survive as long with higher cylinder pressures, so we won't second-guess Nissan's judgement on this point.

The supercharger option backs up that look with some real power, even with a conservative approach to the boost level.

We did find a couple items to question, however. We found the foot-operated parking brake a puzzling choice for a vehicle with a manual transmission. On a steep hill you may have to do a quick two-step to keep from rolling backwards. We also found the gauge layout to be a bit unusual, at least compared with those we've seen on other Nissan models. The instruments are not as easy to read or as intuitive, and take a bit more time to get used to.


On the plus side of the balance sheet, the ride of the Frontier is definitely smoother than other pickups we've driven in this size range. We put in a lot of highway miles, and also later drove a 4X4 model in rugged off-road conditions, and the chassis handled both types of terrain with equal ease. The suspension is both supple and competent in a wide variety of conditions, be it on a cross-country cruise or a backcountry excursion. At highway speeds, the engine seems to rev a bit high, even in Fifth gear, but the noise level is acceptable. Expect about 19 mpg on the freeway and 15 mpg on the street.