The Nissan Frontier has received a long-overdue redesign for the 2022 model year and is now a more up-to-date and complete rival to the Chevy Colorado.
The 2022 Nissan Frontier gets an all-new exterior that makes it look a bit like a shrunken-down version of the larger Nissan Titan, incorporating a similar grille and large LED headlights and LED daytime running lights. The model pictured here is the range-topping Frontier PRO-4X model, which gets off-road oriented accessories like a front skid plate, two underbody skidplates, orange front tow hooks, Bilstein shock absorbers and an electronic locking differential.
In addition to the PRO-4X, the 2022 Frontier will also be offered in base S trim, as well as mid-range SV and PRO-X. The PRO-X trim level is new for 2022 and gives buyers the beefed-up appearance of the PRO-4X, but without four-wheel drive. The S and SV will be offered in King Cab and Crew Cab body configurations, while the PRO-X and PRO-4X will only be offered as Crew Cabs.
Despite its different exterior appearance, the 2022 Nissan Frontier rides on the same platform as the outgoing model and is powered by the same 3.8L V6 engine. The V6 produces 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque and is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Canadian buyers will receive four-wheel drive as standard, which means they also don’t get the 4×2 PRO-X trim-level.
Standard equipment for the base S trim level includes an 8.0-inch color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two front 12V outlets, Rear Door Alert and Siri Eyes Free. Canadian models will also come standard with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety features, which includes rear automatic braking, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and high beam assist.
The 2022 Nissan Frontier will begin arriving at dealerships in the United States this summer.
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Comments
Not a bad looking truck. I think it looks just slightly better than the GM twins, much better than the Tacoma, but not as nice as the Ranger. But to read that this is really just a new skin on a set of old bones is not good. This truck is already one of the oldest and least competitive in the market. GM and Ford shouldn’t need to worry.
Thats really not true. The 3.8 and 9 speed transmission was introduced for the final year of the second gen Frontier. This powertrain has only been around for a year maybe 2.
JWL: So what part is not really true? So the engine and trans are what, 2-3 years old or more now? It’s still just not a competitive truck and will only really sell to the hard-core Nissan drivers.
I’m not saying it’s bad, just nothing more than new skin according to this article.
The 3.8 and nine speed were new for the 2020 model year. You said it is just new skin. I hardly think a new engine and transmission is just new skin. The Frontier now has the most recent powertrain for the mid size truck segment. Saying this is nothing more than a refresh is ridiculous.
Here’s a headline from another story about this “new” Nissan truck. It’s not just me saying this.
“2022 Nissan Frontier keeps the previous Frontier’s ages-old platform, and Nissan explains”
“Zac Palmer
Thu, February 4, 2021, 10:01 AM”
From Auto Blog
Well its pretty ridiculous to say that this is nothing more than a new skin JUST based on the engine being around for the final model year of the previous generation. The engine/transmission in the Colorado has been around for 5 years now so I don’t really get what your point is.
I get that its the same platform, but its not uncommon for automakers to use the same platform for decades through several generations. The platform that the Colorado is on has been around since the early 2010s, just not in North America.
I was surprised that this is riding on the same platform as the previous generation. The D40 has been around since 2005.
That’s very old.
I would have thought for sure that this was going to be a clean sheet design based on how old the previous generation is.
With that being said, I think the only thing that matters is the limitations of the new truck. If the chassis doesn’t feel old…then I don’t think it will be a problem.
However…if it feels like a D40 with new skin, I think buyers won’t go for it as much.
Price plays a factor, too…the D40 was a good value. Will this one be as well?
It’s a Tacoma.
Nice… but a lot of other manufacturer’s design elements in this Frontier.
– Grill & Headlights = Escalade-ish
– Front Aero = Silverado-vibe
– Color & Wheels = Tacoma-eeeh
– Side Profile = a blend of Silvy, F-150 & Ram
It’s becoming hard for anything to come out without noticing design cues that we’re tempted to say are rip offs from other truck brands.
That’s how imports “win” by cheating and copying American styling.
Right, and mulit-national U.S. companies don’t do the same thing.
Looks very good! It will sell well for Nissan. Now GM’s midsized trucks look like they are the oldest ones in the segment. Approximately 2 decades old! Not that they were stunners when they came out.
