2022 Nissan Frontier

The 2022 Frontier is better than the outgoing model, but that wasn't exactly a high bar to clear—that truck was one of the oldest and least-refined vehicles on sale. The question really is if the new Frontier has what it takes to rival the slate of modern midsize trucks.

In our first drive, we found the 2022 Frontier to do truck stuff well, towing with confident stability and bashing through an off-road course adeptly. But for normal driving situations, the Frontier doesn't impress. The nine-speed transmission has trouble deciding on which gear it wants to be in. Ride quality is busy and bumpy, and handling is clumsy. Although the cabin looks more modern than before, it still lacks lots of basic features that are commonplace among modern trucks.

So even though it's new, the 2022 Frontier still feels pretty old. Some drivers might see appeal in that tried-and-true feel, and we're confident in saying that it's better than another archaic pickup, the Toyota Tacoma. However, against the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, or even Honda Ridgeline, it still falls a few years behind.

Nissan introduced a new standard powertrain on the 2020 Frontier that carries over to the redesigned 2022 truck. All models utilize a 3.8-liter V-6 that develops 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque, working with a nine-speed automatic to deliver RWD or available part-time 4WD. Fuel economy tops out at 18/24 mpg, or 17/22 mpg with 4WD. Unlike its predecessor, no four-cylinder engine or manual transmission options are available at launch.

Just like the truck it's replacing, the 2022 Frontier is available in two-door King Cab and four-door Crew Cab configurations. King Cab and extended wheelbase Crew Cab models feature a 73.3-inch bed, whereas the standard wheelbase Crew Cab bed measures 59.5 inches.

In NHTSA safety testing, only the Crew Cab 4WD variant has undergone full evaluation, earning four stars in frontal crash, five stars in side crash, three stars in rollover protection, and a four-star overall rating, each out of a possible five stars. The IIHS has few results for the 2022 Frontier, and they aren't so promising. It gave the Frontier the second-best acceptable score in side crash testing, and the lowest Poor score for its headlights.

The previous-gen Frontier was notably lacking in driver assist active safety features, but that changes for 2022. Forward collision warning is now standard, but the real news is that Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite is newly available on all trims. The package includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and driver attention monitoring are also available.

The redesigned Frontier offers a slight improvement in capability over the truck it replaces. Maximum payload capacity is now rated at 1,610 pounds in a RWD Frontier SV—up 150 pounds over its predecessor. Trailering capacity tops out at the same 6,720 pounds as last year's model.

Frontiers equipped with 4WD include an electronically controlled part-time transfer case with high- and low-range drive modes. Hill descent control is standard on all 4WD Frontiers, and the Frontier PRO-4X includes an electronic locking differential, Bilstein shocks, and underbody skid plates. New for this year, the PRO-4X's 360-degree camera system includes an off-road mode for monitoring the vehicle's surroundings on a tight trail.

This may have been the area in need of most improvement, and Nissan delivers. Whereas the previous-generation Frontier offered zero smartphone-mirroring capabilities, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard on all models. A standard 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system replaces the 7.0-inch setup in last year's model, and an upgraded 9.0-inch touch display is available. There's a standard new 7.0-inch instrument cluster display, too.