Nissan Frontier vs Ram Dakota
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2011 Ram Dakota
Overview
| Spec | Nissan FrontierS | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | S | ST |
| Body style | Truck (King Cab) | Truck (Extended Cab) |
| Drivetrain | rear wheel drive | rear wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | 9-speed shiftable automatic | 4-speed automatic |
| Engine type | gas | gas |
| Model year | 2026 | 2011 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Nissan FrontierS | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $32,150 | $23,210 (best) |
| Lowest listing price | $12,998 (best) | — |
| Median listing price | $37,005 (best) | — |
| Highest listing price | $49,492 (best) | — |
| For sale now | 129 (best) | 0 |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Nissan FrontierS | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 21 MPG (best) | 17 MPG |
| City MPG | 19 MPG (best) | 15 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 24 MPG (best) | 20 MPG |
| Fuel tank | 21 gal | 22 gal (best) |
Performance
| Spec | Nissan FrontierS | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 310 hp (best) | 210 hp |
| Torque | 281 lb-ft (best) | 235 lb-ft |
| Engine size | 3.8 L (best) | 3.7 L |
| Cylinders | V6 | V6 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Nissan FrontierS | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Towing capacity | 7,150 lbs | 7,250 lbs (best) |
| Payload | 1,590 lbs | 1,810 lbs (best) |
| Curb weight | 4,385 lbs | 4,200 lbs (best) |
| Ground clearance | — | 7.9 in (best) |
| Wheelbase | 126 in | 131.3 in (best) |
| Length | 210.2 in | 218.5 in (best) |
| Width | 73 in (best) | 71.7 in |
| Height | 71.5 in (best) | 68.6 in |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Nissan FrontierS | Ram DakotaST |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 4 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 3 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 4 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Side crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Rollover | 3 / 5 ★ (best) | — |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | 1 | None reported (best) |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Nissan Frontier | Ram Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S $32,150 MSRP(Currently comparing) | ST $23,210 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | S $33,550 MSRP | ST $27,460 MSRP |
| 3 | S $35,150 MSRP | BigHorn $24,085 MSRP |
| 4 | S $36,550 MSRP | BigHorn $26,780 MSRP |
| 5 | SV $36,190 MSRP | BigHorn $28,335 MSRP |
| 6 | SV $36,690 MSRP | BigHorn $29,730 MSRP |
| 7 | SV $39,490 MSRP | LoneStar $24,085 MSRP |
| 8 | SV $39,990 MSRP | LoneStar $26,780 MSRP |
| 9 | PRO-X $38,570 MSRP | LoneStar $28,335 MSRP |
| 10 | PRO-4X $41,870 MSRP | LoneStar $29,730 MSRP |
| 11 | PRO-4X $42,370 MSRP | ST Fleet $25,760 MSRP |
| 12 | — | ST Fleet $28,710 MSRP |
| 13 | — | Laramie $30,635 MSRP |
| 14 | — | Laramie $33,635 MSRP |
| 15 | — | TRX Fleet $31,820 MSRP |
Live inventory
Nissan Frontier129 for sale
See all
Used2023 Nissan Frontier
SV
Glacier White•Charcoal45,326 mi$33,686Tadd Jenkins Auto Sales Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls, ID
Used2023 Nissan Frontier
PRO-4X
Green Metallic•Steel22,721 mi$34,099Jim Coleman Nissan Bethesda
Bethesda, MD
New2026 Nissan Frontier
SV
Glacier White•Charcoal6 mi$38,159College Station Nissan
College Station, TX
New2026 Nissan Frontier
SV
Glacier White•Charcoal3 mi$36,994College Station Nissan
College Station, TX
New2026 Nissan Frontier
PRO-4X
Boulder Gray Pearl•Steel105 mi$42,511College Station Nissan
College Station, TX
New2026 Nissan Frontier
SV
Glacier White•Charcoal6 mi$37,495College Station Nissan
College Station, TX
Nissan Frontier vs Ram Dakota FAQ
- Which is better: 2026 Nissan Frontier or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 Nissan Frontier vs 2011 Ram Dakota on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2026 Nissan Frontier or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2011 Ram Dakota starts lower at $23,210. Live Nissan Frontier listings start at $12,998.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 Nissan Frontier or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- The 2011 Ram Dakota leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (23,210).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 Nissan Frontier or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- The 2026 Nissan Frontier leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (21).
- Which has better horsepower: 2026 Nissan Frontier or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- The 2026 Nissan Frontier leads on horsepower in this comparison (310).
- Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2026 Nissan Frontier or 2011 Ram Dakota?
- The 2011 Ram Dakota leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (7,250).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 Nissan Frontier vs 2011 Ram Dakota?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Nissan Frontier (4/5 NHTSA overall).