The big news for 2009 is the all-new PRO-4X off-road trim level. It includes goodies like skid pans for the oil pan and transfer case, an electronic rear differential locker, Bilstein shocks, and special machine-finished 16-in. alloy wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Rugged Trail tires. Inside, you get a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob (on the manual transmission models) with red stitching, as well as some chrome accents on the instrument cluster. Add the Value Truck Package to your Crew Cab with PRO-4X, and you pick up heated leather front seats with the red stitching, an eight-way power driver seat and four-way power passenger seat, heated mirrors, and a fold-down center armrest in the back seats. While Crew Cab models get the bed liner, rail caps, and tie-down system standard, the King Cab picks them up when you add the PRO-4X package. All PRO-4X trucks get body-colored grilles, bumpers, mirrors, and door handles as well as foglamps, cruise control, power everything, and remote keyless entry.

While its features have improved over the years, its looks are still hanging around the starting gate. The 2009 Frontier is easily recognizeable thanks to this, though Nissan claims to have redesigned the front fascia, even if it was done with an X-acto knife instead of a sledge hammer. If you think it looks like it's trying really hard to look like its big brother, the Titan, that's because it is. Nissan freely admits the Frontier is trying to emulate many of the Titan's styling features. Little brother does get new shoes, though. LE models pick up optional 18-in. alloys, while the SE models get new 16-in. alloys. New for 2009 are two new paint options, Red Brick and Navy Blue.

Back in the business end, things are pretty much the same. Nissan has been carrying over the same array of bed features for years now. The Crew Cab SE and LE models still come with an optional Long Bed for King Cab-size bed space. All models can get the optional utility bed with sprayed-in liner and Utili-Track cargo tie-down system, which features two channels on the rails and two in the bed where tie-down cleats can be attached. Extra options for the Utili-Track system include bed dividers, sliding cargo trays and modular storage units.

Inside, it's again more of the same for the Frontier. All models have four doors, with the King Cabs sporting rear-opening clamshell doors and the Crew Cabs getting four regular doors. The King Cab has flip-up rear seats for extra storage space, and both cabs get removable storage boxes under the rear seats. Other features of note include multiple power points and 1L bottle storage in the front doors for those extra long trips. Interior options include a leather package, moonroof (Crew Cab only), iPod interface, floormats, and a portable navigation system.

Keeping your on- and off-road adventures safe are standard front airbags and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Side curtain airbags for front and rear seat passengers are option, as well as a standard shoulder belt for the middle rear seat passenger on the Crew Cab and child seat anchor points, also on the Crew Cab.

The Frontier rides on a shortened Titan ladder frame made from high tensile-strength steel. Up front, it copies the Titan's double-wishbone independent suspension, and out back, it rides on a regular solid axle with leaf springs. Motivating the Frontier is the same 4.0L DOHC V-6 with Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control derived from the 3.5L engine found in many Nissan cars. It puts down 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque, up 11 hp and 11 lb-ft since the last model we tested in 2005. It even gets a respectable 17 mpg city/21 mpg highway, though it's in the 2WD King Cab model. If that's more than you need, the King Cab XE and SE models are available with a 2.5L DOHC inline-four-cylinder engine producing 152 hp and 171 lb-ft and mated to either a five-speed manual (XE) or five-speed automatic (SE) transmission, and the fours only get 2WD. Step up to the King Cab SE, LE or PRO-4X V6 models and you can get 4WD, a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. Crew Cab models in SE, SE and PRO-4X all get V-6s and a choice of 2 or 4WD. Only the SE gets a six-speed manual option, the other two are automatics only.

Once you're off-road in the 4WD models, Nissan has a host of goodies to help you tame the great outdoors. Nissan's shift-on-the-fly 4WD saves you from having to get out and lock the hubs thanks to an electronically controlled part-time transfer case. Optional two or four-wheel limited slip helps keep power going where it's needed most. An available Hill Descent system works in forward and reverse gears when the truck is in 4WD and helps you stay in control on steep inclines. Also available is a Hill Start Assist that allows you to release the brake pedal without any roll-back for 2 sec while you get your foot to the gas pedal for a nice, smooth start up a tough hill. Hill Start and Descent are part of a Traction Package and only available with the automatic transmission. Every Frontier gets four-wheel disc brakes and V-6s get a maximum 6500-lb towing capacity.

If you liked the Frontier 10 years ago, you'll like it today. It's picked up a few new tricks thanks to modern automotive technology, but the Frontier is still the same workhorse it's always been. Its face may be showing its age, but this truck's still got plenty of fight in it.