The Last Honest Pickup: Nissan Frontier

Staff

The 2023 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X is a handsome truck, we recently had the opportunity to test its off-road capabilities at the annual Texas Motor Press Association Off-Road Invitational this year held in Bryan, Texas.

The first generation of the Nissan Frontier was produced from 1997 to 2004 and was offered with a choice of a four-cylinder or a V6 engine. It was available in both extended and crew cab versions, and it featured a rugged, truck-like design with a solid front axle and rear leaf springs.

In 2005, Nissan introduced the second generation of the Frontier, which featured a more modern and refined design. This generation of the Frontier was available with a choice of a four-cylinder or V6 engine and was offered in both extended and crew cab versions. It also featured a number of technological improvements, including a more advanced suspension and an available navigation system.

In 2010, Nissan released the third generation of the Frontier, which featured a more powerful V6 engine and a more stylish and refined exterior design. This generation of the Frontier was available in both extended and crew cab versions and offered a number of advanced features, including a touchscreen display and a rearview camera.

The current, fourth generation of the Nissan Frontier was introduced in 2020 and features a completely redesigned exterior and interior, as well as a more powerful V6 engine and improved fuel efficiency. It is available in both extended and crew cab versions and offers a number of advanced features, including a touchscreen display and a suite of advanced safety technologies.

The new Frontier has a classic feel and more traditional truck styling than most competitors in the mid-size pickup class when compared to the Ford Ranger or Honda Ridgeline. Offered in a King Cab or Crew-Cab with a 5- or 6-foot box, the only drivetrain offered is a 310-hp V6 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, the only differences are between trim levels. Ranging from a work truck-focused S base to the loaded Pro-X or Pro-4X models. While it doesn’t have class-leading towing, that honor goes to the Tacoma, the Frontier still offers a lot of value for the mid-size truck shopper. 

Introduced just last year, there are just a few options for changes for 2023. The SV Convenience Package is now standard in the SV Crew Cab long bed, which includes heated seats and steering wheel, bed lighting, and s spray-in bed liner. The Midnight Edition, available on the Crew Cab SV models gets 17-inch black wheels, blacked-out trim, and black mirrors. The Pro-X and Pro-4X get wireless Apple CarPlay standard and the Pro Premium package gets Lava Red contrast stitching. 

Heading out onto the off-road course getting into 4WD is easy, no searching through endless touch screens for different off-road settings, just turn the dial and go. The Pro-4X comes ready for adventure thanks to all-terrain tires, Bilstein dampers, skid plates, and an electronically locking rear differential. While the architecture of the truck is shared with the previous generation Nissan has reinforced the suspension mounting points, improved the body mounts, and changed the bump stops. Most of the suspension carries over from the previous generation as well, with coils up front and leaf springs in the back, but the new Frontier benefits from updated chassis tuning, anti-roll bars, and dampening. Giving the Pro-4X a refined ride on the highway, but great capabilities off-road.

The 4X4 system might be simple, but it gets the job done, in four-wheel-high, the Frontier can rip down dirt roads and in low it can climb steep grades and over obstacles. The Pro-4X offers everything you would want in a less-than-full-size off-road pickup in a package that is thousands less than the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. We had fun on the trails before taking on the obstacle course where the Pro-4X tackled all the challenges with ease.