Long-delayed Frontier remake to strengthen Nissan for ‘22
The competitiveness of the U.S. compact/ midsize pickup segment, fueled by the addition of a turbodiesel engine to the Jeep Gladiator, is primed to intensify even further in late summer, based on a virtual global reveal of the 2022 Nissan Frontier earlier this month.
Nissan’s ’22 version will be the first major renewal of the Frontier since 2005. Its sales have fallen sharply. The tough little truck was one of my favorites – 10 years ago, but has been far outdated since.
It competes against, besides the Gladiator, the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon and Honda Ridgeline.
The global watch, paired with unveiling, too, of the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, has stirred interest in revival of Nissan products.
The upcoming Frontier will remain on a 126-inch wheelbase, with overall length increasing by
5 inches and height by 3 inches. There will be power aplenty with the 3.8-liter V-6 of 310 horsepower and 281 lb.-ft. of torque and 9-speed automatic transmission (manual tranny will not be available). Nissan surprisingly slipped the new engine/transmission last summer into a late run of 2020 Frontiers, one of which I drove.
If the new-engine update in the old-style model intended to boost sales, it didn’t. Nissan sold only 36,845 Frontiers in 2020, fifth best among the compacts.
It was a pleasure, particularly the 9-speed tranny and its oft, quick shifts. The new engine/transmission combination boosted fuel mileage by a couple miles per gallon; my drives averaged 21.5 miles per gallon. The new direct-injection V-6 delivers low-end torque and provides quick response with the shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system.
The ’22 will be available in four-door Crew Cab configuration with 5-foot bed or the extended King Cab with 6-foot bed. Trim levels will include S, SV, Pro-X and Pro-4X. The latter will be offered only in 4X4 with Bilstein shocks, skid plates and two-speed transfer case. The Frontier is built at Canton, Miss.
All four trims will come standard with forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, damped tailgate and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Other standard items are push-button start, leather shift knob, manual-tilt steering, power door locks and power windows. Beginning basic prices are expected to run from $27,000 to $38,000.
The interior’s center stack will feature a touchscreen with 7-inch information display. There are nooks and crannies between the front seats, in the doors and under the rear seats.
Sales of compact/midsize pickups in the U.S. last year were Toyota Tacoma 238,806, Ford Ranger 101,486, Chevy Colorado 96,238, Jeep Gladiator 77,542, Nissan Frontier 36,845, Honda Ridgeline 32,168 and GMC Canyon 25,190.
Sales in the U.S. of compact pickups way back in 2004 were Ford Ranger 156,322, Toyota Tacoma 152,932, Chevrolet Colorado 117,475, Dodge Dakota 105,614, Nissan Frontier 70,703, GMC Canyon 27,193 and Mazda B series 10,266.