LOOKS

With the complete redesign, there is basically no carryover from the outdated prior Frontier model, which is a good thing.

The front end design is much bolder, modern and eye-catching than the previous edition’s look. It’s a truck you would want to have in your driveway. The available sunroof is a nice touch for sunny days.

My test vehicle featured 17-inch alloy wheels, a front skid plate, LED lighting all around, dual power outside mirrors, a sliding rear window, locking tailgate, bed rail protectors, a cargo lamp, tow hooks and over-fender flares.

Moving inside, the Frontier offers a roomy and comfortable setup, with lots of headroom and legroom. It even featured under-seat storage in the rear of the vehicle.

This modern and much upscale interior is an upgrade from the previous model. Features include: Leather steering wheel, leather shifter, stitched seating, power windows, a 6-way power driver’s seat, 4-way manual adjustable passenger seat, and push-button start. You also get dual-zone front climate control.

Helpful step rails are offered to help you access the vehicle, and I would recommend getting them.

Among the option packages available is the Pro Convenience Package, which gets you: Spray-in bedliner, heated outside mirrors, heated steering wheel, heated front seats, remote engine start, trailer hitch with wiring harness, and an Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2022 Nissan Frontier is powered by a 3.8-liter, V6 engine, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This generates a best-in-class 310 horsepower, and 281 lb.-ft. of torque.

It also features Bilstein Off-Road Shocks, and a Rear Suspension Stabilizer. Maximum towing numbers are 6,720 pounds, and payload is capped at 1,610 pounds.

My test vehicle (a Pro-X version) was a 2WD vehicle, but 4WD models are also available. The vehicle features Hills Start Assist and Trailer Sway Control.

In my experience driving the 2WD version of the Frontier, it handled well in all conditions, including snow and rain. The Pro-X also did a great job navigating pothole-infested winter roads, and the Pro-4X will do even better in this regard.

The Frontier offers decent acceleration, but nothing spectacular, at just under 8 seconds. It is quite responsive to driver input, and quieter than you would expect for a truck. This means it can double as a family ride in addition to handling tough roads, towing and hauling cargo.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Nissan's technology setup (called NissanConnect) is updated and greatly improved on the 2022 Frontier.

In addition to the touch controls being well-placed and easy to comprehend, voice commands work very well and there are prompts on screen to help you along in the process. My only hiccup with voice commands came with the Navigation system, which didn't always recognize addresses.

The NissanConnect system offers a 9-inch color touchscreen, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for phone mirroring, Bluetooth connection to stream music and calls and texts to the vehicle, SiriusXM satellite radio, Nissan’s Door-to-Door Navigation, and an optional Wi-Fi Hotspot.

Sonically, you get a 6-speaker sound system standard, but can upgrade to a 10-speaker Fender Premium Audio system. There are also four USB connections, and optional wireless phone charging.

Moving on to safety, the Frontier offers a bevy of impressive safety features. For starters, you get a full complement of air bags to keep all passengers safe. The rearview monitor is helpful in parking situations.

Helpful safety systems that are standard include: Anti-lock Braking, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Brake Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System,  Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, and Intelligent Forward Collision Warning.

An optional Technology Package (for less than $1,000) will get you important safety features such as: Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Sonar System, Rear Automatic Braking, Intelligent Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition and more. This package is well worth the cost.

MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on the 2022 Frontier Pro=X I tested were 18 city/24 highway/20 combined.

These numbers are slightly lower than the competition to start with. And in real-world testing, I averaged closer to 15 mpg in the Frontier. This was in part due to cold weather, but still a bit disappointing.
 

PRICE

The Frontier I tested was at the top of the price range and was priced just over $44,000, but the base price starts about $29K. These numbers are generally in line with rivals — such as the Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon and Toyota Tacoma. The Honda Ridgeline is the outlier in this segment, starting at $38K.

The Frontier comes in Crew Cab and King Cab options, and trim levels include S, SV, PRO-X and PRO-4X.

If you want to spend less on a truck, there are cheaper options, such as the Ford Maverick, but those will be smaller in size, less powerful and overall offer a more disappointing experience vs. the Frontier.

BOTTOM LINE

A big step up from the ancient previous version of the vehicle, the 2022 Nissan Frontier competes impressively with segment leaders in the mid-size truck market. 

Design inside and out has improved, along with overall ride capability and performance.  For the first time in a while, the 2022 Nissan Frontier is definitely worth a test drive for truck shoppers. 

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.