Marketed from 2005 to 2019 without major changes, the Frontier pickup deserved a complete overhaul. And that’s what Nissan has in store for us for the 2022 model year.
After a brief hiatus in the transition to the next generation, the Japanese automaker’s midsize pickup has been back in full force this fall. Since the Titan has been withdrawn from the catalog, The Car Guide tested the only model available from Nissan. Here is the full report of our driving impressions.
A convincing mechanic
If in the past the Nissan Frontier could be powered by simplistic four-cylinder mechanics in the base versions, this is no longer possible. Indeed, only one engine is offered, an atmospheric 3.9-liter V6. This was first introduced in a transitional version of the Frontier which was reserved for the US market. For 2020, Nissan had extended the marketing of the previous generation of the model, but with this new engine. This V6 develops 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. We particularly appreciated this mechanism and did not notice any drop in torque, as is the case with the Tacoma in particular. We also underline Nissan’s initiative to have opted for traditional and efficient mechanics rather than choosing a small 4-cylinder turbocharged as Ford did with its Ranger.
Although Nissan is fond of continuously variable transmissions, it has not made the mistake of grafting this type of gearbox to the Frontier 2022. It is entitled to a stepped automatic transmission on nine reports. It has proven effective in town, on the road, but also off the beaten track. For Canada, you should know that all new generation Frontiers are delivered with the 4X4 cog. What is more, it proved to be good during the test.
Photo: Germain Goyer
It should be noted that at the end of our test drive of more than 500 kilometers, the on-board computer showed an average consumption of 13.8 L / 100 km. This figure seems particularly high to us. One would have expected a slightly lower result. For its part, Natural Resources Canada announces a combined driving rating of 12.3 L / 100 km.
Unfortunately, there is no question of adding an electrified version at this time.
We studied the competition
The new generation of the Frontier was long overdue. A long time. Long time. First, we stretched the old generation after the abandonment of the old Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Ford Ranger by thinking that the segment was going to die slowly. But that’s not quite what happened. Like a – Pontiac – Phoenix rising from its ashes, the segment has come back to life. Alas, in the meantime, the Frontier had only grown old. So were we impatiently awaiting a crumb of novelty? Totally.
In our eyes, there is no doubt that Nissan carefully studied the competition before offering us this new version. Indeed, for many moons, the Toyota Tacoma shines in the niche by highlighting its strength and excellent reliability. What’s more, it has evolved by taking the off-road route and retains a resale value that will please your banker. However, the Tacoma is far from flawless. It had to deal with corrosion problems, the driving position is raging, the general comfort is reminiscent of a church bench and the soundproofing is completely lacking. None of these flaws are found on the Frontier. Nissan has done its homework.
Photo: Antoine Joubert
From $ 39,998 to $ 47,498
With the abandonment of a basic version with a four-cylinder engine, you will no doubt have deduced that it was at the same time necessary to forget the low-cost versions with the new generation. For your information, the Frontier starts at $ 39,998 in the case of an S variant with King Cab and six foot box. At the top of the line is the Pro-4X version with double cab and five foot box, priced at $ 47,498. Obviously, the Pro-4X is appealing with its off-road appeal, but we’re of the opinion that for the average consumer, an SV version will be more than enough.
As for the towing capacity, it is 2,944 kilograms.
In short
Is the Frontier 2022 perfect? No. No vehicle is. Would it be on my shopping list if I was looking for a new mid-size pickup truck? Absoutely. Is the Frontier one of my nice surprises of the year which is about to conclude. Certainly.