2022 Nissan Frontier

2022 Nissan Frontier Overview

Is the Nissan Frontier a Good Truck?

Yes, the Nissan Frontier is a good truck. It features a capable V6 engine, and it has a decent payload capacity. It also rides smoothly and handles well for a pickup. The cabin looks modern (a refreshing change from the outgoing model), and the front seats provide plenty of comfort and support. There are many standard and available features, including an intuitive infotainment system.

The Frontier no longer has age-related flaws, but there's still room for improvement. Mostly, there are some things that the Frontier doesn’t do quite as well as rivals. For example, most other compact pickup trucks have better fuel economy and can tow more than this Nissan, and several have a more varied powertrain lineup.

Should I Buy the Nissan Frontier?

For the first time in several years, most small truck shoppers should give the Frontier a look. It does a lot of things well, and even in areas where it lags rivals (such as towing capacity), it can probably meet your needs.

Find a 2022 Nissan Frontier for sale near you »

2022 Nissan Frontier Dimensions and Weight

• Length: 17 feet, 6 inches to 18 feet, 8 inches
• Height: 5 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet, 1 inch
• Curb weight: 4,321 to 4,773 pounds

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2021 vs. 2022 Nissan Frontier: What's the Difference?

The 2022 Nissan Frontier is fully redesigned, though it has the same powertrain as the 2021 model, as that update was rolled out before the rest of the redesign was ready to go. The 2022 model looks much different, with updated interior and exterior styling. Nissan increased the Frontier's payload capacity by 150 pounds and introduced a new trim: the Pro-X, which is like a rear-wheel-drive version of the Pro-4X.

More features come standard in the new Frontier. These include an 8-inch touch screen, a six-speaker audio system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and driver drowsiness monitoring.

There are also optional features in the new Frontier that you couldn’t get in previous models, such as a 9-inch touch screen, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hot spot, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system.

Compare the 2021 and 2022 Frontier »

Here are the key changes for the Nissan Frontier over the last few years:

• 2022: fully redesigned with updated styling, improved payload capacity, a new trim, and more standard and available features
• 2021: no notable changes
• 2020: new V6 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission debuted; gained more standard features, including push-button start and power windows and door locks; four-cylinder engine discontinued, along with five-speed manual, six-speed manual, and five-speed automatic transmissions
• 2019: a 7-inch touch screen became standard
• 2018: a rearview camera and air conditioning added to standard features list

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2019 Frontier , 2020 Frontier , and 2021 Frontier reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

Pricing

How Much is a 2022 Nissan Frontier?

The Frontier S sports a base price of $27,840 for the King Cab and $29,340 for the Crew Cab. Most other compact pickup trucks have lower starting prices. The all-new Frontier Pro-X trim retails for $34,240, while the range-topping Frontier Pro-4X starts at $37,240. That’s less than you’ll pay for most class rivals’ top trim.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Nissan dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Nissan deals page .

Nissan Frontier Versus the Competition

Nissan Frontier vs. Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma is one of the best off-roaders in the compact pickup truck class , and its TRD Pro trim outstrips the capabilities of any Frontier model, including the Pro-4X. The Toyota gets slightly better gas mileage (because its base engine is a four-cylinder) and can tow and haul a little more than the Nissan. However, the Frontier’s V6 is more powerful than each of the Tacoma’s engines. The Nissan also has a larger standard touch screen, more comfortable seats, and a smoother ride.

Compare the Frontier and Tacoma »

Nissan Frontier vs. Ford Ranger

The interior of the Ford Ranger isn’t as nice as the Frontier's, and its ride isn’t as comfortable. The Ford also has a much shorter standard features list. However, the Ranger has a peppy turbocharged engine, and it's more enjoyable to drive than the Frontier. It also gets better gas mileage, has much better towing and hauling capacities, and provides more rear-seat space.

Compare the Frontier and Ranger »

Compare the Frontier, Tacoma, and Ranger »

Frontier Performance: No Major Weaknesses

Frontier Engine

While most compact trucks give you a range of powertrain options (including diesel choices for some trucks), the Frontier only has one: a 310-horsepower V6 engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Most reviewers agree that the engine has enough juice for most driving situations, though some wish it moved this truck with more verve. The transmission feels a bit indecisive at times, but it shifts smoothly.

