The 4.0-liter engine used in the Nissan Frontier is the VQ40DE V6, a member of Nissan's VQ engine family.
Officially designated as the VQ40DE, this 4.0-liter V6 is designed for smooth power delivery and durable performance. In Frontier models from the mid-2000s through the early 2010s, it produced roughly 261–265 horsepower and about 280–284 lb-ft of torque, with output varying by model year and market. The VQ40DE is part of Nissan's broader VQ family of engines, prized for refinement and reliability in trucks and crossovers of the era.
Designation and context within Nissan’s engine lineup
The VQ40DE identifies a 4.0-liter dual-overhead-cam V6 that uses a 24-valve configuration. It represents one of the larger displacements in the VQ family and was commonly paired with automatic transmissions in Frontier models to deliver strong mid-range torque for daily driving and light towing. Power figures vary slightly by year and tuning, but the core characteristics remain a smooth, capable V6 suited to the Frontier’s needs.
Summary
The Nissan Frontier’s 4.0-liter option is the VQ40DE V6, part of the VQ engine family and known for its balanced performance and reliability in the Frontier generation that used this engine.