Ranger looks even older
I think nissan hit a home run with the style of this truck.
I agree it’s a nice update, the front looks ready for some action. They were clearly targeting Toyota because it has a strong Tacoma vibe to it. I’m still baffled why GM didn’t update the headlights and taillights with the Colorado and Canyon refresh. It would have gone a long way in making them appear more up to date.
It’s much better design from the job they did on pathfinder. While I’m not sure about the grill but the headlights look killer, side profile and rear nice too.
GM design teams should take notice and do a little more to bring the Colorado and Canyon trucks more in line with a modern design. When GM redesigned the Silverado/Sierra, I was hoping a similar redesign was going to happen to the small trucks, but sadly, they just made a few exterior tweaks and left it at that. They look really dated compared to their bigger cousins and the Ranger.
Im not a Nissan guy, but this isn’t bad.
I think the Ranger looks equally dated, but I agree on everything else.
Best looking truck you’ve ever seen? Seems a little extreme, it looks pretty good I’m this trim but let’s not get carried away.
The GM trucks are pretty old now. If they can’t improve upon a 7 year old truck why bother.
I assume the GM midsize will be new for 23.
Actually looks kinda good! At least the side gills blend into the bumper. Hoping 2022 SIlvey does too or goes away all together.
It looks really good, almost worth the wait. Maybe.
The Tacoma will is looking more irrelevant
So we have a older uncompetitive carry over platform with a uglier body.
That is not a rival but a loser.
This whoops anything from Garbage Manufacturing. Fully boxed frame, bulletproof V6 with 310 hp and no auto off/on nonsense, 9 speed auto, Dana 44 axles & Spicer transfer case on Pro-4X, made in USA, loaded with tech, great seats, best looking truck I’ve ever seen. I own a 2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X and it has only had two small warranty issues now at 75,000 miles.
I guess by that standard my “Garbage Manufacturing” 15 Duramax has whooped your Nissan since it has more miles, pulled much harder and only had 1 minor warranty issue.
Wow, the GM and USA fanboys on this site is too much. Colorado and Canyon had terrible quality issues both in Consumer reports and J D powers. Toyota and Nissan build more reliable vehicles period.
You realize you just posted this on a site called GM-Authority, right?
Did you not expect to find GM fans on this site?
And as for Nissan’s reliability, they are the Chrysler-Fiat of Japan. No thanks.
My apology, I guess I over estimated followers of this site to be objective rather than swallow everything GM builds is great while flying the “we’re number 1” foam finger seen at lowly Lions games. For the record, Nissan perception aside, the Nissan Frontier has a great reputation with it’s owners, not unlike the U.S. designed engineered and built (with higher U.S. parts content than Ford and Chevy) Tacoma. Colorado on the other hand, reliability and perception perfoms more like the Lions. Not that good. You may see a lot of Colorados in Day-twah (because of incentives), but out west it’s all Tacoma. Not even close, and it’s an older platform. Has GM learned anything?
Re-read… CR rated the twins low while the truck mags them higher than the Asian models. It may be due to the ZR2 but those two lost in off roading, gas mileage, 1/4 mile, and ergonomics.
I would believe the truck mags over the old people survey’s
In reality, it depends on the individual, a mixed bag of nuts….
Best looking truck ever? You have some poor taste and wearing some thick rose colored glasses. Lets dissect your childish fan boy rant a little shall we?
Bulletproof V6, that engine has been out for 1 year, going on 2. Please advise us on all those that have been trouble free past 300k with only oil changes…
Made in the USA, great, all the profits go to Japan. Do you have any idea how business finance/accounting works? Apparently not as you state that like it is some pro and helping America, not when the money goes back overseas it doesn’t. To give you a little lesson think of a business as a pyramid, everything flows up to the top and trickles (is allocated) back down. So that money spent manufacturing in the US is captured at the home office and paid to the Government there which in this case is Japan. Way to go helping the USofA…
The GM twins have a boxed frame, not sure what is so special about that. Not to mention this trucks uses a very lightly re-worked frame from a 2005 truck, the GM twins had a new design frame back in 2015. While the redesigned trucks in a few years will use an adaption of the current frame this one is already head and shoulders better than what Nissan had in 2006 and currently has with this lightly reworked 2022 frame, so I wouldn’t use that as a bragging point.