Frontier Gas Mileage

Most small trucks are more fuel-efficient than this Nissan, though, in fairness, that’s because they come with four-cylinder engines instead of a V6. Real-wheel-drive Frontier models get 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, while four-wheel-drive models get an EPA-estimated 17/22 mpg city/highway. Those ratings are more or less the same as what V6-powered rivals earn.

Frontier Ride and Handling

There’s nothing to complain about regarding the Frontier’s ride or handling. It’s composed around turns, with little body lean, and the ride remains smooth even over rough pavement. The only real knock against the Frontier is that its steering is heavy, and it requires more effort to turn the wheel than in other trucks.

Frontier Off-Road Performance

Every 2022 Frontier has decent off-road capability, and you can add four-wheel drive to almost every trim. If you're looking to go adventuring every weekend, you'll want to spring for the Pro-4X model, which is the best off-roader in the lineup. Still, it’s not as much of a billy goat as some rival's off-road-oriented trims, such as the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, and Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.

You can learn more about the Frontier’s off-road abilities in the Which Frontier Model Is Best for Off-Roading? section.

Frontier Towing Capacity

When properly equipped, the Frontier can tow up to 6,720 pounds and haul up to 1,610 pounds. The Frontier’s max payload is in line with many rivals’ ratings, but several other compact trucks can tow 7,500+ pounds.

For a more detailed breakdown of this Nissan’s capabilities, check out the Which Frontier Model Is Best for Towing and Hauling? section below or the Towing and Hauling section of the Performance page.

Read more about performance »

Frontier Interior: New and Vastly Improved

Frontier Interior Quality

The new Frontier replaces the outgoing model’s stale, low-rent cabin with something entirely different. This Nissan’s interior now looks fresh and modern, with handsome styling. The materials quality is typical for the class, which is to say that there’s a mixture of soft-touch materials and hard plastics.

Frontier Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The Frontier gets a revamped infotainment system as part of the redesign. It now comes with a standard 8-inch or optional 9-inch touch screen, both of which are larger than you can get in some rivals. The interface is intuitive, and the controls are easy to reach.

This Nissan now comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well (they were previously unavailable), so you can easily hook up your phone to the system.

• Standard infotainment features: an 8-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, two USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto
• Available infotainment features: a 9-inch touch screen, navigation, a 10-speaker audio system, a 10-speaker Fender audio system, a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging, and two additional USB ports
• Additional standard features: keyless entry and push-button start
• Other available features: a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and remote start

For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?

Frontier Cargo Space

The Frontier King Cab comes with a 6-foot-1-inch bed, while Crew Cab models come standard with a 5-foot bed. The only model to offer both bed lengths is the SV Crew Cab. Both beds are about 44 inches wide between the wheel wells. Most other compact pickup trucks offer the same bed lengths (give or take an inch), but some have wider beds that give you 4 feet between the wheel wells.

In Crew Cab models, the rear seats flip up to provide additional storage space in the cab. There’s also storage space underneath the rear seats, even if they’re in use. You can add bed features to increase versatility, including bed lights, an in-bed power outlet, and Nissan’s Utili-track system of adjustable tie-downs.

How Many People Does the Frontier Seat?

The Frontier seats four people in King Cab models and five people in Crew Cab models. The front seats are impressively comfortable. They’re Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, and they provide good support, ample head- and legroom, and a high seating position, leading to great forward visibility.

Like most trucks in this class, the Frontier’s rear seats are undersized. In King Cab models, adults will have a hard time getting into the back. There’s more room in Crew Cab models, but most adults will still wish for more space.

Frontier and Child Car Seats

For installing child safety seats, there are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear seats. Crew Cab models also have a tether anchor for the rear middle seat.

Read more about interior »

Frontier Reliability

Is the Nissan Frontier Reliable?

The 2022 Nissan Frontier has a predicted reliability score of 83 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

Nissan Frontier Warranty

Nissan covers the Frontier with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

2022 Nissan Frontier Safety

Crash Test Results

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash tested the 2022 Frontier.

