Nissan Frontier Engine: 3.8L V6 Specs, Power and Towing
The Nissan Frontier engine is Nissan's 3.8L V6, the VQ38, and every 2026 Frontier has it. It pairs with a 9-speed automatic
and runs on regular unleaded fuel.
Because every version shares the engine, what changes from one Frontier to the next is the cab, the grade, the bed and the
drivetrain. A 4x2 keeps the best EPA ratings and the highest towing rating. A 4x4 adds part-time four-wheel drive with a
two-speed transfer case, for the years when Central Indiana gets a snowy winter.
At a Glance
These are the key numbers for the 3.8L V6 in the 2026 Frontier, along with the truck's best towing and EPA ratings.
Engine detail
2026 Frontier
Engine code
VQ38
Layout
V6, longitudinally mounted
Output
310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque
Transmission
9-speed automatic
Drive
Rear-wheel drive (4x2) or part-time four-wheel drive (4x4)
Fuel
Regular unleaded
Maximum towing
7,150 lb (King Cab S 4x2)
Best EPA rating
19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg (4x2)
2026 Frontier 3.8L V6 Full Engine Specifications
The 2026 Frontier's 3.8L V6 is built to these specifications, down to the oil and coolant it holds.
Specification
2026 Frontier 3.8L V6
Engine code and family
VQ38, Nissan VQ family
Type
V6, 6 cylinders
Displacement
3.8 liters
Mounting
Longitudinal
Horsepower
310 hp at 6,400 rpm
Torque
281 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm
Turbocharger
None (naturally aspirated)
Fuel system
Direct injection
Valvetrain
Dual overhead camshafts, 24 valves, continuous variable valve timing and Variable Valve Event and Lift
Engine block and cylinder heads
Aluminum
Bore x stroke
95.5 x 88.4 mm
Compression ratio
11.0:1
Maximum engine speed
6,600 rpm
Spark plugs
Platinum-tipped
Idle Stop/Start
Standard
Fuel
Regular unleaded
Exhaust
Single exit, stainless steel
Alternator
185 amp
Engine oil capacity
5.3 qt
Coolant capacity
12.7 qt
Transmission
9-speed automatic
How the Frontier's 3.8L V6 Puts Power to the Road
The 2026 Frontier's 4x2 and 4x4 versions share the same gearing, and 4x4 models add a two-speed transfer case with a low
range.
Gear or range (2026 Frontier)
Ratio
Applies to
1st gear
5.425
Every Frontier
2nd gear
3.263
Every Frontier
3rd gear
2.250
Every Frontier
4th gear
1.649
Every Frontier
5th gear
1.221
Every Frontier
6th gear
1.000
Every Frontier
7th gear
0.862
Every Frontier
8th gear
0.713
Every Frontier
9th gear
0.597
Every Frontier
Reverse
4.799
Every Frontier
Final drive
3.692
Every Frontier
Transfer case high range (4H)
1.00
4x4 models
Transfer case low range (4L)
2.717
4x4 models
Crawl ratio
54.42:1
4x4 models
The crawl ratio is first gear, the final drive and low range multiplied together. The higher it is, the more slowly a
truck can creep along in 4L.
The 3.8L V6 is naturally aspirated, with no turbocharger, and it makes its best power high in the rev range. Peak torque
comes in the middle of that range, and peak horsepower arrives near the top, just under the V6's maximum engine speed.
Seventh, eighth and ninth are overdrive gears, which let the engine turn more slowly at highway speed. Idle Stop/Start
can shut the engine off while you wait at a light.
4x2 and 4x4 Hardware on the 2026 Frontier
The drivetrain hardware on a 2026 Frontier depends on whether it's a 4x2 or a 4x4 and, for a few items, on its grade.
Drivetrain hardware (2026 Frontier)
4x2
4x4
Drive system
Rear-wheel drive
Part-time four-wheel drive with a 2-speed, switch-operated transfer case
Active Brake Limited Slip
Standard
Standard
Electronic locking rear differential
-
PRO-4X
Hill Start Assist
Standard
Standard
Hill Descent Control
-
Standard
Drive mode selector (new for 2026)
-
SV 4x4 and PRO-4X
Which 2026 Frontier Versions Use the 3.8L V6
Every 2026 Frontier uses the 3.8L V6, from the King Cab S to the Crew Cab PRO-4X. The cab and grade you pick decide the
drivetrains and bed lengths on offer:
King Cab S: a 6-ft bed, in 4x2 or 4x4
Crew Cab S: a 5-ft bed, in either drivetrain
Crew Cab SV: 4x2 or 4x4, with a choice of 5-ft or 6-ft bed
The 2026 Frontier's EPA fuel economy ratings fall into three groups by drivetrain and grade.
2026 Frontier configuration
City mpg
Highway mpg
Combined mpg
4x2: King Cab S, Crew Cab S, SV and PRO-X
19
24
21
4x4: King Cab S, Crew Cab S and SV
17
21
19
PRO-4X (4x4)
16
20
18
Actual mileage may vary with driving conditions. Use for comparison only.
More than seven in ten Marion County workers drive to work alone, and the county's average commute is just under 25
minutes. If your Frontier will double as your daily driver, weigh the 4x2's higher ratings against what a 4x4 adds.
