Oh no, the 2025 Nissan Frontier needs to turn things around. It just dropped to last place, falling behind the Jeep Gladiator. But it’s a stout work truck with plenty of standard power, so why do some critics consider it to be the worst truck? 

Why does the 2025 Nissan Frontier rank in last place? 

According to Car and Driver, the 2025 Nissan Frontier is the worst mid-size truck you can buy. It ranked it in last place on its list of the best mid-size trucks for 2025. 

The Frontier landed in tenth place with a score of 7.5 out of 10, which is still a good score. It came behind the Ineo Grenadier in ninth place and the Jeep Gladiator in eighth place with a score of 8.0. 

On the other end of the spectrum, the Toyota Tacoma is in first place with a score of 9.5. The Toyota Tacoma Hybrid came in second place with a score of 9.5. Then the Ford Ranger came in third place with a 9.0. 

A few reasons why the Frontier received a low ranking are because it has some plasticky materials, the rear seat is tight, and it has a lower tow rating than its rivals. 

The 2025 Frontier can tow up to 7,150 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,667 lbs. When properly equipped, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,500 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,700. Also, the Jeep Gladiator can tow up to 7,700 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,725 lbs. 

As far as small back seats go, the Tacoma and Ranger don’t have much of an advantage. However, the Gladiator and Honda Ridgeline have the most passenger space in the class. 

Plus, the Frontier has a standard 3.8-liter V6 engine with 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. The Frontier is smooth and fun to drive. Also, the Frontier is often praised for being extremely comfortable. 

When I reviewed the Frontier, my biggest issues were outward visibility over the bulking hood and dated tech. However, the tech has since been updated. I think the 2025 Nissan Frontier got swindled with this ranking.

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