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Ford F-150 Lightning vs Nissan Frontier

2025 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2025 Nissan Frontier — two standard pickup trucks compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Ford F-150 Lightning

2025 Ford F-150 Lightning

Standard Pickup Trucks 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS2 – 1Ford F-150 Lightning wins 2 of 3 categories
Nissan Frontier

2025 Nissan Frontier

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WDAWD/4WD

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The short version

That works out to about $2,150 a year less in fuel for the Ford F-150 Lightning (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Ford F-150 Lightning is the bigger car, about 20 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Ford F-150 Lightning has had fewer recall campaigns (15 vs 26).

The two cars

The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning is a standard pickup truck powered by electricity and 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 230 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 145-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 6,021 lb (EV 4dr Pickup).

The 2025 Nissan Frontier is a standard pickup truck offered with a 3.8L 6-cyl engine and rear-wheel drive and part-time 4-wheel drive. It measures about 224 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 140-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,806 lb (Crew Cab).

Buying used? The 2024 F-150 Lightning and the 2015 Frontier have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2023 F-150 Lightning and the 2022 Frontier.

Basics

Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
EV
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
EV
Engines
3.8L 6-cyl
4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

–
Best combined MPG
21 MPG
–
City / highway MPG (best)
19 city
320 mi
EV range
–
$1,050
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$3,200

Performance & space

–
Seats (most)
5
229.9 in
Length
210.2 in
79.9 in
Width
72.8 in
75.6 in
Height
71.7 in
6,021 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,550 lb

Safety & reliability

10
Driver-assist features standard
12
3
Recalls (2025)
3
15
Recalls, all years since 2005
26
9
Owner complaints (latest year)
9

Interest

8,207
Wikipedia views, 30 days
8,265

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2015
2023
Year to avoid
2022

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Ford F-150 Lightning if…

  • You want an EV with more range (320 miles)
  • You want more room (20 in longer)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option
  • You put reliability history first (15 vs 26 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Nissan Frontier if…

  • You want something easier to park (20 in shorter)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech

Pros & cons of each

2025 Ford F-150 Lightning

  • Long EV rangeUp to 320 miles on a charge (EPA).
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2025 Nissan Frontier

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning specs →Full 2025 Nissan Frontier specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →