carivo.co
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Truck |
| Base Price | $18,425–$24,412 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2013 Nissan Frontier is a truck that earns a Carivo score of 6.6/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 7.4/10, while Technology at 5.8/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional truck — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 6.3/10 for reliability, this truck trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 7.4/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Performance at 6.6/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. Technology scores 5.8/10 — the infotainment and driver-assist features feel dated against current-generation rivals. This is worth weighing if you prioritize connected features or modern safety tech.
Priced from $18,425–$24,412, 10 MPG, seating 5, the Nissan Frontier sits in the budget-friendly tier of the truck market. The value score of 6.6/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 13 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2013 Nissan Frontier sits in the middle of the field. Until its value and performance and reliability and technology scores improve, stronger options exist at this price. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2013 Nissan Frontier ranks #506 of 515 trucks in the Carivo database — better than 2% of the segment. Its 6.6/10 overall score is 0.8 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $18,425 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $35,138 by about 48%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Truck ranking → · Best Trucks under $25k →
Across the Frontier model years we've scored, the 2013 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.6/10 | $32,846 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.6/10 | $32,846 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.6/10 | $31,890 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.4/10 | $30,933 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.5/10 | $29,976 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.2/10 | $29,019 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.2/10 | $28,063 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.2/10 | $27,106 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.2/10 | $26,149 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.1/10 | $25,193 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.1/10 | $24,236 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.1/10 | $23,279 | Read review → |
The following recall campaign has been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Electrical system / Wiring / Fuses and circuit breakers 12/02/2014 · 14V052000 | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing… |
|---|
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
We rate the 2013 Nissan Frontier's reliability 6.3/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 1 NHTSA recall campaign on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
1 NHTSA recall campaign matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 6.6/10 overall, ranking #506 of 515 trucks in our database (better than 2% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2013 Nissan Frontier starts at $18,425 and ranges up to $24,412 across trims (MSRP when new). At 10 MPG, expect roughly $5,250/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Other trucks at a similar price point, ranked by Carivo score.
Explore the full lineup of Nissan models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.
