Platform limitations wheelbase, suspension and front doors all had to remain the same as the extended-cab Frontier 4x4 pickup mandated compromises that limit both practicality and utility. But Nissan's betting there are lots of folks who will find the reduced-capacity cargo bed plenty big enough for their needs. Likewise the short rear doors and tight rear leg room. While full-size humans have to perform an awkward origami dance to enter and exit the back seat, agile young'uns will clamber up and in to find adequate room and a pretty comfortable bench seat. Up front, the Crew Cab is standard-issue Frontier.
Bucket seats are large and supportive, if a tad too close to the floor.
The dash is simple and straightforward, as are all the controls. Power is adequate, if not exhilarating, and a run into the upper reaches of the rpm range generates a fair amount of moan and groan. Our tester's five-speed manual transmission shifted smoothly, abetted by a slick clutch. The gear lever is unusually long, but it slips from gear to gear precisely. Four-wheel drive is engaged via a short, secondary lever on the center console.