Max Tow Capacity: TBD Wheelbase: 116.1" Standard Brakes: 4-wheel antilock, front disc/rear drum Fuel Economy: TBD Max Payload: TBD Final Gear Ratio: TBD Price Range: TBD Powertrain Warranty: 5 year/60,000 mile Engine: 210-hp, 3.3L SOHC V6 Supercharger Special Features: Dual front supplemental air bags, tailgate lock, child seat anchor, air conditioning, privacy glass on rear door windows and back glass, 100-watt radio/CD stereo, heavy-duty skid plates.

SUVs may be getting all the press these days, but for a lot of people, the best tow vehicle is still the one with an open bed in the back. The tried and true pickup has been towing boats since day one, it seems, and a pickup still does a great job. The Nissan Frontier Crew Cab, introduced in 2000, has received a substantial reworking for 2001. Most notable is the newly available supercharged 3.3L, 12-valve V6 SOHC that delivers an estimated 210 hp and 240 pounds-per-foot of torque. The new, more powerful engine option has been matched by the Frontier's new exterior, with body lines that are much more dramatic.

An in-dash six-CD changer is available for the first time, so you can drive to a lake in the next state without having to fumble around looking for which CD you want to hear next.

What really sets the Frontier apart is the four forward-facing doors that make getting in and out of the cab much easier than with two-door or "suicide door" configurations. As with any pickup, the rear seat isn't the roomiest place in the world, but the Frontier does have the capability to accept a child safety seat in the rear, something you won't find in every extended-cab compact pickup.