2025 Nissan Frontier
Written by Marco V. Carvajal
The rock-solid midsize Frontier pickup truck is Nissan’s one and only pickup truck for sale in the U.S.
The brand, which focuses on Crossovers and SUVs, such as the popular Rogue and Pathfinder models, also produces the pickup truck Frontier to expand its market coverage to drivers who prefer a rugged and durable country truck.
Small yet strong and powerful, the 2025 Nissan Frontier can impress drivers with its combination of midsize proportions and strong power.
New Frontier with More Power
Starting at only $32K, the Nissan Frontier is supercharged with a standard 310-horsepower V6 engine, available in 2×2, 4×4, and 4WD PRO-4X configurations with off-road capability.
The Frontier is available with the choice of a Crew Cab or King Cab, depending on the trim model, and with a standard-size bed or a Long Bed on the Long Bed Pro 4X trim model.
The new Nissan pickup truck is available in trim models S, SV, Pro-X, Pro-4X, and SL, with many different configurations.
The evolution of Nissan’s pickup trucks began in the 1950s, laying the groundwork for the Nissan Frontier that I am test-driving.
As part of recent improvements, the last generation began with the 2022 Frontier, which continues to evolve.
In 2023, the Frontier was redesigned with a bold new look, advanced technology, and stronger performance, producing the third generation. There were more Frontier trim models, including off-road-focused models with special features. Then, in 2024, the new Frontier Hardbody Edition brings back classic styling with modern performance.
Recently, with the 2025 and 2026 Frontier versions, Nissan continues to enhance and upgrade this pickup truck with more standard features, under the umbrella of the third-generation Frontier.
New for the 2025 Frontier Car Year Model
For the 2025 Nissan Frontier, numerous driver assistance and safety technologies are now standard across all models, offering more features for less money and greater savings for car buyers, from the S trim through the SL trim models. The new standard features include Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Parking Sensors, High Beam Assist, and Intelligent Cruise Control. The Nissan Frontier SL also features Traffic Sign Recognition.
The 2025 Frontier exterior is more aggressive-looking, featuring a squared-off appearance with a revised front fascia, grille, and bumper design; a new tailgate finisher for PRO-X/PRO-4X; redesigned dashboard trim; a new 17-inch alloy wheel design; and the introduction of a new Afterburn Orange paint color.
Frontier SV trim models and higher add a modern 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, allowing drivers to use on-screen functions more effectively. New features include wireless Android Auto connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay, enabling cordless smartphone mirroring.
Adding more standard features for the 2025 car year model, all Frontier models now come with a standard sliding rear window and a sunglasses holder in the overhead console. SV models now have standard 17-inch alloy wheels. On SL trim models, a wireless phone charger, Intelligent Around View, Monitor, and a four-way power passenger seat also become standard. Nissan wants to give more for the same or less money, making this pickup truck a more attractive alternative to the competition.
Some of the competitors of the Frontier include the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Ford Maverick, Chevy Colorado, Honda Ridgeline, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and GMC Canyon, all competing in a challenging market where drivers want more for their money.
Highlights of the 2025 Nissan Frontier
- 310 Horsepower
- Standard V6 Engine
- 7,150 Lbs. Towing Capacity
- 281 Lb-ft of Torque
- Starting Low price of $32,150
- 6 Trim Models
- 4×2 or 4×4 Drivetrain available
- Electronic Locking Rear Differential
- Mid-Size Pickup Truck
- Crew or King Cab
- Apple CarPlay integration
Fuel Economy
With an average gas consumption of 16 MPG to 24 MPG, this truck is not the most economical, but it offers a typical fuel consumption similar to most pickup trucks.
- 2025 Nissan Frontier (2WD): 19 mpg city – 24 mpg highway – 21 mpg combined
- 2025 Nissan Frontier (4WD): 17 mpg city – 21 mpg highway – 19 mpg combined
- 2025 Nissan Frontier (4WD PRO-4X): 16 mpg city – 20 mpg highway – 18 mpg combined
Driving the Frontier
The Frontier is a good truck to drive in the city or on country roads. Although it is not the fastest midsize pickup, it boasts a powerful V6 engine that truly shines in everyday driving. There is ample midrange grunt, and the transmission offers smooth shifts, even under full throttle.
If you choose the Frontier Four Wheel Drive model PRO-4X, the Electronic Locking Rear Differential engages when 4×4 isn’t enough, delivering equal power to both rear wheels and boosting traction to help keep you moving forward, even on the most challenging off-road conditions.
The Frontier’s brakes are equally straightforward, easy to operate in city traffic, yet powerful enough to bring the truck to a swift halt when needed.
Confident handling is a notable strength of the Frontier; this pickup truck feels planted in corners, even with its all-terrain tires.
The heavy steering could improve. It is not as easy to maneuver through a parking lot or on a trail at low speed. On the positive side, the Frontier pickup truck can handle its fair share of rough terrain.
I enjoy the Frontier’s comfortable ride quality; steep inclines and potholes are simply shrugged off at high speeds, and the Frontier remains equally composed in the city. The interior cab could be quieter on the highway.
The Frontier’s maximum payload is 1,480 pounds, and its maximum towing capacity is 7,150 pounds. The latter is sufficient for pulling a small or medium-sized trailer without too much difficulty.
History of Nissan Pickup Trucks
In the late 1950s, Nissan, previously known as Datsun, introduced its first small pickup truck in the United States market. These early trucks set the stage for a truck evolution over the next two decades.
Datsun built its first pickup, the Datsun 220, in 1959. It was a small, lightweight truck designed for efficiency and reliability, followed by other pickup truck models like the Datsun 320, the Datsun 620, and the Datsun 720 released in 1980, this is the year when the Datsun brand name was retired from the market as the new name Nissan took over.
The D22 Frontier was then introduced in the US and Canada in 1997 to replace the D21 Hardbody. In other markets, the D22 Frontier is also known as the Navara, Frontier Navara, NP300, Hardbody, or Pickup, among other names.
It was replaced by the D40 Frontier in 2004 for the 2005 model year, which was produced in the US for both the US and Canadian markets up to the 2021 model year.
Then the new 2022 Frontier pickup truck model that we know today started to appear in the US as a replacement of the previous pickup trucks.
Interior Style
Nissan has made great strides in interior design, and the Frontier benefits from many of those advancements. The large, easy-to-read infotainment touchscreen dominates the interior, still leaving ample room for climate controls and various other buttons.
The Frontier has a standard 8-inch touchscreen or an optional 12.3-inch screen standard on higher trim models. Wireless smartphone charging is available, as is the 10-speaker Fender audio system.
The front seat cushioning is a bit too firm and flat, and the lack of seat adjustments means it can be difficult to find an optimal seating position. I enjoy seating and driving the Frontier, but it is a rough pickup truck, don’t expect a luxurious interior.
The climate control system is relatively straightforward and capable of maintaining a comfortable temperature on even the hottest days.
Some of the control buttons are difficult to locate at times. The clunky instrument panel menus and their steering wheel-mounted controls could be more intuitive.
There’s an optional surround-view camera system for the Frontier pickup truck. It can help with parking, but the camera’s view looks low-resolution.
Optional accessories include adjustable tie-down cleats, a spray-on bed liner, under-rail lighting, and a 120-volt power outlet.
There’s ample storage space inside the cab thanks to a large tray in front of the shifter, cupholders, and the space for the optional wireless charging pad.
Additionally, the center console under the armrest is large enough to hold a couple of small bottles. The door pockets for both front and rear passengers are of average size.
Nissan Frontier is a Good Buy
The Nissan Frontier is a great option for those seeking a powerful, capable, comfortable, and affordable mid-size truck backed by the Nissan brand. It offers several advantages over some of its main competitors, making it a smart choice for those who require a truck for work or play.
The new Nissan Frontier offers a comfortable ride and respectable towing and hauling capabilities, with the advantage of its low starting pricing of around $32K, with several standard features and recent enhancements.
