They reported that the air bags on the Xterra deployed when they put it through some sort of back and forth testing.. The pickup also climbed their "loose hill" test better. Worked better on their stair climb. Picked it's way over the rocks more easily, etc. They both had the V-6.
For the Xterra, they said it would have rated higher if the side air bags hadn't deployed.
They liked the pickup, saying "It's true the Frontier didn't excite us in any large way, but we really couldn't find fault with it either. Overall it is a great choice as a daily driver that sees weekend use...... "
It was the cheapest vehicle to make the top 7, BTW. E
The Nissan front diff will totally grenade, housing and all, if you flog it. You can snap a CV axle on a Tacoma for sure, but that is field repairable with a spare part. No Nissan for me.