9 speed auto, the JATCO unit that is in the Titan. JATCO isn’t exactly known for making excellent truck transmissions, but they are know for making a CVT. Not sure I would put that as a plus, too early to tell.
Finally the new motor couldn’t even best the old one even being up nearly 50 hp in the 0-60 race against the old 4.0, that and it got the same real world mpg in test. Yeah, they did a fantastic job, haha.
Time will tell, but before you try and jab at GM and calling them Garbage Motors you might want to look in the mirror at Nissan and all their failings lately and why everything is so dated, falling in sales and known for some questionable reliability lately with weird styling. Atleast GM knows how to make a mechanically reliable truck that will last.
I know very little about Nissan, but this looks so much better than gm’s mid-sized twins. Never could get past the shrinking rear windows and the sloping roof line, just looks goofy to me.
Agree 100%
Toyota and Nissan are both multi-national just like GM. They have a heavy U.S. operation here and employ thousands of people, use U.S. suppliers and raw materials, and pay taxes here. How profits are accounted for and where they go are irrelevant. Toyota and others an important part of our economy. The consumer will spend on products that is the wisest for them. GM and Ford are still behind the preception and credibility gap. The Tacoma blows away Colorado and Ranger in sales figures. Nissan figured it out and designed a truck that looks like a Tacoma TRD off road.
My wife has a 3rd generation Murano after trading in her 2nd gen Murano. In 2017. What I’ve learned is Nissan takes a more conservative approach on upgrades. Between these two gens is nearly the same engine and chassis and suspension. It is silky smooth and extremely comfortable and plenty of power with only 260hp.
For the Frontier looks to be the same approach. First of all it is a truck. Not much you can do to a frame other than making in lighter with stronger steel at a cost. With all new suspension changes it will be a better ride. They’re using an engine that is only a few years old so no new surprises as could happen with a all new engine. Our Murano has an electric motor for the power steering bug still a rack and pinion. The Frontier stayed with the tried and true PS pump, therefore keeping the complexity down and cost.
With our two Murano’s and my daughter-in-law Sentra’s, it’s why I don’t believe Scotty (YouTube) when he knocks Nissan. They build good vehicles and this Frontier is on my shopping list a year from now to replace my 2012 trouble free Silverado. The Ranger auto stop is my turn off and mostly black interiors. The GMC Canyon Denali is a good contender.
I owned a 85 Nissan pickup that left me stranded 2 times on the highway in one of the coldest winters in Missouri. With 15k miles, my 1st was on 1-70 with wind chill -20 and a Cheyenne used his bumper to drag me to the side and I had to walk 1/2 mile and almost didn’t make it until I got a ride… Needless say with a frozen mouth I used every bad word I could think of when I got to the dealer… They had it towed and nothing wrong… The second time, was way worst…thought the cops were going to be called at the dealer… I ended up buying an S-10, no issues, loved my red truck. The second chance for Nissan, yes, I decided to give a second chance and bought a Sentra, at 17K miles, the car wobbled above speeds of 35, again no issues. sold it. And I never looked backed!
As for the refresh, like others, all Tacoma…. When the same engine that is 2 years old with NO enhancements, is OLD! In the GM case, there have been modifications/refresh for the 3.6 during transitions of models. Same for the v8’s and 4 cylinders. IMO, not that great of a refresh. Like I said, Tacoma, not a fanboy of that truck. It has issues as well.
I bet if you sat a 2016 Colorado next to the “new” Frontier, and let people choose, I bet the Colorado wins. You just have to be a loyal Nissan owner to buy it. You can rant all day, but no one here will buy it. again, JMO…
I’m not a Nissan fan but I well say the new Nissan Frontier looks the best of them all.
It is a good looking little pickup, cant take that away from it. Clearly the guys who designed the full size Titan didn’t have anything to do with the design of the Frontier. The new Colorado is going to have to earn its way when it releases. When they came back into the market, it was a pretty empty field. This field got real busy, a lot of decent midsize trucks to chose from. It will not be easy sledding in 2023.
Is there any insider info about when a new Colorado will be out?
Mid 2022 as a 2023 Model….