• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, September 22, 2025

There’s a lot to like about the Frontier -- even if you aren’t a pickup truck devotee or off-road-driving lover. 

Midsize pickup trucks are all the rage, and the Frontier’s competitive set includes the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado. Even Hyundai is getting in on the action, announcing to investors last week that it will build its first midsize truck for the U.S. market before 2030.

I feel like this is an under-the-radar truck, and I’m not entirely sure why. While Nissan has put an emphasis on full-line marketing, Frontier has gotten some individual attention. 

“Epic Drop” from Nissan United shows how the pickup can catch a 600-pound cargo drop from a helicopter, and ride on like it’s just another day.  A dealer spot, “Happy Monday,” shows how a commuter can go from the great outdoors to the office in no time at all thanks to his trusty Frontier. 

I spent a week driving the Frontier around the city. While I couldn’t find any reasons to use the pickup truck bed (it was a lost opportunity to move furniture -- or at least bags of mulch), I was thoroughly impressed with the vehicle's comfort and maneuverability.

It was very parallel-parking-friendly on city streets. And the truck was easy to find in a parking lot, thanks to the new unmissable Afterburn Orange paint, exclusive to the Pro-X and Pro-4X models. 

Responding to the diverse needs of truck customers, the 2025 Frontier expands availability of the Crew Cab long-wheelbase configuration from SV to SV, PRO-4X and SL grades. With a 6-foot bed, this caters to Frontier drivers looking to carry larger loads, whether for a job or weekend hobbies.

Listening to customer feedback, Nissan made multiple functional revisions that make living with the Frontier more convenient. A telescopic-adjusting steering wheel is newly standard on all grades, while a four-way power passenger seat becomes standard on the PRO-X/PRO-4X and SL grades. On SV grades and higher, the six-way power driver's seat now adds two-way power lumbar.

The seats are generous and comfortable in both rows. The truck isn't that much higher than an SUV, and it’s easy to get in and out of thanks to well-positioned grab handles.

Its powertrain would make Goldilocks happy -- it’s just right, with 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque for easy freeway merging. 

I really appreciate how Nissan has made numerous driver assistance and safety technologies standard across all grades, from S through SL. Those include lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, high beam assist and intelligent cruise control. Frontier SL also features traffic sign recognition.

With an MSRP of $41,770 for the base model, it's a lot of truck for the money.