The 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Ready to tackle the biggest hurdles a good trail can toss its way, the new Nissan Frontier Pro-4X is reporting for duty. All-new for 2022, the Frontier is the brand’s successful midsize pickup truck. Napleton News had a chance to spend some time in this bread and butter truck. Here’s what we thought.

ALL-NEW FOR 2022

Well, almost. Nissan design engineers have touched just about every part of the Frontier. The result is a freshly updated vehicle that offers features that buyers expect in this current marketplace. The only exceptions are the boxed ladder frame chassis and the 3.8-liter V6 engine introduced last year.

Featuring styling direct from California, the new Nissan Frontier is reminiscent of the old Hardbody pickups of the 1980s. Think Baywatch. A new, more contemporary fashion is seen. In this case, you see a total update with new design cues and other features. The grille is more assertive looking and totally black on our Pro-4X model. The sides are taller, but the load floor is the same as before, in a nod to easy loading.

The new 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4x is available as a King Cab model with a 126-inch wheelbase or, as we experienced, a 140-inch wheelbase Crew Cab model. That’s roughly the same length as the previous generation, although the new nose on the 2022 model has grown 4.5 inches longer.

What’s under the hood of the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X?

A Nissan 3.8-liter V6 engine making 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque offers best-in-class power for the 2022 Frontier. In fairness, this engine was introduced in 2021 and used in the previous version of the Frontier of that year. The workhorse engine mates up to a 9-speed automatic transmission that replaces the 5-speed automatic of the previous version.

The new Frontier’s suspension has received a series of tweaks and upgrades that improve the past model’s ride quality and comfort. Engineers have brought back hydraulic steering, but several who have tried it complained it is slower and heavier than previously experienced. Sadly, the steering wheel does not telescope towards or away from the driver.

The Max Payload in the cargo bed of the Frontier is 1,610 pounds. Conversely, buyers will be able to tow up to 6,720 pounds.

Inside the Frontier

At the top of the list are our favorites. The Nissan Zero Gravity seating chalks up as an engineering marvel that manages to save one’s back and provide a comfortable ride at the same time. Thanks to some good details and upgraded technologies, the rest of the Frontier manages to keep up. These include a large 9-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard.

There’s a ton of interior storage space in the Frontier. Start with the door pockets. They are large with bottle holders and space for sunglasses and more. There’s more under the backseat and loads of storage space under the front row center console.

The one thing we did notice is the new 2022 Nissan Frontier rides quieter than most other trucks in its class. Credit should go to the increased insulation and higher grade of carpet found inside this newer hardbody truck. Laminated front-side glass makes it even better. When you couple those features with new hydraulic cab mounts, the Frontier now eliminates nearly 80-percent of the vibration from the prior generation of the vehicle.

Behind the wheel of the 2022 Nissan Frontier

The power behind the new 2022 Nissan Frontier helps make it an extremely capable vehicle with enough guts to take you wherever and whenever you want to go. If that means to the job site or the supermarket, so be it. If it’s an off-road camping trip, that works too. We’d recommend the added robustness of the Pro-4X model, though.

Maneuverability is quite good, although, at low speeds, it may feel as though the Frontier’s steering mechanism may be a bit slow in some situations. Step on the gas and things ease up. When finally at speed, few trucks feel better.

But wait, there’s more!

The new Frontier has stimulated Nissan Designers to arrive at the Chicago Auto Show with not one or two but three special Frontier Concept vehicles. First was Project 72X, a throwback to the 1972 model, complete with steel wheels. Next was Project Hardbody, a throwback to Baywatch! Finally, Project Adventure follows the overlander trend of camping in your truck, wherever it may have taken you.

Whether they make it to market or not, the three project trucks show you what the new Nissan Frontier is capable of.