What We Love And Hate About The 2022 Nissan Frontier

To say the 2022 Nissan Frontier was hotly anticipated would be a major understatement. Nissan's last all-new midsize truck came out in 2004, three years before the first iPhone was unveiled. The new Frontier is already showing strong sales, so we wanted to see if it was worth the long wait. Nissan sent us the most well-equipped and off-road-focused Pro-4X trim to sample for a week, and we came away fairly impressed by the updated truck.

That being said, the all-new Frontier is far from perfect. In fact, it's less "all-new" than we originally thought. After spending some quality time with the 2022 Frontier, here are four things we love and two things we don't about Nissan's latest truck.

The 2020 Frontier brought with it an interesting change. Though the truck wasn't new, it received the next-generation engine and transmission from the then-upcoming 2022 Frontier. A new 3.8-liter V6 sits under the hood of the Frontier, developing 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. Not only does that give the Frontier the most standard power in the midsize truck segment, but it's also the most potent truck in the class, narrowly beating out the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. This could change when the next-generation Ford Ranger arrives, but for now the Frontier is king of the midsize trucks.

As for the nine-speed automatic transmission, it's one of the better options in this segment. The transmission can sometimes take a while to downshift, but with plenty of power on tap, the Frontier feels gutsier than its main rival from Japan, the Toyota Tacoma.

We don't think there's much room for debate here: the Nissan Frontier is the best-looking midsize pickup truck. The chiseled front end looks properly aggressive, especially when configured in the tough Pro-4X trim level. We love the squared-off body lines, macho LED headlights, optional beadlock-style wheels, and red accents. Throw in some stellar color choices like Deep Blue, Baja Storm, and Tactical Green and you have one truly attractive truck. Buyers who want to further customize their Frontier can do so through the Nismo parts catalog. Our tester had a few Nismo goodies, including a sportbar and running boards.

If we were buying a 2022 Frontier, the rugged Pro-4X trim would be our number one choice. Aside from the cool visual changes, the Pro-4X adds important upgrades including an electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein off-road shock absorbers, and steel underbody skid plates to keep the underside protected. The underbody plates came in handy when we took the Frontier off-road in the Ocala National Forrest, allowing us to take huge ruts without fear. A rear-drive Pro-X trim is available as well, but skips the Pro-4X's locking diff and skid plates.

Inside, the Frontier goes from ancient to modern in a hurry. A new eight-inch touchscreen comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but we sampled the larger nine-inch screen. This system is a massive upgrade over the outgoing system, which lacked any advanced phone mirroring. An available technology package adds important safety tech, such as lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, high beam assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. A separate package adds a 10-speaker Fender audio system, which is among the best we've tested in a midsize truck.

Though this is an all-new Frontier, the truck's F-Alpha platform is a heavily revised version of the one that debuted back in 2004. Nissan did a commendable job modernizing the fully-boxed ladder frame, but despite being the newest truck in the midsize segment, it already feels old to drive. The steering rack, for example, is heavy and difficult to maneuver at slow speeds. If you're the type of buyer that misses the traditional feel of a bare bones truck, you might enjoy the new Frontier. But if you've come to expect lighter steering and a more car-like ride, there are better options available, like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Nissan will quickly point out that the Frontier has the most horsepower in the midsize class. Despite this, the Frontier's 6,720-pound max tow rating ranks below the Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma. It bests the Honda Ridgeline and Jeep Gladiator, but the former offers a more car-like ride while the latter delivers greater off-road capability. Speaking of off-road prowess, we think the Pro-4X offers more than the average truck owner will ever use, but there's still room for a more capable trim.

Nissan has teased a "more adventurous" Frontier concept that will debut at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show. We'd like to see the Frontier get a locking front differential, beefier off-road tires, a substantial lift kit, and more power.