Safety Features

Standard driver assistance features:

• Rearview camera
• Forward collision warning
• Forward automatic emergency braking
• Driver drowsiness monitoring

Available driver assistance features:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic sign recognition
• Lane departure warning
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Rear parking sensors
• Reverse automatic emergency braking
• Surround-view camera system

Where Is the 2022 Nissan Frontier Built?

Nissan builds the 2022 Frontier in Mississippi.

Which Nissan Frontier Model Is Right for Me?

The 2022 Nissan Frontier comes in four trims: S, SV, Pro-X, and Pro-4X. There are two cab styles (King and Crew) and two bed lengths (5- and 6-foot), so you’ll want to make those choices before picking a trim. We have a couple of sections below that can help you there.

When it’s time to pick a trim, you should look at the SV. It comes with more standard features than the base S trim, and it has some option packages that you can’t add in the lowest trim. It’s also the only trim that offers a Crew Cab/long-bed configuration. Besides the SV, there’s only one other trim you should really consider: the Pro-4X. It’s the best off-roader in the lineup, so if you like to spend your weekend tackling trails, that’s the model for you.

Nissan Frontier Powertrain Options:

• Base engine: 3.8-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque
• Drivetrain: standard rear-wheel drive; available four-wheel drive
• Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Nissan Frontier Appearance Packages:

Nissan has not announced any notable appearance packages for the Frontier as of this writing.

Nissan Frontier Work Packages/Options:

Nissan has not announced any notable work packages for the Frontier as of this writing.

Nissan Frontier Trims:

Nissan Frontier S

The Frontier S sports a base price of $27,840 for the King Cab and $29,340 for the Crew Cab. Standard features include keyless entry, push-button start, an 8-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, two USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

Standard driver assistance features include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, and driver drowsiness monitoring.

The Technology package ($990) adds lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, reverse automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. You can also add remote start for $375.

You can add four-wheel drive for $3,200 in the King Cab or $3,000 in the Crew Cab.

Nissan Frontier SV

The Frontier SV starts at $30,540 for the King Cab, $32,140 for the Crew Cab with a short bed, and $34,040 for the Crew Cab with a long bed (this is the only trim to offer the Crew Cab/long bed combo).

In addition to the base trim’s features, the SV comes with a sliding rear window, premium cloth upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. This is the highest trim available in the King Cab body style, and the SV Crew Cab is the only version to offer both bed lengths.

In addition to the Technology package ($990), you can add the SV Convenience package ($1,990), which includes Utili-track, an in-bed power outlet, in-bed lighting, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and remote start.

Crew Cab SV models also offer the SV Premium package ($2,790), which adds a sunroof, synthetic leather upholstery, and a 10-speaker Fender audio system.

You can add four-wheel drive for $3,200 in the King Cab or $3,000 in the Crew Cab.

Nissan Frontier Pro-X

The Frontier Pro-X retails for $34,240. The Pro-X only comes as a Crew Cab with RWD, and it adds Bilstein shock absorbers, Utili-track, a 9-inch touch screen, navigation, a 10-speaker audio system, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.

The Technology package ($990) is available. You can also add the Pro-X Convenience package ($1,990), which includes an in-bed power outlet, in-bed lighting, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a surround-view camera system, and wireless device charging. The Pro Premium package ($2,790) adds a sunroof, genuine leather upholstery, and a 10-speaker Fender audio system.

Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

The Frontier Pro-4X starts at $37,240. The Pro-4X, also a Crew-Cab-only model, comes with four-wheel drive and additional skid plates. This is the only trim that doesn’t offer Utili-track. The same option packages that you can get in the Pro-X trim are available in the Pro-4X, and for the same prices.

Which Frontier Cab Style Is Right for Me?

The Frontier offers two cab styles: the four-seat King Cab and the five-seat Crew Cab. The former is a typical extended cab truck, with rear-mounted hinges on the rear doors opening to a small back area with a couple jump seats. The latter, like most crew cabs, has forward-facing hinges, full-sized rear doors, and a bench seat.

