Some say real off-roaders only drive 4x4 vehicles. We've got news for them. Professional off-road racers -- from the Baja 1000 to the CORR Pro-Lite series -- prefer kicking up dust clouds in light, agile 4x2's. And you don't get any more real than that.

So if you want the look and attitude of a 4x4, with the economy of a 4x2, go with the pros. Available in rugged XE or sportier SE models, the Nissan Frontier Desert Runner offers the same stance, ride height, ground clearance and heavy duty chassis as the Frontier King Cab 4x4, but with lower weight, price and operating costs.

Body

• Double-wall bed with inner bed hooks, vertical and horizontal partition loading and removable tailgate
• Large 4x4-style fender flares
• Special Desert Runner badging

Engine & Driveline

• 3.3-liter SOHC V6 engine generating 170 horses and 200 ft-lbs of torque
• 5-speed manual or 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission
• Up to 5,000-lb towing capacity on automatic transmission models

Suspension, Steering & Braking

• Double wishbone front suspension with stabilizer bars front and rear
• Power-assisted recirculating ball steering
• Power front disc and rear drum brakes with standard 4-channel/4-sensor, 4-wheel Antilock Braking System (ABS)
• Standard 15-inch styled steel wheels with P235/70R15 tires or optional alloy wheels with beefy P265/70R15 tires on XE models
• All-new design 16-inch alloy wheels with 255/65R16 tires standard on SE models
• Heavy duty engine and fuel tank skid plates
• Full size spare tire

Interior

• Cloth bucket seats (special cloth on SE models)
• Large center console with armrest and storage compartment with two front and two rear cupholders
• Standard AM/FM/CD on SE
• Deluxe (XE) and Premium (SE) Audio Systems optional
• Available sunroof on SE

Safety & Security

• Second Generation dual front supplemental air bags with passenger-side on-off switch (Always wear your seatbelt. Children under 12 should be in the rear seats properly restrained.)
• Front seat belt pretensioners
• Pipe-style steel side-door guard beams