Nissan Frontier Professional-4X Evaluate: Higher Than A Tacoma?

With so a lot of its rivals shifting to smaller turbocharged engines or including electrification, Nissan is content material with retaining the Frontier easy. At the very least, for a short time longer.

Even with a minor replace for 2025, the refreshed Frontier stays the definition of simplicity. This can be a no-nonsense, old-school, just-like-your-grandad used to drive form of pickup—and that’s a part of what makes it so rattling charming.

It begins with the engine. The identical 3.8-liter V6 that debuted on this truck 4 years in the past carries over into 2026 unchanged. It produces 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, paired to a nine-speed automated transmission.

The Frontier’s V6 definitely isn’t the torqueiest engine on the market; off-the-line acceleration is okay, however merging onto the freeway requires beneficiant throttle stress. With no turbocharging or electrical help, torque peaks at a not-so-generous 4,400 rpm. The V6 isn’t precisely sounding desperate to get there both—it may be droning.

The excellent news is that the nine-speed automated is usually seamless—you barely even understand it’s there. In the fitting spec, the Frontier additionally has a max towing capability of seven,150 kilos (or 6,680 kilos on this Professional-4X spec), larger than a few of its four-cylinder rivals.

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

The usual Frontier’s trip is unremarkable—borderline uncomfortable. However the Professional-4X examined right here provides some particular off-road upgrades that make for a extra livable truck as a complete. That features stronger mounting factors, retuned suspension elements, and naturally, Bilstein dampers.

It also needs to be famous that the Frontier additionally obtained just a few visible tweaks for the 2025 mannequin yr, together with new wheel choices and the eye-searing Citrus Strike paint job you see right here. It’s undoubtedly eye-catching, for higher or worse, and it pairs effectively with the Lava Crimson exterior accents customary on the Professional-4X mannequin.

Photographs by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Photographs by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Whereas I didn’t take this truck off-road, it did carry out like an absolute champ in visitors. Even with knobby Hankook tires, it has a a lot nicer trip high quality than the bottom truck. It doesn’t sure as aggressively over bumps or crash down as arduous on pavement. But, you continue to know precisely what’s taking place beneath you always—which is strictly what you need in an off-road truck.

The Frontier’s hydraulic steering stays unremarkable, with a heavy rotation, no variable-ratio rack, and a fairly terrible turning radius. Attempting to make a U-turn on this truck is a tall order. The Professional-4X’s upgraded suspension definitely cuts down on physique roll, however it’s nonetheless a far cry from Toyota’s TRD Professional or Ford’s Raptor specs.

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

The place these vehicles largely restrict you to crew cab with a brief mattress configurations, Nissan nonetheless presents a protracted mattress possibility on the Professional-4X. This specific truck continues to be the shorter five-foot mattress possibility, however it’s good to know that the longer 6-foot mattress additionally exists on the off-road trim.

Nissan nonetheless lags behind the competitors on the tech entrance—the gauges are analog, for instance (although some individuals may favor that within the period of display screen oversaturation). You may no less than get the Professional-4X with the bigger 12.3-inch display screen, because the one examined right here, and even with some outdated graphics, all of it works effectively sufficient. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary, as is Bluetooth, satellite tv for pc radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Nissan Frontier Verdict

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

For $48,735 as examined, you possibly can definitely do worse than the Nissan Frontier Professional-4X—and that’s with choices just like the $3,080 Premium package deal (a Fender premium audio system, leather-based seats, and so on.) and the $1,640 Professional comfort package deal (trailer hitch harness, spray-on bedliner, heated exterior mirrors, and so on.). The bottom Professional-4X begins at simply $43,615 with the usual mattress.

It needs to be stated that the Frontier Professional-4X doesn’t stack up with true off-roaders like Toyota’s TRD Professional or Ford’s Raptor fashions. As an alternative, the Frontier Professional-4X performs within the mid-range off-road area (suppose, TRD Off-Street or Tremor), and is priced competitively.

Wherever it suits, the Frontier is a strong truck. When you favor an analog, old-school really feel, that is the pickup to get. And if you’d like a little bit of added toughness, the Professional-4X does simply sufficient with out going overboard.