Nissan Frontier II (D40) photos

Introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year, the second-generation Nissan Frontier (codenamed D40) remained in production for the North American market until 2021, while also being marketed globally across Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia as the Nissan Navara. Compared to the previous D22 generation, the D40 grew significantly in size, moving from the compact segment into the mid-size pickup category by adopting the rugged boxed-ladder Nissan F-Alpha platform shared with the Pathfinder (R51), Xterra (N50), and the full-size Titan. Body configurations included the extended King Cab and the four-door Crew Cab, paired with either standard or long cargo beds, and available in both rear-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. In North America, the powertrain lineup initially consisted of a 2.5-liter QR25DE inline-four gasoline engine and a potent 4.0-liter VQ40DE V6, paired with 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmissions or a 5-speed automatic; global markets primarily relied on the 2.5-liter YD25DDTi turbodiesel and later an optional 3.0-liter V9X V6 diesel with a 7-speed automatic. Off-road enthusiasts were catered to with the Nismo and later PRO-4X trims, featuring Bilstein off-road shocks, skid plates, and an electronic locking rear differential. A facelift around 2009 refreshed the front fascia, interior controls, and safety electronics. In a rare move for its final 2020–2021 model years in North America, the D40 received the next-generation 3.8-liter direct-injection VQ38DD V6 engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission ahead of the full D41 redesign.