Starting at
Starting at
| 21/26 | Fuel Efficiency | 19/23 |
| 270 HP | Horsepower | 152-261 HP |
| 7,500 LBS | Towing Capacity | 3,800-6,450 LBS |
Looking for the perfect compact pickup truck? Two vehicles that have been commonly compared in this class are the 2019 Ford Ranger vs 2019 Nissan Frontier.
The 2019 Ford Ranger is impressively versatile. It is powerful, efficient, advanced, and safe, making it one of the strongest competitors in its class. With a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 lbs and horsepower ratings of up to 270 hp, the Ranger is capable of handling tough projects with ease. Meanwhile, drivers can also enjoy an upscale interior packed with standard and available entertainment features.
The 2019 Nissan Frontier has not received a major update in almost 15 years, making it outdated in a number of ways. The Frontier offers underwhelming power and lacks efficiency, while also lacking several of the most common entertainment and safety features. However, the Frontier is suitable for off-roading and offers a unique and distinctive style.
Overall, the 2019 Ford Ranger and 2019 Nissan Frontier are entirely different vehicles. Determining which truck is right for you will come down to your personal preferences, needs, and budget. To learn more about these vehicles, check out how they compare in the categories of performance, entertainment, and safety.
In the category of performance, the 2019 Ford Ranger is superior to the 2019 Nissan Frontier in nearly every way. The Ranger is more powerful, efficient, and even offers better handling and a more comfortable ride. The Ranger also offers a much higher towing capacity than the Frontier, as well as many other competitors.
The 2019 Ford Rangers offers only one engine option, but it is both powerful and efficient. The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.3L 4-cylinder engine capable of producing up to 270 hp and 310 lb-ft torque. This engine also allows for one of the highest maximum towing capacities in the compact pickup truck class at up to 7,500 lbs. Rear-wheel drive comes standard on the Ranger, but four-wheel drive is an available option. The Ranger is also capable of off-roading, thanks to enhanced suspension, off-road tires, crawl control, skid plates, and a terrain select system available through the optional Off-Road package. When it comes to handling, the 2019 Ford Ranger offers tight and responsive steering and easy maneuverability. The ride quality is also excellent, even across tough terrains and bumpy roads. However, one of the best qualities of the Ranger is its excellent fuel efficiency despite its high level of power. The 4-cylinder engine of the Ranger earns up to 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, which drops slightly to 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway when equipped with four-wheel drive. Overall, the new Ranger is versatile and well-rounded in terms of performance, making it the ideal selection for a variety of drivers.
The 2019 Nissan Frontier offers two engine options including a 4-cylinder engine and V6 engine. The base engine lacks power, so you’ll want to invest in the V6 engine if you’re planning on having enough power and capability to tackle the occasional towing and hauling job. The Frontier allows drivers to choose between a 5-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic transmission when opting for the base engine. However, no matter what configuration you choose, the 2019 Nissa Frontier offers below average fuel efficiency. In its standard configuration, the Frontier earns fuel economy ratings of up to 19 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. However, this drops significantly when equipped with the V6 engine and automatic transmission in 4WD to ratings of 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, which are exceptionally low ratings. The 2019 Nissan Frontier offers a lower towing capacity than most in the compact pickup truck class at 6,450 lbs; however, it does offer plenty of options for use as an off-roading vehicle. Still, many competitors in its class offer better performance in nearly every category, especially the 2019 Ford Ranger.
The 2019 Ford Ranger offers a long list of standard and available entertainment features across its many trim levels and packages. The Ranger provides nearly every entertainment feature imaginable for the tech-savvy driver, however the Frontier falls short in comparison. A newly added touchscreen display improves the outdated entertainment suite on the Frontier, but little else is offered to please modern drivers.
