The 2026 Nissan Frontier gets 18 to 21 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Frontier 2WD at 21 mpg.
In the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for 2026, the Frontier ranks 9th (tied with 3 others) of 12 for combined mileage (19 mpg), 7th (tied with 4 others) of 12 for yearly fuel cost ($3,300 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 12th of 12 for tailpipe CO2 (479 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 21 mpg, costs $3,200 a year and puts out 433.5 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 167 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Frontier's best version, 15 other models get the same and 52 get less. The 2026 Frontier's cheapest version costs $2,950 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 122 cost less, 7 the same and 96 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 2026 Chevrolet Colorado | 2026 Colorado 4WD | 19 | $3,300 | 462 |
| 9 | 2026 GMC Canyon | 2026 Canyon 4WD | 19 | $3,300 | 462 |
| 9 | 2026 Jeep Gladiator | 2026 Gladiator 4WD | 19 | $3,300 | 469 |
| 9 | 2026 Nissan FrontierThis car | 2026 Frontier 4WD | 19 | $3,300 | 479 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Frontier 2WD, 6-cyl 3.8 L: 19 mpg city, 24 highway, 21 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Frontier version is $2,950 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
Both cost the same to fuel.
Over 5 years both cost the same to fuel at these miles and these prices.
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Frontier (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Frontier | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Chevrolet Colorado | 2026 Colorado 4WD | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 2 lower | $350 more a year | Compare |
| 2026 GMC Canyon | 2026 Canyon 4WD | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 2 lower | $350 more a year | - |
| 2026 Jeep Gladiator | 2026 Gladiator 4WD | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 2 lower | $350 more a year | Compare |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Frontier 2WD | 6-cyl 3.8 L | Automatic (S9) | Rear-wheel | 19 | 24 | 21 | $2,950 | 423 | cheapest |
| 2026 Frontier 4WD | 6-cyl 3.8 L | Automatic (S9) | Part-time 4-wheel | 17 | 21 | 19 | $3,300 | 479 | +$350 |
| 2026 Frontier 4WD PRO4X | 6-cyl 3.8 L | Automatic (S9) | Part-time 4-wheel | 16 | 20 | 18 | $3,450 | 504 | +$500 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Frontier; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Frontier 2WD puts out 423 grams per mile; across the 3 tested versions the figure runs from 423 to 504.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Frontier 2WD: fuel economy score 4 (3 to 4 across versions), greenhouse gas score 4 (3 to 4 across versions).
Best combined figure of the Frontier gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 21 mpg | 6 | same as 2026 | |
| 2017 | 21 mpg | 8 | same as 2026 | |
| 2018 | 21 mpg | 8 | same as 2026 | |
| 2019 | 21 mpg | 8 | same as 2026 | |
| 2020 | 20 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 20 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 20 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 21 mpg | 6 | same as 2026 | |
| 2024 | 21 mpg | 3 | same as 2026 | |
| 2025 | 21 mpg | 3 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 21 mpg | 3 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 3 versions were tested then and 3 now; the best figure went from 21 to 21 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Frontier 2WD, 6-cyl 3.8 L | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Frontier 4WD, 6-cyl 3.8 L | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Frontier 4WD PRO4X, 6-cyl 3.8 L | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | no change |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB PU/CC N/A 4WD | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| 2026 NISSAN FRONTIER KING CAB PU/EC N/A 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | 3 of 5 |
The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 11 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: FRONTIER CREW CAB, FRONTIER KING CAB.
11 complaints for the 2026 Nissan Frontier are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 | |
| Structure | 2 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 | |
| Electrical System | 1 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 |
0 of the 11 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 0 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: FRONTIER CREW CAB, FRONTIER KING CAB.
1 recall is on file for the 2026 Nissan Frontier at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: FRONTIER CREW CAB, FRONTIER KING CAB.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving.
Fix: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Frontier itself is at 19 mpg.
More Nissan models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 Frontier 2WD with 21 mpg combined (19 city, 24 highway).
The 2026 Nissan Frontier costs between $2,950 and $3,450 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Frontier 2WD at $2,950; the dearest is the 2026 Frontier 4WD PRO4X at $3,450. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2026 Frontier 4WD: 19 mpg combined (17 city, 21 highway); 2026 Frontier 4WD PRO4X: 18 mpg combined (16 city, 20 highway).
The 2026 Nissan Frontier is 9th of 12 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado at 24 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 21 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Jeep Gladiator at 19 mpg.
The 2025 model had 3 tested versions and the 2026 model has 3. The best figure went from 21 to 21 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB PU/CC N/A 4WD: overall 4 of 5, front 3, side 5, rollover 3; 2026 NISSAN FRONTIER KING CAB PU/EC N/A 4WD: rollover 3. The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
11 complaints for the 2026 Nissan Frontier are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Power Train (3 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 1 recall for the 2026 Nissan Frontier (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Nissan Frontier: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Nissan Frontier: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Nissan Frontier: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Nissan Frontier: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Nissan Frontier: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.