Nissan has always had a hard row to hoe. The company produces really great cars, but has long been overshadowed by the likes of Honda and Toyota in the import car market. Yet they’ve been a consistent favorite in the import truck world, where Honda doesn’t compete. Nissan is an enthusiast brand - where those in the know look for performance and value.

2009 Nissan Frontier - Worth A Look

Nissan had a big win in the last few years with the Titan – a full size half-ton truck, and its corollary SUVs, the Pathfinder and Armada. With V8 power and a tough body style, the Titan was the truck of choice for import aficionados and was even sticking Nissan’s hands into the domestic truck market’s lunchbox: the small business truck market. General contractors, plumbers, gardeners, and others really need trucks for work purposes, and they were looking at Nissan and Toyota as well as the big three domestic makers.

But this year, we’ve got a whole new ball game in the truck market. Gas prices have forced every automaker to stop on a dime and figure out how to respond to a public that is suddenly disenchanted with big heavy V8 cars, trucks, and especially SUVs. Statistics across the market are down - mid-size SUV sales have dropped 60% compared to last year, and small SUVs are down 30%.

“To say the market is challenging is a gross understatement. But we think the key is not to panic. There’s a core demand of people who need these trucks for work,” says Nissan’s John Schilling.

Great On-Road or Off

That’s the backdrop for the introduction of Nissan’s 2009 lineup of retail trucks and SUVs. Nissan offers two platforms and a selection of truck and SUV bodies on each. On the large size, you have your choice of the Titan and the Pathfinder. The Titan comes in a variety of trim levels with an extended cab and a crew cab design. You trade off a little bed space for the crew cab. You can get any model in 2WD or 4WD.

The engine in the Titan/Pathfinder line is Nissan’s popular 5.6-liter V8, delivering 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. All models in this line use a 5-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is in line with this class of truck at 12/17. Pathfinder buyers also have the option of ordering the SUV with a 4.0-liter DOHC V6 producing 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque.

Useful and Good-Looking

On the smaller side, Nissan offers its proven Frontier and Xterra models. Like the Titan, the Frontier is available in a two-door truck cab or a four-door crew cab version. The basic engine in the Frontier is a 4.0-liter DOHC V6 engine with the same power ratings found in the Pathfinder. In its best form (smallest cab, 2WD), the V6 offers good fuel mileage at 17 city, 21 highway.

Engine options also include a 2.5-liter four cylinder engine. Sadly, the 4-cylinder model is available only on the most basic 2WD Frontier. However, this engine still offers 152 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque on the base Frontier King Cab 4x2 model, so it’s not like it’s a huge power sacrifice to get mileage of  19/23 in the manual transmission versions.

Tough Enough For Anything

On the Frontier/Xterra platform, you can choose between a 5-speed, 6-speed, or automatic transmission, so you’ve really got some options with this chassis.

The Xterra SUV is based on the Frontier platform, and is quite simply one of the most capable off-road SUVs on the market today. The Xterra won the 2006 Northwest SUV of the Year award from the Northwest Automotive Press Associaion, and for good reason. It’s a great deal and the rig comes with every feature you want for serious off-road work. You can get the Xterra with hill descent control, locking rear axle, low range transfer case, and a seriously tough suspension. And you can get it all for about $30,000.

2009 Titan - Full Size Utility

We tested the entire lineup on every kind of surface you can reasonably expect to encounter – on pavement, smooth gravel, and on a punishing off-road course. As expected, the Xterra remains an outstanding small SUV. It just ate up the off-road course and was a joy to drive on the road, too.

The big surprise was the Frontier crew-cab with the Pro-4X option pack. The little truck was spacious, fun, and climbed steep berms like a mountain goat. It’s got all the utility of an SUV and of a pickup, and just felt solid under all conditions.

Rugged V8 Performance

The Titan and Pathfinder are bigger – and in the world of 1/2-ton full size pickups and their related SUVs, they are solid contenders. But compared to their junior siblings, they felt heavier and more ponderous both on-road and off. In the new era, Nissan shoppers are likely to trend towards the smaller Frontier/Xterra line, and I’m happy to report that they won’t be disappointed in what they find.

The bottom line on Nissan’s 2009 lineup is that if you really need a full size truck or a 7-passenger SUV, Nissan has good choices for you. If you’re looking to downsize a bit, you’ve got a wide variety of choices at your Nissan dealer, and that’s good news.