Make Way for a New Road Warrior: The All-New 2022 Frontier

What were you doing in 2004? The iPhone hadn’t yet been introduced, but that didn’t stop the world from documenting their lives on a new website called Facebook. It was the same year Americans bid farewell to Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, and the rest of the Friends cast while welcoming sequels like Shrek 2, Spider-Man 2, and Ocean’s Twelve to the box office. Coincidentally, Nissan introduced a sequel of its own with the debut of the second-generation Frontier, a rival to the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger. Little did anyone know, however, that it would be 18 years before we’d see an updated model grace the lots of our Nissan Frontier dealership.

Eighteen years is a long time in the automotive industry, especially when you look at the advancements in technology. During this time, the Frontier saw several improvements that kept it alive and well in the Nissan lineup but nothing extraordinary that would welcome a third-generation model. This makes the debut of the 2022 Frontier, the first iteration of the third generation, truly remarkable, unexpected, and loaded with a suite of new technology that we’ve anxiously awaited.

#1 Versatile, Rugged, and Modern

The Frontier is beloved for its size and maneuverability; it’s small enough to navigate a busy urban area, but it’s also a capable performer when the pavement ends. For 2022, Nissan builds on these characteristics and delivers a Frontier that embodies everything Americans love about midsize trucks. It’s rugged, capable, versatile, and modern. These traits are instantly apparent in its massive front grille and chiseled hood, wider stance, and LED lighting found on models like the PRO-4X that’s destined for the trail. It’s also evident in new exterior colors like Tactical Green Metallic and Boulder Gray Pearl that accentuate the Frontier’s ruggedness.

#2 Capable and Agile

We’ve waited 18 years for an update, and Nissan delivers big with the 2022 Frontier. The truck comes standard with a 3.8-liter V6 engine that was first introduced in 2020. Paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, the engine delivers best-in-class power at 310 horses and 281 lb-ft of torque for exceptional pull and capability. This doesn’t hinder the truck’s efficiency, with the Frontier averaging 18 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway on two-wheel drive models and 17 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway on four-wheel drive models. As expected, these averages will vary based on load, especially with the Frontier towing its max of 6,720 pounds.

#3 Adventurous and Off-Road Ready

The Frontier has always been a capable adventurer, but that’s even truer in 2022. For Nissan, the Frontier is “the future of 4-wheeling,” and that’s courtesy of a driver-selectable four-wheel drive system that gives you the capability and control you need to blaze a new trail. The system allows you to manually switch between 2WD, 4H, and 4LO to deliver the best performance possible for the terrain at hand. The Intelligent Around View Monitor with Off-Road Mode extends this performance by outfitting the truck with a virtual spotter for the trail ahead. This gives you a clear view of the obstacles ahead of the truck on the center touchscreen display.

You’ll find these tools on the Frontier PRO-4X, which is also equipped with Bilstein off-road shocks, skid plates, and off-road gauges that constantly monitor the pitch and roll of the truck on the trail. You can further customize the Frontier with a suite of off-road accessories like a Sports Bar with integrated LED brake and bed lights, off-road step rails, and PRO-4X mud flaps. Other upgrades include 17-inch beadlock-style wheels that give the PRO-4X a more rugged appearance.

#4 Confidence-Inspiring Tools

Nissan equips the 2022 Frontier with the tools you need to have confidence on any terrain. With the push of a button, Hill Descent Control helps you maneuver steep grades by maintaining the Frontier’s speed and brake pressure to deliver a controlled and steady descent. Hill Start Assist is designed to keep the Frontier from rolling backward on a steep grade by holding brake pressure long enough for you to engage the accelerator. The Active Brake Limited Slip tool actively monitors traction and, when it senses a loss of traction or grip on the road, it transfers power and torque to the wheel with the most traction. This is ideal in off-road situations or on slippery terrains like snow, rain, or ice.

#5 Comfort at Every Turn

The third-generation Frontier proves to be the most luxurious and comfortable, with a redesigned interior that’s designed with your comfort in mind. Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats find their way into the truck and give you a comfortable, plush ride, while the heated seats and heated steering wheel are modern conveniences that usher the Frontier into the same realm as its rivals. What’s truly remarkable is that this comfort extends across every trim and Frontier configuration, whether you’re opting for the King Cab that offers seating for four and rear-swinging pillarless doors or the Crew Cab with a 60-40-split rear bench that offers seating for five and a hidden storage compartment.

#6 Exceptional Connectivity

The 2022 Frontier is home to the latest connectivity features, all of which were unimaginable when the Frontier was last updated in 2004. The Frontier offers a 9-inch touchscreen display, the largest in the segment, that’s home to the infotainment system, navigation, and smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The truck features the largest standard driver gauge display in its class, an available WiFi hotspot, and an onboard personal assistant and lifeline via Alexa and Google Assistant. Other updates and tools include a wireless phone charging station and a premium Fender audio system.

#7 Remote Access at Your Fingertips

The 2022 Frontier prioritizes your convenience with tools like the NissanConnect Services app, which is available on your smartphone. Through the app, you can locate the truck, start the engine, honk the horn, and flash the lights regardless of your distance. The app’s capability doesn’t stop there, however. It works overtime to maximize your safety with the available Automatic Collision Notification that calls emergency personnel the moment your airbags deploy, saving you precious time in an accident.

#8 A Frontier Force Field

Imagine a force field around the Frontier that constantly works to enhance your visibility and minimize the potential for collision. That’s the inspiration behind the Frontier’s Safety Shield 360 suite of safety and driver-assist tools. The suite includes tools like Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection that alerts you to potential collisions and automatically engages the brakes as needed to avoid impact. Rear Automatic Braking works similarly and looks out for the rear of the Frontier while Blind Spot Warning monitors the Frontier’s blind spots.

The suite’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert makes backing out of busy areas easier, while Lane Departure Warning helps you keep the Frontier centered in its lane. High Beam Assist automatically dims the lights for oncoming traffic. Other enhanced tools like Intelligent Cruise Control are great add-ons that make driving the Frontier more enjoyable by actively monitoring the traffic ahead and adjusting the Frontier’s cruising speed as needed.

Blaze a New Frontier

The 2022 Frontier is long overdue after Nissan waited nearly two decades to fully update the midsize truck. When you look at everything the latest Frontier has to offer, the wait seems worthwhile and ushers the Frontier into the modern era. It’s an era where iPhones are plentiful, our living rooms double as movie theaters, and social media sites reign supreme. We simply hope that we won’t have to wait as long for the next Frontier generation.