2022 Nissan Frontier aims for traditionalists

My mother, or any one in my family, will explain to you I’m a little bit resistant to embracing change. It’s challenging. The most up-to-date Nissan Frontier is built for people today like me.

With a TCC Ranking of 5.6 out of 10, the 2022 Nissan Frontier outranks just about every immediate mid-measurement pickup truck competitor on paper many thanks to a contemporary design and style and fantastic proportions, straightforward-to-use switches, and a powerful V-6 motor. But it has a compromised back again seat and packaging, ineffective optional facet move rails, and lacks selected features at an costly as-tested price tag of $46,965.

After shelling out a week hauling the relatives all-around in the slushy Minnesota climate here’s what I discovered about the 2022 Nissan Frontier.

Strike: New more than enough, but however ideal-sized

Vehicles keep developing, but the Frontier did not for this hottest era, which took 17 years to get there. The latest Frontier isn’t completely new, just most of what you can see is, and the parts you can’t see have been upgraded or improved. This is the exact program Nissan pulled with the latest Pathfinder and it labored out great. With 4 complete doors on its crew taxi and a practical more than enough 59.5-inch standard length bed, the Frontier Professional-4X in fact in shape in my garage that was built in 1997. That is a feat handful of pickups can obtain simply because they’ve all turn out to be so big.

Skip: But packaging is compromised

The simple fact that the Frontier is not essentially new does existing some packaging inadequacies within the taxi as the wheelbase has not transformed (while general length is up 5 inches). The back again seat is still rated at 33 inches of legroom producing it a tight, knees-up affair with a small bottom cushion and upright seat back. It is an unpleasant put to be for an adult, and even my 6- and 8-calendar year olds complained about the rear seat back. Though, headroom’s generous many thanks to the roof liner staying scalloped. The steering column tilts but does not telescope in the yr 2022. I was capable to get cozy, but just barely, with the minimal adjustment of the steering wheel. Your mileage may vary.

Strike: Thank you for the knobs and switches

In an era of contact panels and shiny black plastics, the Frontier sticks to the essentials and keeps points basic. The climate handle is operated by huge buttons and knobs that can be altered even though sporting gloves. Participating the encompass-look at digital camera program is effortless thanks to a button positioned entrance and heart on the dashboard. The seat heater switches are rockers that present a gratifying simply click when engaged. The rockers are borderline throwback and may possibly be out of a areas bin from 20 decades ago, but they work and the seat heaters will roast your base and backside in much less time than it takes to push a mile.

Pass up: It is missing things

The 9.-inch touchscreen infotainment procedure seems to be the exact applied in other more recent Nissans, for much better and worse, but it’s not. In the Frontier it’s missing wireless Apple CarPlay. Nissan spokesperson Dan Passe instructed The Car Link the deficiency of wi-fi CarPlay will come down to growth schedules and the function may come in long run product years. Especially irritating in Minnesota is the lack of a defroster on the rear window of the taxi, a element that is on most Ford Rangers and is a standalone choice for these that don’t have it. The cab lights are perplexing. There is no way to turn on all the interior lights of the taxi at after without opening a doorway. Manually turning on all the entrance lights in the taxi does not flip on the rears.

Strike: Strong V-6 motor

In an era of turbocharging in the identify of energy and efficiency, the traditionalists will recognize the Frontier’s sole motor option: a naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter V-6 with 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. It under no circumstances desires for electrical power, and pairs with the 9-pace automatic transmission. The entire set up feels a lot far more present day, and far better suited for the truck, with a lot less drone than the V-6 powertrain in the Toyota Tacoma.

Skip: Do not choose for the move rails

My truck was outfitted with the optional $750 move rails. They get in the way. The truck isn’t significant more than enough off the floor to have to have to use the action rails, but then there is an uncomfortable moment exactly where you have to move about them to get into the truck, or use them and be way too significant. They also accumulate snow and filth promptly.

For those who want a truck that looks like a truck, has a contemporary by natural means-aspirated V-6 engine in a proven platform with modern-day engineering, the 2022 Nissan Frontier hits the sweet spot.

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2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X Crew Cab 4×4

Base selling price: $29,015, like $1,175 desired destination
Rate as tested: $46,965
Powertrain: 310-hp 3.8-liter V-6, 9-speed computerized transmission, portion-time four-wheel drive
EPA gasoline economy: 17/22/19 mpg
The hits: Appears to be like a truck, easy-to-use controls, fantastic size, powerful V-6 motor
The misses: Lacking options, unpleasant rear seat