The only thing to consider when picking a cab is how often you’ll have people riding in the back. If the answer is anything other than “never,” then you’ll want to opt for the Crew Cab, which provides much more legroom. It’s still not the most spacious or inviting rear seat in the class (that belongs to the Honda Ridgeline), but adults can ride in the back without being too uncomfortable.

If passenger space isn't as much of a factor, you may want to choose a cab based on bed length, which we cover in the next section.

Which Frontier Bed Length Is Right for Me?

The Frontier offers two bed lengths: 6-foot-1-inch and 5-foot. The longer bed comes standard on King Cab models, and the shorter bed comes with Crew Cab models. There’s only one model that offers both bed lengths: the SV trim with a Crew Cab. Both beds are the same width (about 44 inches), so the choice of bed lengths comes down to what you need out of your truck.

If you’re going to regularly have people in your back seat, you’ll want a Crew Cab model, and then you can evaluate whether you need to get the SV trim (giving you a choice of bed lengths) or whether you can live with one of the other models (locking you into a short bed).

On the other hand, if you’re getting the Frontier primarily as a work truck, you’ll probably want to stick with a King Cab model, which comes with the longer bed and has better towing and hauling capacities than a Crew Cab model (more on that in the next section).

Which Frontier Model Is Best for Towing and Hauling?

The Frontier S trim with the King Cab body and rear-wheel drive takes the cake as the best truck in the lineup for towing and hauling. It lets you tow up to 6,720 pounds, which is the highest of any trim, and its payload capacity checks in at 1,600 pounds, which is only 10 pounds shy of the Frontier’s high-water mark (that comes in the SV trim with the King Cab and RWD).

The Pro-4X model, which only comes with a Crew Cab and four-wheel drive, is the least-capable Frontier. It has a towing capacity of 6,270 pounds and a max payload of 1,230 pounds. Those are both the lowest totals for any Frontier model.

Generally speaking, King Cab models are more capable than Crew Cabs, and rear-wheel-drive models are more capable than those with four-wheel drive.

For a full breakdown of each model’s towing and hauling capacities, see the Towing and Hauling section of the Performance page.

Which Frontier Model Is Best for Off-Roading?

All Frontier models are available with four-wheel drive, hill descent control, a locking rear differential, and a limited-slip system, so there's no version of this Nissan that struggles when the pavement ends.

That said, the Pro-4X is the best choice in the lineup for heading off road. Pro-4X models come standard with 4WD and the other features touched on above, but they also have features you can't get in any other Frontier, such as Bilstein shocks and skid plates. And if you add the surround-view camera system to the Pro-4X, you also get an off-road viewing mode to help navigate tight areas of trails.

The Pro-X model comes with a lot of the same features as the Pro-4X, but it’s rear-wheel-drive only, which renders it less capable than the 4X in some situations.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Nissan dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Nissan deals page .

See 2022 Nissan Frontier specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2022 Nissan Frontier receives a full redesign that should make it more competitive in the compact pickup truck class . Gone is the antiquated, austere, and tech-allergic interior, replaced with a modern, handsome cabin with supple front seats and plenty of easy-to-use tech features. The Frontier isn’t quite as capable as some rivals, but it has enough towing, hauling, and off-road ability to satisfy most shoppers. It may not be your first choice in the class, but for the first time in a long time, the Frontier is worth a serious look.

Don't just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "After a first go-round behind the wheel, it’s safe to say the new Frontier is officially on a level playing field with every other midsize pickup, and it’s reaching for a podium spot." -- Autoblog
• "The changes result in a far more pleasant, refined, comfortable and capable truck than the old one. It still has a few foibles, but it’s easily competitive with the current crop of mid-size trucks — and better than many of them (I’m looking at you, Tacoma). The key word, though, is current. With the next Ranger expected to be built off the Bronco platform and loaded with tech, plus a new Colorado, Canyon and Tacoma all expected soon, Nissan had better be hard at work getting the Frontier some more upgrades to keep it current with the next crop of trucks. Until then, it’s a fantastic update to the Frontier that should be able to draw some buyers back to the brand." -- Cars.com
• "However, the new Frontier signals that Nissan is ready to regain its position as one of the top sellers of midsize trucks. The 2022 Frontier is up to the challenge." -- Forbes