2019 Ford Ranger
The 2019 Ford Ranger comes standard with a basic entertainment suite featuring a 4.2-inch display, voice commands, and a WiFi hotspot. However, the Ranger’s available entertainment features are far more impressive and surprisingly affordable. Upon upgrade, drivers can enjoy features like an 8-inch touchscreen display HD radio, navigation, and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The Ford SYNC and SYNC 3 infotainment system are top-rated for their easy-to-understand designs and responsive interfaces. Drivers looking to upgrade to the Ranger’s available entertainment features will be able to do so through its three available trim levels and numerous packages. However, to experience the most premium entertainment suite possible, you’ll want to upgrade to the top level Lariat trim and take advantage of its available options. Overall, the 2019 Ford Ranger offers a generous level of entertainment and connectivity compared to its competitors in the compact pickup truck class. Whether you’re looking for a more practical cabin or an advanced one, you’ll be able to customize the Ranger to suit your needs.
2019 Nissan Frontier
The 2019 Nissan Frontier offers an underwhelming and odd set of entertainment features across its base model and higher trim levels. The Frontier has lacked a complete redesign for 15 years, making for an exceptionally outdated cabin and entertainment suite. However, the Frontier did add a 7-inch touchscreen display to its cabin to replace the 5-inch display of previous model years. But, drivers can only experience the new screen of the base model as it is downgraded to a 5.8-inch screen on higher trim levels. Typically, touchscreen size and quality do increase with higher trim levels, but this is not the case on the Frontier. The smaller screen lacks touchscreen capabilities but does offer navigation and satellite radio. Outside of these features an upgraded sound system is provided, but that’s about all you’ll find even on the highest trim levels. While many drivers and critics note that the interior of the 2019 Nissan Frontier remains outdated, they do note that physical controls placed throughout the cabin make the display easier to use. However, if you’re looking for a tech-savvy entertainment suite or even just a more modern interior, you’ll certainly want to opt for the 2019 Ford Ranger over the 2019 Nissan Frontier.
Typically the category of safety is a close call between new models. However, when it comes to the 2019 Ford Ranger vs 2019 Nissan Frontier, this is not the case. The Ranger comes standard with impressive safety features and is exceptionally safe and reliable however, safety concerns have been issued by the NHTSA regarding the Frontier which also happens to lack several standard and available safety features.
Drivers investing in the 2019 Ford Ranger will be impressed with what the pickup truck has to offer on its base model, which includes a nice selection of standard driver assist features. Unlike many pickup trucks, which are known for having a smaller selection of safety features compared to other vehicle classes, the 2019 Ford Ranger offers standard features like a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and the MyKey system. Ford’s MyKey technology allows drivers to set audio and speed restrictions in the event of a young or secondary driver will be operating the vehicle. The Ranger also includes plenty of available safety features among its many trim levels and packages, including automatic high beams, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and a driver attention monitor. For any class of vehicle, this is an incredible list of standard and available features, making it one of the best choices on the market in terms of safety.
The 2019 Nissan Frontier is debatably one of the least safe vehicles in the compact pickup truck class. This is due in part to its overall lack of safety features, which include only a standard rearview camera and available parking sensors. The Frontier’s failed performance in the category of safety is also shown by its scores with both the NHTSA and IIHS, which included only a 3-star rating in the side crash test and a 3-star rating for the rollover test when equipped with rear-wheel drive. The NHTSA also issued a warning about the 2019 Nissa Frontier because the driver’s door was able to completely unlatch and open while performing the side crash impact test. The IIHS also issued the Frontier a few low scores, including the second lowest rating of ‘Marginal’ in the small overlap front driver test category.
At Kings Ford in Cincinnati, OH, we are proud to serve as your local Ford dealership. Our dedication to our customers is reflected in our high-quality vehicles, low prices, and excellent customer service. However, you can feel confident that your car-buying experience will also be enhanced by regular specials and incentives, a user-friendly website, flexible financing, and an expert on-site service center. So, when you’re looking for your next vehicle, be sure to stop by Kings Ford!
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
