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The much-needed overhaul makes Nissan's mid-size truck a better competitor.
In the rough and tumbling decorations seen here, Frontier appears to be two generations ahead of its predecessor trucks.
The third-generation Nissan Frontier is the first model built for American customers. Nissan previewed the powertrain of the new truck in its upcoming models — it was too old to be called competitive — and now we finally got all the bells and whistles full fat upgrades. It is worth the wait.
By the time the Nissan Frontier died before 2022, it was an expressionless pickup that looked like it had been sealed in a dealer's showroom since 2008. In contrast, the 2022 Frontier is like a concept car, with thick fenders and straight-line front and rear design tips. It is really sharp, especially in the case of my Pro-4X tester. It passes thick 265/70R17 Hankook all-terrain tires, bead lock wheels (part of the $2,790 Pro Premium package), and stepped rails (750 USD) and the sports bar on the bed (USD 1,095).
Some major changes have also taken place within Frontier. Of course, some switchgear can be traced back to... a way, but the entire dashboard no longer looks like it was made in 2006. The new layout of the truck is more modern and more in line with Nissan's current design language. More emphasis is placed on smooth angles and diversity of materials. All controls are at your fingertips, and the large number of physical buttons provided means that operating the truck with gloves is not a problem.
From the perspective of daily livability, Frontier's interior design is excellent. There is ample space in both rows of the cab. Storage options abound, ranging from fairly spacious armrest boxes to fairly large door pockets and cup holders. The storage space in the second row is also good, thanks to the folded seat bottom to show an additional stowaway solution, although sometimes I want the entire seat assembly to be flipped to support a completely flat floor. Thanks to the foldable rear bumper steps, it is very easy to load things into the bed, and there are many places to tie things.
The only issue I will consider is the steering column, which only contains the tilt function. Without the ability to retract and without adjustable pedals, the seat position of my 6-foot frame felt as awkward as in a Toyota Tacoma, where I was either too close or too far away from the car. Dashboard.
Nowadays, non-retractable steering columns are becoming more and more unacceptable.
Nissan has never been a leader in its cab technology, but in the field of aging medium-duty trucks, 2022 Frontier provides itself with a competitive case. My tester is equipped with an optional 9-inch touch screen running Nissan's traditional infotainment system, which provides common functions: Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The embedded navigation has a fairly old map, but the whole shebang is responsive and easy to use, with almost no distractions. Charging is done through the USB-A and USB-C ports, but if you don’t want to use wires, there is a wireless device charger between the lifter and the armrest box.
When it comes to security technology, it's a bit of a mixed bag. The $990 technology package is loaded with almost everything buyers want for a mid-size truck for 2022 Frontier, including automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. In other words, the only standard safety technology in the entire lineup is forward collision warning. It would be great if all other safety features were standard-and a clever way to help stand out-even if it means a slightly higher base price. All in all, the backup camera mandated by the federal government has the fidelity of flip phone video, which is a bit frustrating in 2021.
Nissan’s infotainment system won’t win any awards, but it’s sufficient for most buyers.
To say that the Nissan Frontier in 2022 feels better on the road than its predecessors is an understatement. Frontier is much more comfortable to drive than in the past few years; as a commuter, it no longer feels annoying. The upgraded suspension components will definitely work, and the cabin is less pushed by the body frame on the unwelcome sidewalks. The steering may be a bit heavy at lower speeds, but not too big to be difficult to maneuver in a parking lot. The fully hydraulic frame also means that lane keeping assistance is not provided, which is one of the trade-offs for keeping the old school.
Under the hood is a 3.8-liter V6, which produces 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. It is not enough to cause excitement in itself, but there are enough grunts to accelerate on any road without worry. The standard nine-speed automatic transmission is a smooth operator, although downshifts may take a longer time for the computer to calculate, I hope this process will be faster. My tester is a bit more efficient than Frontiers in the past. It has achieved the EPA's estimated economy of 17 mpg cities and 22 mpg highways without much awareness, although it is not easy to exceed these numbers, especially all options All off-road things will affect the aerodynamics of the truck.
2022 Frontier also does trucks and competitions. Depending on trim level and powertrain layout, Nissan can tow up to 6,570 pounds (S trim, 4x2) and 1,480 pounds (SV trim, 4x2), but all other trims will not lag behind too much-all versions have payload ratings The value is higher than 1,160 pounds, and the maximum towing rating is north of 6,270 pounds, which is very competitive. If you are doing off-road digging, in addition to the 9.4 inches of ground clearance, the Pro-4X Crew Cab configuration also provides an approach angle of 32.3 degrees, a departure angle of 23 degrees, and a breakthrough angle of 19.6 degrees.
Need to complete some truck work? There are many fixed positions on Frontier's bed.
The 2022 Nissan Frontier may be the latest body-framed pickup in the mid-market segment, but Honda’s Ridgeline is also a new product. Its integrated structure makes it more livable in daily use than traditional pickups without sacrificing too many functions. Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon have been around for nearly a decade, and they feel like it from the inside out, even though niche decorations like ZR2 try to make things interesting. The Ford Ranger will soon be replaced by a design that was not a few years old when it arrived in the United States, even though it was an excellent truck. Toyota Tacoma soldiers are like post-apocalyptic cockroaches, with some thoughtful quality of life upgrades every few years.
Frontier may be cheap, or, well, not cheap, depending on how crazy you want to be. The basic Frontier S King Cab 4x2 only costs US$29,015, including a destination fee of US$1,175, while the larger Crew Cab body will only increase the base price to US$30,515. The Pro-4X decoration of my tester is the most expensive in the series. The Crew Cab 4x2 camouflage price starts at $35,415 (Pro-4X does not provide King Cab format). Due to several option packages, my tester rises to $46,570 .
Combining most of the aging competitive kit with the styling overhaul that will drag it into the 21st century, the 2022 Nissan Frontier is at the forefront of this busy market segment. This medium-duty truck offers interesting style and plenty of features, and will not feel like a bear in daily use.