Nissan’s Frontier finally gets a complete revamp in 2022. The first-generation model debuted at the time of the year 2005. In 2021 the Frontier was a long way ahead of other midsize trucks when it came to comfort, technology, and the ability to tow and haul. The new, improved 2022 Frontier has more appeal. On the exterior, it’s a lot more appealing. The Frontier is more upright in its styling to create a rugged look. The exterior isn’t as updated under the sheet metal since the new Frontier has several mechanical parts with the older model, like the 310 horsepower V6 engine that Nissan released just a few years ago. The interior receives a significant revamp, but the interior is not as well.
The cabin and the center button layout are now worthy of a contemporary mid-sized truck, for instance, and Nissan has included a lot of new technology and advanced driver aids features. Overall it’s clear that the 2022 Frontier can be a strong choice among competitors like those of Chevrolet Colorado, Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Gladiator, and Toyota Tacoma.
Frontier drive
Frontier isn’t the most efficient midsize truck. Our Frontier Pro-4X testing vehicle went from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.8 seconds; that’s an average time for this category. However, the engine shines during everyday driving. There’s plenty of g midrange grunt, and the transmission delivers smoothly-shifting gears, even with full-throttle acceleration. Brakes on Frontiers are also easy to operate. They’re easy to use in urban traffic and sufficiently slow the vehicle swiftly whenever you require it. A confident handling experience is another great feature of the Frontier. Even when using the Pro-4X’s off-road-specific tires, the vehicle is firmly planted in turns. However, the extremely heavy steering can be a headache. It takes a lot of effort to move it, Nissan, in a parking space or on the trail at slow speeds.
How enjoyable is the Frontier?
The most notable thing for me is the Frontier’s smooth ride quality. Large bumps and dips are easily dealt with in high-speed traffic. The Frontier is similarly composed in towns. The padding on the front seats is too hard and flat, and the lack of seat adjustment means you may find it difficult to get into a comfortable sitting place. The temperature control system is easy to use and can maintain a pleasant temperature during a hot day. However, we were disappointed that our Frontier did not have air vents for passengers in the rear. We also heard an excessive volume of wind noise on the highway.
Top Technology
Frontier comes with the standard 8-inch touchscreen and an additional 9-inch touchscreen. They are excellent sizes, and the displays are well-lit. The menus on Nissan’s native interface are dated, frequently appearing to be a dated website style instead of a contemporary interface. One solution is to utilize Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphones, which are great on the latest touchscreen. Wireless charging for smartphones is an alternative, and so is the 10-speaker Fender sound system. The Fender system produces decent sound; however, its subwoofer is a burden on valuable storage in the rear under the seat. All Frontiers include driver-assist features like driver attention warning, automatic emergency braking, and Trailer Sway Control.
Fuel economy
The EPA estimates that a Frontier with four-wheel drive will get 19 mpg combined in city/highway driving, which is average for a 4WD midsize truck with a V6. We had no issue confirming that number on our real-world evaluation route, where our Frontier test truck returned 19.9 mpg.
How’s the interior?
Nissan has improved its interior design, and the Frontier has benefited from many advancements. The big, easy-to-read infotainment screen dominates the interior but provides ample space for climate control and other buttons. But, some of those buttons aren’t laid out logically and may be difficult to locate at times. The confusing menus for the instrument panel and the steering wheel-mounted controls may need a revamp.
