Bullish: 2009 Nissan Trucks
One might wonder if carmakers everywhere are running—not walking—away from the truck market. With consumer confidence running low and gas prices staying high, excess inventories of unsold trucks/SUVs have dealers everywhere concerned. So what’s Nissan’s response? Surprisingly bullish. At the latest ’09 full-line truck rollout, company officials said the key to surviving and thriving was to offer a different mix of fuel-efficient and value-packed vehicles.
Starting with the Frontier pickup, the ’09 model offers a new grille, front fascia and headlights, along with two new packages: crew cab LE and a crew cab PRO-4X model. I drove the latter on an off-road course Nissan had set up and was suitably impressed at how well the 4.0-liter V6 handled every obstacle. And while the V6 leads the mid-size pickup segment in both payload and towing, for ’09 a QR25DE-equipped Frontier joins the line to offer a more fuel-efficient option. The PRO-4X model takes the place of the NISMO Frontier model and includes a new instrument pod, HVAC controls and white-faced gauges. There’s also specially tuned Bilstein shocks, additional skid plates, and electronic rear diff locker with limited slip capabilities for the PRO-4X. Other models get new 16” wheels (SE), while LE Frontiers get even bigger 18” rims. Interestingly enough, Frontier sales have either gained, or maintained market share throughout the current life cycle.
Testing the “hill descent” feature on the ’09 Xterra found me precariously perched on a steep drop. With the rugged SUV in 4LO AWD mode, hitting a button allowed the sure-footed Xterra to roll down at a well-controlled rate of descent. I could understand the attraction of this particular technology—even as I used the dead pedal to keep myself from sliding forward in my seat! For ’09, Xterra customers also get a revised “face,” with new grille, front fascia and two new colors: navy blue and red brick. The new roof rack has integrated off-road lights with a wet storage area behind it. Inside, the gauge cluster is slightly different, HVAC switches are updated, and new seat fabrics are used to differentiate each model (X, S, SE and Off-Road). Besides standard side-impact curtain airbags, the SE Xterra model gets 17” wheels. Finally, Nissan continues to offer the technology option package (with Rockford Fosgate XM stereo with auxiliary jack, Bluetooth and steering wheel audio controls) as standard equipment on all S, Off-Road and
Having sampled the VK56DE V8 option in the Pathfinder last year, I was interested in trying the VQ40DE V6 in the ’09 model. On the off-road course, it proved more than a match for every ditch, slope and obstacle thrown at it. And while the F-Alpha chassis soaked up every pothole and bump, it was also firm enough for easy highway handling. Nissan is also revising the number and type of option packages with all Pathfinder models. This is an attempt to offer more of what most customers want in packages, while cutting down on the number of models in dealer inventories.
The same is true for the full sized Titan pickup—the ’09 models offer fewer option packages, but are equipped the way most buyers have ordered them in the past. Driving a few highway miles in a Titan PRO-4X crew cab long-bed made me appreciate the strong power and revised interior of the ’08-09 models. One new option for Titan SE and LE models is a heavy metal package that allows chrome lovers everywhere to get their bling on for a relatively affordable price.
In fact, increased value-for-money might be the central theme of the ’09 truck/SUV offerings. With a shrinking market, Nissan is hoping discerning consumers will see more and better features for less money. And while acknowledging it’s not the market it once was, “patience, not panic” is Nissan’s well-reasoned strategy for the coming year.
—David Muramoto
