Driving across Colorado is exhilarating and unpredictable. Sudden storms, two-mile high mountains, and winding roads with sheer cliffs for guard rails will challenge any vehicle. With an elk tag in my pocket, I was delighted to test drive the new 2016 Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab 4WD Automatic V6 on a side trip through the Rocky Mountain National Park. Often this jewel of the Eastern Slope is closed in mid-October, yet a lack of snow allowed us to get a God’s-eye view of the Rocky Mountain State and cruise through the tundra above the timber line.
The cab of the new Frontier felt like an old friend, since I own a 2013 model and drive it on and off road every day. This newer version had many of the nuts-and-bolts amenities that persuaded me to purchase a Frontier such as Shift-on-the-fly 4WD, a two-speed transfer case with 4hi and 4lo, 16-inch rally wheels, and rugged 16-inch all-terrain tires.
The 2016 offers a mix of comfort, power, and utility with a 261-horsepower engine which handled the steep climbs in the park with ease despite my two large passengers plus gear. The eight-way adjustable driver seat with lumbar support makes extended travel a breeze, while the leather adds comfort and good looks to the mix.
The electronics of the new model were impressive, including voice recognition for audio and navigation. On-board communications include satellite radio, traffic, and travel links so that you always know where you’re going and what lies ahead.
Four hours into our journey, the RMNP lay well in the rear-view mirror on the single lane, dirt road to camp on the horizon. Several miles of steep winding road with zero tolerance for trail deviation lay ahead, and the Frontier proved to be as sure-footed as a seasoned mule with the spirit of a stallion.
For the full list of more than 100 features of the new Frontier, visit nissanusa.com/frontier.
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