The Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road and Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 are arguably the two most popular off-road pickups currently on the market, but now there’s a new kid on the block looking to prove himself. Nissan recently completely revamped the Frontier with a new look, an updated cabin, and upgraded components, bridging the gap between the Frontier and its rivals.
The question this inevitably raises is whether the new Frontier is now a good buy or whether the already established segment leaders are still the ones to go for. To find that out, we drove the new Frontier Pro-4X and put it through its paces.
Important Specs for the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X
First things first, let’s talk about what matters most: the powertrain. The Frontier Pro-4X is equipped with Nissan’s trustworthy 3.8-liter 24-valve V6, making 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque in naturally-aspirated form. It’s mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels in the Pro-4X and the rear wheels in the Pro-X variant.
Even though the lack of a manual option is somewhat disappointing, the 9-speed auto is really smooth and it’s well-behaved both in town and when off-roading. The engine has plenty of grunt too, especially at the top end. The rated 0 to 60 mph is 7.3 seconds and it’ll do the standing quarter mile in 15.6 seconds, but in reality, it feels quicker than that. It certainly feels punchier than the Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
The wheelbase is 126 inches, making it roughly an inch shorter than the Tacoma, and in terms of overall length, it’s just three inches shorter than the Toyota. Unfortunately, at 4,772 pounds, it’s some 200 pounds heavier than the Tacoma, but in reality, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference with the extra grunt of that punchy V6.
For off-road aficionados out there, you’ll be pleased to know the Pro-4X has a 32.3-degree approach angle, a 19.6-degree breakover angle, and a 23-degree departure angle. It’s also got 9.4 inches of ground clearance, which is slightly better than most of its competitors.
Highlights of the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X
Styling-wise, Nissan did a really good job when molding the new Frontier. It finally looks meaner and much more purposeful. The front end is especially good-looking thanks to the updated LED headlights and the new front grille which was shaped after the Titan grille. The color lineup includes classics such as Deep Blue Pearl and Red Alert, but the Frontier looks particularly good with Tactical Green Metallic or Baja Storm Metallic. They suit the character of the truck and make the new design pop.
The Frontier Pro-4X is special because it gets a locking rear differential that should come in handy when off-roading, upgraded shocks to provide extra travel and stiffness, and skid plates to protect the much valuable underside components. It also gets Pro-4X unique wheels coupled with rugged all-terrain tires.
The interior is equally pleasant as well. This isn’t a Range Rover or a Bentley, but the cabin isn’t one to sneer at. The materials feel good and the build quality is solid. Nothing squeaks or rattles and the whole thing feels like it was built to last a really long time. The seats are particularly comfy and you could easily do hundreds of miles in the new Frontier without getting tired.
The design is a bit utilitarian admittedly, but that’s what you’d expect from a Nissan Frontier off-road pickup, isn’t it? Even though there’s an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, and an optional 9-inch screen is available as well, all of the important stuff can still be operated with good old-fashioned buttons. It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as several charging outlets and a very welcome USB-C port.
The gauge cluster has two circular dials on either side, and a smaller 7-inch color display in the middle. It’s nothing special or too exciting, but the dials are easy to read and understand, although Nissan could have labeled stuff better. For instance, even though it has a selectable voltmeter, trans temp gauge, and oil pressure and temperature, they’re not labeled and Nissan expects you to understand what they are based on the decorative circles and icons.
What the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X is Lacking
The biggest downside of the Frontier Pro-4X is its limited bed size. You can’t have it in a short-cab long-bed version, so you’re stuck with the dual cab and the five-foot bed. Admittedly, most people prefer that configuration, but it would have been good to have that option for people who need a larger truck bed.
Fuel economy is also not great, but it isn’t terrible either given the size of the truck and the engine displacement. Nissan claims 20 mpg on a highway cruise and 17 mpg in town, which is realistic and you can easily hit those figures if you don’t have a lead foot. A manual transmission might have improved the fuel economy by a few mpg, so it’s a bit of a shame that Nissan decided not to offer one.
Although you can get the Pro-X for slightly cheaper than the Pro-4X, the 4WD system is really good and it will come in handy when you’re in mud or sand. The Pro-4X will retain its resale value better too.
There’s not much else to complain about though. If we’re nitpicking, the interior could be slightly better designed and more lavish, but that’s something not many pickup owners think about when buying or on a daily basis for that matter.
Overall, the 2023 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X is a really good choice if you’re after an off-road pickup that can do it all. It’s a really good daily driver but it won’t shy away from a good off-road adventure either. It’s equally at home in the city as it is in the desert.
The powerful engine is definitely the star of the entire package, followed closely by the updated suspension which soaks up bumps with ease. We can safely say it’s not just a great alternative to Toyota’s Tacoma and Chevy’s Silverado, but a contender that’s just as good in many areas, if not better. And to dress it up, enhance the power, or make it personally yours, 4 Wheel Parts has an excellent range of products designed for it.
2