More spectacular in and outBy the time of its demise, the pre-2022 Nissan Frontier was a frumpy-faced pickup that regarded prefer it was hermetically sealed in a dealership showroom from 2008. By comparability, the 2022 Frontier resembles an idea automobile, with its chunky fenders and rectilinear design cues throughout the entrance and rear ends. It’s actual sharp, particularly in my Pro-4X tester’s case, which provides some off-road aesthetics by means of chunky 265/70R17 Hankook all-terrain tires, beadlock-style wheels (a part of a $2,790 Pro Premium bundle), step rails ($750) and the game bar over the mattress ($1,095).The Frontier’s innards picked up some large modifications, too. Sure, a few of the switchgear dates again… a methods, however the dashboard as an entire now not seems prefer it was inbuilt 2006. The truck’s new association is extra trendy and higher aligned with Nissan’s present design language. There’s a higher emphasis on clean angles and materials selection. All the controls stay inside simple attain, and the swath of bodily buttons on provide means working the truck with gloves is not an issue.From a each day livability standpoint, the Frontier’s inside delivers. There is ample house in each rows of the crew cab. Storage choices abound, from a decently capacious armrest cubby to sizable door pockets and cup holders. Second-row storage is nice, too, because of seat bottoms that fold as much as reveal further stowaway options, though at instances I want the entire seat meeting might flip in favor of a completely flat ground. Loading issues into the mattress is fairly simple, because of a folding rear bumper step, and there are many locations to tie issues down.The solely factor I’d contemplate a difficulty right here is the steering column, which solely packs tilt performance. Without the flexibility to telescope, together with a scarcity of adjustable pedals, the seating place can really feel as awkward for my 6-foot body because it does within the Toyota Tacoma, the place I’m both consistently too near or far-off from the dashboard.
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A steering column that does not telescope is getting tougher and tougher to just accept nowadays. Andrew Krok/RoadshowBetter techNissan has by no means led the cost with its cabin tech, however in a area of ever-aging midsize vehicles, the 2022 Frontier makes a aggressive case for itself. My tester sports activities the optionally available 9-inch touchscreen working Nissan’s conventional infotainment system, which presents the standard issues: a Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The embedded navigation has a quite old-looking map, however the entire shebang is sufficiently responsive and simple to make use of with minimal distraction. Charging comes by means of each USB-A and USB-C ports, however there is a wi-fi machine charger between the shifter and armrest cubby for those who desire to ditch the cords.When it involves security tech, it’s kind of of a combined bag. A $990 Technology Package masses the 2022 Frontier with almost the whole lot a purchaser might need from a midsize truck, together with automated emergency braking, rear parking sensors, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise management and blind-spot monitoring. That stated, the one little bit of security tech that comes normal throughout the lineup is forward-collision warning. It would’ve been good — and a sensible approach to assist stand out from the group — if all the opposite security options had been normal, even when that meant a barely increased base value. To cap it off, the federally mandated backup digital camera has the constancy of a flip-phone video, which is sort of miserable in 2021.
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Nissan’s infotainment is not going to win any awards, but it surely’s greater than sufficient for many patrons. Andrew Krok/RoadshowSolid on-road demeanorTo say the 2022 Nissan Frontier feels higher than its predecessor on the street is a giant ol’ understatement. The Frontier drives much more comfortably than it has in years previous; it now not feels annoying as a commuter. Upgraded suspension parts undoubtedly play a component, with the cabin struggling much less body-on-frame jostling over undesirable patches of pavement. The steering generally is a little heavy at decrease speeds, however not a lot that it is troublesome to maneuver by way of a parking zone. The totally hydraulic rack additionally means lane-keep help will not be on provide, one of many trade-offs of protecting it old-school.Under the hood is a 3.8-liter V6 that produces 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. It’s not sufficient to elicit pleasure, per se, however there’s greater than sufficient grunt to stand up to hurry on any street with out fear. The normal nine-speed automated transmission is a clean operator, though downshifts can take the pc slightly longer to calculate, a course of that I want was slightly snappier. My tester is a smidge extra environment friendly than Frontiers previous, attaining the EPA-estimated economic system of 17 mpg metropolis and 22 mpg freeway with out a lot aware effort, though going previous these figures is not simple, particularly with all of the optionally available off-road stuff affecting the truck’s aerodynamics.The 2022 Frontier does truck stuff in addition to the competitors, too. Depending on trim degree and drivetrain structure, the Nissan can tow as much as 6,570 kilos (S trim, 4×2) and haul as much as 1,480 kilos (SV trim, 4×2), however each different trim is not very far behind — all variations have payload rankings above 1,160 kilos and max tow rankings north of 6,270 kilos, which is lots aggressive. If you dig off-roading, the Pro-4X Crew Cab configuration presents 32.3-degree strategy, 23-degree departure and 19.6-degree breakover angles, along with 9.4 inches of floor clearance.
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Need to get some truck stuff carried out? The Frontier’s mattress has loads of tie-down areas. Andrew Krok/RoadshowDown to brass tacksThe 2022 Nissan Frontier stands out as the latest body-on-frame pickup within the midsize section, however Honda’s Ridgeline can be new, and its unibody development makes it extra livable in each day use than a conventional pickup with out sacrificing a lot functionality. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are almost a decade previous and so they really feel prefer it in and out, though area of interest trims just like the ZR2 attempt to maintain issues fascinating. The Ford Ranger is quickly to get replaced with a design that wasn’t a number of years previous when it arrived within the US, though it is a superb truck beneath. And the Toyota Tacoma troopers on like a post-apocalyptic cockroach with just a few considerate quality-of-life upgrades each couple of years.The Frontier could be low-cost or, um, not low-cost, relying on how loopy you wish to get. A base Frontier S King Cab 4×2 will solely set you again $29,015 together with $1,175 in vacation spot costs, whereas a bigger Crew Cab physique solely bumps that base value as much as $30,515. My tester’s Pro-4X trim is the costliest within the lineup, beginning at $35,415 in Crew Cab 4×2 guise (Pro-4X is not accessible in King Cab format), with my tester rising to $46,570 because of a number of choices packages.Combine a mostly-aging aggressive set with a styling overhaul that drags it into the 21st century, and the 2022 Nissan Frontier sits fairly on the forefront of an ever-busy section. This midsize truck presents fascinating fashion and loads of functionality with out feeling like a bear throughout each day use.