We're on Shadeland Avenue on the east side of Indianapolis, with connections to I-70 and I-465. When you
request a test drive, you can ask to
try the 9-speed on the interstate as well as on city streets.
2026 Frontier Towing and Payload by Configuration
Towing ratings for the 2026 Frontier change with the cab, grade and drivetrain, and on the SV with the bed length.
2026 Frontier configuration
Maximum towing
King Cab S 4x2
7,150 lb
King Cab S 4x4
7,000 lb
Crew Cab S 4x4
6,960 lb
Crew Cab SV 4x2, 5-ft bed
7,000 lb
Crew Cab SV 4x2, 6-ft bed
6,920 lb
Crew Cab SV 4x4, 5-ft bed
6,880 lb
Crew Cab SV 4x4, 6-ft bed
6,760 lb
Towing varies by configuration. 7,150 lb. trailering rating for Frontier S King Cab 4x2. See Nissan Towing Guide and
Owner's Manual for additional information. Always secure cargo.
Payload is the most a 2026 Frontier can carry in its cab and bed, and each configuration has its own maximum.
2026 Frontier configuration
Maximum payload
King Cab S 4x2
1,590 lb
King Cab S 4x4
1,430 lb
Crew Cab S 4x4
1,330 lb
Crew Cab SV 4x2, 5-ft bed
1,480 lb
Crew Cab SV 4x2, 6-ft bed
1,400 lb
Crew Cab SV 4x4, 5-ft bed
1,310 lb
Crew Cab SV 4x4, 6-ft bed
1,200 lb
Crew Cab PRO-X 4x2
1,430 lb
Crew Cab PRO-4X 4x4, 5-ft bed
1,220 lb
For the towing rating of a Crew Cab S 4x2, PRO-X or PRO-4X, or the payload of a Crew Cab S 4x2,
ask our team a question.
The 2026 Frontier also carries two weight ratings that matter when you load the bed or hook up a trailer, and both are
the same on every configuration.
2026 Frontier weight rating
Rating
Gross combined weight rating (the truck, its load and a trailer together)
11,960 lb
Gross vehicle weight rating (the truck with its passengers and cargo)
6,012 lb
Trailer Sway Control is standard on the 2026 Frontier's SV and PRO grades. Tow/Haul mode is standard on the SV with the
6-ft bed, the PRO-X and the PRO-4X, and the SV Convenience Package adds it to other SV models. A hitch with a wiring
harness comes in the SV and PRO Convenience Packages.
Driver-assist and safety features have limitations which affect how they function in certain situations. The driver must
never rely exclusively on any vehicle feature to warn about, prevent, or lessen the severity of a collision. It is the
driver's responsibility to always be in control, monitor the surroundings, and safely operate the vehicle. Read your
vehicle's Owner's Manual for further information.
4x2 or 4x4 for Central Indiana Driving
Snowfall here in Central Indiana swings widely from one winter to the next. That makes a 4x4 Frontier a choice for the
snowy years, not a must for every buyer. Choose a 4x4 if you want four-wheel drive ready for the winters that bring real
snow. Choose a 4x2 if fuel economy and towing matter more to you than winter traction. Either way, Active Brake Limited
Slip comes on every Frontier grade.
Owning a Frontier With the 3.8L V6
Nissan's powertrain warranty covers the 3.8L V6, and the 2026 Frontier carries other Nissan coverage too.
Every 2026 Nissan Frontier uses Nissan's 3.8L V6, the VQ38, with a 9-speed automatic transmission. It's the only
engine in the 2026 lineup, from a King Cab S to a Crew Cab PRO-4X. To compare the grades,
read more about the 2026 Frontier.
The 3.8L V6 makes 310 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 281 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm in every 2026 Frontier. A
9-speed automatic sends that power to the rear wheels on 4x2 models and through a part-time four-wheel-drive
system on 4x4 models.
The 2026 Frontier's highest towing rating is 7,150 pounds, on a King Cab S 4x2. Its best EPA ratings are 19 mpg
city, 24 highway and 21 combined, on 4x2 models. The 4x4 versions rate lower for fuel economy, and each
configuration carries its own towing rating.
All of them. The 2026 King Cab S, Crew Cab S and Crew Cab SV come in 4x2 or 4x4, the PRO-X is 4x2 and the PRO-4X
is 4x4, and every one uses the 3.8L V6. When you're ready to shop,
view our new Nissan inventory.
No. The 3.8L V6 in every 2026 Frontier is naturally aspirated, so there's no turbocharger.
Every 2026 Frontier's 3.8L V6 takes regular unleaded fuel.
The engine falls under Nissan's powertrain warranty, which runs 60 months or 60,000 miles on the 2026 Frontier.
The truck also carries a 36-month/36,000-mile basic warranty, corrosion perforation coverage for 60 months with
unlimited miles, and roadside assistance for 36 months or 36,000 miles. For what each one includes,
ask our team a question.
We can tell you how the engine is built and how Nissan backs it. The 3.8L V6 is naturally aspirated, with direct
injection and an aluminum block and heads, and Nissan's powertrain warranty covers it for 60 months or 60,000
miles. For questions about owning and maintaining one,
learn about our service department.
