THE 2017 NISSAN FRONTIER is looking to develop a relationship

The 2017 Nissan Frontier. With such a high departure angle, clearing ditches should not be a problem.

IN THE ’90s, Jamaican roads were replete with Nissan pickups, many of which are still on the road. This is the position Nissan hopes to ascend to again with the Frontier.

Now in its third generation, the Frontier has been garnering slow and steady traction with Jamaicans.

From a design perspective, it is heavily influenced by its older sibling, the Patrol, a vehicle that rivals the Toyota Land Cruiser. Looking at the front facia, it is hard to distinguish it from the Patrol outside of the difference in dimensions. The exterior lines are sharp, while the sheet metal has subtle indentations and pronouncements that give the vehicle a bulky and healthy look.

THE MECHANICS

Once the engine is started, the sound makes it obvious it’s a diesel. Luckily for Automotives, our trim level was turboed. This allowed the 2.5-litre engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, to perform a bit faster.

Round-town driving is never a good place to test a pickup, so we headed for the hills, on a road I had been recently told about. It’s a pathway to Holywell through Norbrook, which very few persons have tackled – and for good reasons. Half of the journey is smooth, and the other half consists of rocks, dirt, and mud.

In a bid to give the vehicle flexibility and comfort, Nissan opted to use a multi-link