The mid-size truck segment is heating up again, for a while it seemed like the only options were the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, both trucks were quite old. But thanks to renewed interest from automakers, there are quite a few new or updated mid-size trucks currently on offer. These options include the Toyota Tacoma (which is still an old truck with a mild refresh a couple of years ago), Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and the all-new Nissan Frontier. Missing from the action is the Dodge Dakota.

The topic of today’s post is the Nissan Frontier, which was long overdue for an update. The previous generation Frontier had been on sale since 2004, as a 2005 model year. In automotive terms, that’s an eternity.

Last week I had the opportunity to review a 2022 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PRO-4X, we sent out a survey to our readers with questions they have, below are the most popular questions about the Nissan Frontier. I’ll answer these questions on the Frontier and do an in-depth review.

• How much is the 2022 Nissan Frontier?
• What is Nissan Frontier PRO 4X?
• How much can the 2022 Nissan Frontier tow?

How much is the 2022 Nissan Frontier?

In Canada, the 2022 Nissan Frontier has a starting price of $39,998 for the base Frontier Kind Cab S and $47,998 for the Frontier Crew Cab PRO-4X, adding different wheels, mud flaps, graphics, “sport bar” etc. can bring the price into the upper $50,000 CAD range. Below is a list of prices for all the trims.

Our review Frontier CC PRO-4X had a sticker price of $51,448. This included the PRO-4X Luxury Package ($2,000) and $1,950 for Freight & PDE.

What is the Nissan Frontier PRO-4X? The PRO-4X is the sportier or in this case, more off-road-y version of the Frontier. The PRO-4X includes blacked out front grill, all-terrain tires, Bilstein off-road performance shock absorbers, locking rear differential, and front skid plates. Another small detail on the PRO 4X is the red color on the Nissan badge.

2022 Nissan Frontier Engine & Driving

All trims of the 2022 Nissan Frontier are powered by naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engines, producing 310 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 281 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. The Frontier has the most power in its class. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine was actually introduced in the 2020 Frontier, with the old body style, giving us a preview of what to expect in the new Frontier.

How much can the 2022 Nissan Frontier tow? According to Nissan’s website, the 2022 Nissan Frontier has a max towing capacity of 6,490 pound (2,944 kg) for the King Cab, 6,240 pounds for the Crew Cab Long Bed and 6,260 pounds for the Frontier Crew Cab regular bed. It has a maximum payload capacity of 1,400 pounds (635 kg). The Frontier is rated at 12.8/9.5 L/100 km city/highway for the King Cab and our Pro-4X Crew Cab was rated at 13.7/10.6 L/100 km. After spending a week with our review Frontier, the onboard computer showed 14.7 L/100 km in 85/15 city/highway driving.

Fuel consumption numbers will vary widely depending on driving conditions, the amount of stuff you haul in the bed, and whether you’re towing something behind you.

Driving the Frontier felt exactly how you’d expect it to feel. It feels like a good old-fashioned body-on-frame truck that’s ready to go off-roading, haul things, or play in the mud. The ride is “floaty” on smooth road surfaces and bouncy on unpaved roads, which is not a bad thing in a real body-on-frame truck and it’s a common feature of these types of vehicles.

The V6 has more than enough power for city driving and feels great on the highway. The 9-speed transmission does a great job at keeping you in the right gear.

2022 Nissan Frontier Styling

There isn’t too much designers can do with styling on trucks, especially body-on-frame trucks. Most of the trucks have the same boxy shapes, with the biggest styling distinction being at the front of the truck. The Nissan Frontier is a good-looking truck in my opinion, it looks tough without trying too hard. It has a good blend of toughness and subtleness.

Nissan Frontier Interior

The 2022 Nissan Frontier features a no nonsense tough looking interior. I’ve never been in the previous generation Frontier, but I hear the new generation Frontier is leaps and bounds better than that. The interior features a boxy design with large knobs and buttons. At the center is a 9” touchscreen (8” is the standard size) that’s decently responsive, but the graphics do look dated already. Right below the screen are two large knobs for volume and tuning with shortcut buttons between them to scroll between audio, menu, map, and cameras. Below this section is an old-fashioned climate control panel, which is easy to use. Below this section are buttons for the heated seats, steering wheel, USB and USB-C ports. The Frontier features a traditional gear lever with a pair of cup holders to the side. Right below the center armrest is a place for a wireless charger, which gives the interior a bit of a modern feel.

The gauge cluster features two analogue gauges for the tachometer and speedometer, which are large and easy to read. Between them is a 7” TFT display that shows various different information.

The seats are comfortable and offers plenty of support, Nissan’s seats are some of the best in the industry. There’s more than enough room for the front occupants, the back seats are not as roomy. I found them fine for my 5’ 8” frame, taller rear seats passengers will find leg room lacking.

Our top-of-the-line Frontier PRO-4X came with a whole host of tech, safety, and convenience features. Our review truck was the top trim, so it really was loaded, not all of the equipment is offered on all trims.

• Remote Engine Start System
• Push button start
• 6-way power driver seat
• 4-way manual passenger seat                    
• Heated front seats
• Fender premium audio system with 10 speakers, including subwoofers  
• Apple CarPlay   
• Android Auto    
• Wi-Fi hotspot    
• Wireless charging
• Two 12-volt DC power outlets
• Two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports
• LED interior lighting (map lights and room lamp)
• NissanConnect 9″ color touch-screen display
• Nissan Door to Door Navigation System
• 7″ Advanced Drive-Assist Display
• Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control
• Intelligent auto headlights
• LED headlights, taillights, fog lights, & DRL
• Intelligent Driver Alertness                         
• Intelligent Cruise Control
• Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and off-road mode
• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS)
• Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning                     
• Lane Departure Warning              
• Blind Spot Warning
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Rear Automatic Braking
• High Beam Assist
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Easy-Fill Tire Alert
• 2-speed electronic transfer case with 4-HI and 4-LO
• Trailer Sway Control
• Dana rear axle
• Switch-operated 2-speed transfer case 
• Electronic locking rear differential                           
• Hill Start Assist 
• Hill Descent Control                       
• Tow/Haul mode switch
• Trailer hitch with wiring harness
• Power sliding glass moon roof with tilt feature
• Sliding rear window
• Standard Bed – 1,511 mm (59.5″)
• Utili-track® Channel System with 4 tie-down cleats
• Spray-in bedliner
• Bed rail caps
• Locking tailgate with dampened opening, closure assist and spoiler                          
• Cargo tie-down hooks (4)            
• Bed-mounted 120-volt AC power outlet
• Under-rail bed lighting
• Exterior light – cargo/bed illumination    
• 120-volt power outlet in rear center console       
• Rear Sonar System

Final Thoughts

It’s great to see new offerings in the mid-size truck segment. Unlike some of its competitors, like the Ford Ranger, the Frontier has been available for purchase continuously over the last two decades. The Frontier was way past due for an update, and now Nissan has provided the update. There are a handful of options available in this segment, make sure to check them all out, specifically the 2022 Nissan Frontier.