2025 Nissan Frontier vs 2026 Toyota Tacoma

Equipped with a V6 engine, body-on-frame construction, and competitive towing and payload ratings, the 2025 Frontier gets several improvements that should help it to better compete with newer rivals. All Canadian Frontiers come with more standard safety features and a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Towing capacity is up, more versions offer a long cargo bed option, and Nissan refines the look and feel of its only pickup.

Verdict: Those changes make the 2025 Nissan Frontier more appealing. Not only that, but compared to some alternative models, the Frontier offers more comfortable front seats and a higher sense of quality. A V6 engine such as Nissan’s is increasingly rare, too. But what the Frontier needs is a more compelling value equation.

We’d bet good money that most people who buy a Tacoma TRD Pro — one of the most off-road-capable Tacoma models — won’t use it to blast across the desert with wild abandon. Buyers will probably want to consider a different version of Toyota’s midsize pickup truck, which is available in Canada as a Double Cab with two bed lengths, several powertrain combinations, and multiple packages.

Verdict: The 2026 Tacoma TRD Pro sells a fantasy, not a reality. Given some of the compromises it requires, we think people who want an expensive off-road-ready Tacoma would be happier with the Trailhunter model.