The refreshed 2025 Nissan Frontier get a towing upgrade, so we put it on the Ike GauntletTM (the world’s toughest towing test) against a new Ford Ranger Raptor to see how they do pulling a 5,500 lbs trailer up and down this Rocky Mountain highway. Let’s dig in!
Big thanks to our friends at Granger Warranty and Weigh Safe Hitches for making this video possible and safe for everybody.
The Nissan Frontier has been upgraded to tow up to 7,150 lbs for the 2025 model year. It also has the latest powertrain tuning that includes a Tow Mode. Here we have a top of the line Frontier Pro-4X off-road model that is powered by a 3.8L V6 with a rating of 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission.
This Ranger Raptor is part of our long-term test fleet. We purchased it nearly 10 months ago. Since the purchase, we also added a Ford Performance factory tune. This engine is now rated at 455 horsepower and 536 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to the wheels via a 10-speed automatic. This is way more power than any other midsize pickup truck on the market. (We are not considering the Rivian R1T as part of the midsize pickup market, it’s a little bigger in size and much more expensive.)
Both pickup trucks impressed on the Ike GauntletTM. The 2025 Nissan Frontier performed better on the downhill than the 2024 Frontier we tested last year. The new truck’s Tow mode felt a little more aggressive and confident and it showed with fewer brake applications. The Frontier has a naturally-aspirated V6, so the acceleration up the mountain was relatively slow. Still, the truck was able to maintain the 60 MPH speed limit without issues. It had a little power in reserve while climbing this 7-percent grade (8 miles long).
The tuned Ford Ranger Raptor was as impressive as ever. It performed a bit better than before on the way down the mountain. It accelerated up the grade as if it wasn’t even towing anything. The Ranger has an integrated brake controller, 300 lbs more payload than the Frontier, trailer backup assist, and plenty of comfort. The Ranger Raptor does have a significantly lower tow rating than most midsize pickup trucks (it’s 5,510 lbs).
While the Ranger Raptor ($57,000 plus possible markups) is more expensive than the Frontier Pro4X ($51,000 minus incentives), it’s still the benchmark by which all other midsize pickups should be measured.
