Nissan Frontier MPG by year — every rating on record

The Nissan Frontier has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 29 model years, from 1998 to 2026. Across those years its best rated version returned 22 mpg (1998) and its thirstiest returned 16 mpg (2008). The EPA record holds 117 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD / Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Nissan Frontier placed highest in 1998 at #1 of 11, and lowest in 2026 at #11 of 16. It spent 14 of its 29 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 117 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 5 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Frontier fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2026 Nissan Frontier burns 548 to 605 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

EPA’s own estimate for the 2026 model year is $2,950 to $3,300 a year in fuel, or $3,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Small Pickup Trucks 2WD

Across the 27 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Pickup Trucks 2WD, the median best combined rating is 23 mpg. At 21 mpg the Nissan Frontier is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $167 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

• All Small Pickup Trucks 2WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.

Other Nissan nameplates

Every Nissan model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.