The new 2009 Nissan Frontier is looking like a strong contender this year; though previous versions have failed to capture the imagination of the American heartlands, pure economics may help the latest Frontier shift more units than it ever has before. Fuel prices are rising drastically, and small SUV’s are suddenly far more tempting then their larger cousins.

The ‘09 Frontier’s guts remain unchanged for 2009, Nissan simply sat on their hands and watched as fuel prices and green tax breaks made the Frontier a far more attractive vehicle without them having to lift a wrench to its basic mechanisms. This isn’t a bad thing, as the Frontier has always been a decent drive.

Nissan has made various cosmetic changes though: The Frontiers grille, headlights and wheels have all been altered in some way. There are also new trims offered which will help to keep this years Frontier relevant even as driving costs and conditions change dramatically over the course of the year.

Overall, the 2009 Nissan Frontier has always been a decent choice for the driver who needs budget but effective off-road capability. It’s fortunate for the company that economic changes have made the Frontiers position far more profitable than previous years ñ but this will weight against them in their sale of large SUV’s.