2012 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X: Ready to Rock Your World

The Japanese automotive brands have taken it on the chin lately and dropped some of their market share. Nissan, however, is one Japanese brand that has held up well and actually increased it sales volume.

And with winter coming up, you might need/want a 4x4 truck. Thus, it is a good time to consider what Nissan has to offer as the automaker needs to keep its prices in check (because of the pressure on the Japanese brands) and sell vehicles.

So what does the 2012 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X have to offer?

It is a mid-size crew cab that provides a seat in the back for passengers or item that the driver wants to keep out of the weather. Additionally, it has a body on frame (full frame) design. It is described as having full size truck hardware in a compact package.

The engine is a 4.0-liter V6 providing 261 hp and 281 ft. lb. of torque. The transmission is a six-speed automatic with a switch operated two-speed transfer case and an electronic locking rear differential. Additionally, a five-speed manual transmission is also available.

The brakes are vented discs at all four corners measuring 11.7 inches at the front and 11.3 inches at the back. The truck's 60-0 mph stopping distance is in 128 feet. The tires are 265 75R 16 inch BF Goodrich Rugged Trail. A full size spare tire is located in an underbody tire carrier. This Nissan's ground clearance is 8.9 inches.

The Frontier PRO-X4 has a solid 'ready to work' looking front end. The side profile is modern and strikes a balance between interior room and bed length. The Crew Cab's bed measures 4 feet 7 inches and the King Cab's bed is 6 feet 6 inches. The rear view is crisp and muscular looking.

The interior of the Frontier PRO-4X is equipped with high-grade materials and includes dual reclining highly supportive bucket seats with a six-way adjustable driver and four-way adjustable passenger seat. Furthermore, the rear sear has good leg room and its 60/40 split design folds forward.

And how will the Frontier PRO-4X rock your world? This truck has many standard features!

Standard features on the Frontier PRO-4X include remote control power door locks, vehicle antitheft alarm with engine immobilizer, halogen headlights, cargo box light, front fog lights, child safety locks on the rear doors, locking tailgate, automatic locking hubs, rear locking differential, part-time selectable four-wheel drive, anti lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, 2-speed transfer case, 4-wheel limited active brake limited slip traction control, and vehicle dynamic and stability control.

Standard interior features include power rack and pinion steering, power windows, rear window defroster, air conditioning, rear heat ducts, interior air filter, cruise control, exterior temperature gauge, compass, tire pressure monitoring, steering wheel mounted controls for audio and wireless devices, voice activated controls for Bluetooth and other wireless devices, oil pressure and battery gauges, tachometer, leather steering wheel and shift knob Rockford Fosgate AM/FM radio with eight speakers, six disc CD changer, MP3/WMA Player, Satellite radio, wireless communication access for Bluetooth enabled devices, radio data system, and front auxiliary audio input jack.

Electrical features on this truck include delayed power retention, 550 cold cranking amp battery, drive-by-wire throttle control, two front power outlets, towing pre-wiring, and rear seat power outlet.

Standard exterior components include fuel tank, transfer case and oil pan skid plates, rear step bumper, bed rail caps, and splash guards.

This truck's suspension at the front is independent double wishbones, coil springs, Bilstein gas shock absorbers, and 34 mm stabilizer bar. At the rear the setup includes a live beam with leaf springs, and Bilstein gas shock absorbers.

The Frontier PRO-4X is capable of towing up to 5,600 lbs.

Standard safety features include driver and passenger air bags with dual stage deployment, passenger air bag cut off sensor, seat mounted front air bags, side head curtain air bags located in the roof, roll over sensor, side guard door beams, LATCH, and a first aid kit.

The gas mileage for the Frontier PRO-4X is 17 city and 22 mpg highway.

The MSRP price of the 2012 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X is $29,010, however, a $2,000 cash rebate is available.

The Nissan Frontier PRO-4X is a rugged well equipped mid-size truck. It has responsive handling for day-in and day-out use but going off road and doing heavy work is no problem. It is competitively priced as well as reasonably fuel efficient. It is a truck worth your inspection and serious test drive!

View the slideshow to see the 2012 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X inside and out!

Kyle Busch is the author of "Drive the Best for the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility Vehicle, or Minivan and Save money." He welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site: www.cartown1.com. Follow Kyle on Facebook and Twitter.