Frontier replaced the Nissan Hardbody nameplate in the 1998 model year. All body styles are available in a basic XE trim package. On King Cabs and Crew Cabs you can opt for the sporty and luxurious SE package, which includes air conditioning, six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo, leather wrapped steering steel and shifter knob, color-keyed trim, and much more.
Two new models are new for the 2000 model year, the Crew Cab and the Desert Runner. The Desert Runner is a 2WD King Cab that has the same chassis, ground clearance, and track as a 4WD model. (Both the Desert Runner and Toyota's PreRunner-another 2WD with offroad suspension and stance-take their names and inspiration from specialized 2WD trucks that offroad racers use to pre-run desert races.) XE Desert Runners start at $15,740.
The base Frontier is a 2WD Regular Cab that employs Nissan's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It starts at $11,590, but it's pretty basic. For an extra $549 you can get the Value Truck package that adds air conditioning, chrome bumpers, chrome grille, and an AM/FM/cassette four-speaker stereo. You can add a more extensive $949 Value Truck package to the XE King Cab 4X2 ($13,540). This package adds alloy wheels, sliding rear window, flip-down cargo light, and privacy glass.
Crew Cabs and most King Cabs come with a more powerful 3.3-liter V6. The Crew Cab is available in 2WD and 4WD models. Like the Desert Runner, 2WD Crew Cabs have the look and stance of a 4WD truck. The offroad appearance is enhanced in the Crew Cab SE ($18,590) with 16-inch tires.