The 2025 Nissan Frontier Is Refreshingly Old-School: Review

Small vans used to personify simplicity. As of late, not a lot. Most of them are loaded to the brim with fancy hybrid powertrains and supercar-rivaling trick suspensions. Not essentially a foul factor, however a far cry from what they was. Fortunately, the Nissan Frontier retains it easy for 2025.

The 2025 Frontier nonetheless has an honest-to-goodness naturally aspirated V-6 as its base engine—in truth, it is the one truck within the phase that also affords one. The suspension is practical but featureless. And other than just a few added upgrades on this SL trim, the inside nails the fundamentals and never a lot else. It is a wonderful, no-nonsense truck.

The Frontier’s 3.8-liter V-6 makes 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. No turbo, no supercharger. Energy is routed to all 4 wheels by way of a nine-speed automated transmission. Granted, this engine isn’t practically as torquey because the Tacoma’s hybrid four-cylinder with battery help, however it does the job properly sufficient.

There’s loads of energy off the road and sufficient thrust at freeway speeds to maintain issues transferring. The nine-speed auto is solely seamless within the course of. And for those who plan on tugging a ship behind it, the Frontier has a max towing capability of seven,150 kilos (or, 6,700 kilos on this explicit spec).

The Frontier rides like a truck, which can sound foolish provided that that is, in truth, a truck. However whereas the trendy Tacoma and Colorado have gotten so comfortable, the Frontier retains that rough-and-tumble journey high quality alive for the following technology. Its rear leaf springs bounce over bumps and crash down onerous on pavement. It’s not comfy, per se, however I choose the extra truck-like expertise.

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Execs: Outdated-Faculty Attraction, Rugged Good Seems, Improved Tech, Nonetheless A V-6

Those self same old-school qualities apply to the dealing with. The steering is heavy, physique roll is plentiful, and it has an unusually poor turning circle that makes it a chore to squeeze into tight parking heaps. The Frontier feels a lot larger than it really is in sure conditions.

However, I welcome the bigger 6-foot mattress. Nissan lastly prolonged the long-bed choice to the SL (the one examined right here) and Professional-4X trims for 2025, which suggests this truck has a 6-foot mattress as an alternative of the usual 5-foot mattress. I shoved an 8-foot-tall Christmas tree again there with no downside.

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

The SL trim can also be one of many fanciest Frontiers of all the bunch, which suggests commonplace tools like a heated six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a leather-based shifter, a heated steering wheel, and reward be, and a tilting and telescoping steering wheel for the primary time.

It wasn’t onerous to get comfortable within the leather-based seats, which have been thick sufficient to assist absorb a number of the Frontier’s inflexible journey high quality. The steering wheel was (lastly) straightforward to place, and the cabin was principally quiet, other than some engine roar at greater rpms.

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Cons: Outdated-Faculty Issues, Missing Options, Expensive At The Prime Finish

Know-how on this SL mannequin features a 12.3-inch middle touchscreen that appears beautiful, even when Nissan’s interface is a titch outdated. Simply forward of the driving force is a crisp 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come commonplace, as does Bluetooth, satellite tv for pc radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 10-speaker Fender audio system on this trim, and all of it works properly.

The 2025 Nissan Frontier begins at a really affordable $33,560 for the bottom King Cab S mannequin. For this top-of-the-line Crew Cab SL with the lengthy mattress, you’ll be staring down the barrel of a $47,120 asking worth earlier than choices. The Bluestone Pearl paint is an additional $425, and carpeted flooring mats price one other $205, bringing the whole as-tested worth of this truck to $47,750. That’s hardly a discount.

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Photograph by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

At any charge, the 2025 Nissan Frontier is definitely value a glance. Whereas it will not be all that completely different from earlier years, the long-bed possibility on higher trims is an enormous improve, the tilting and telescoping steering wheel fixes some consolation points, and the upgraded tech improves an in any other case fundamental inside.

Whereas it will not be probably the most trendy or most succesful truck within the class, the 2025 Nissan Frontier nonetheless does the job properly sufficient.

33

Jeff Perez / Motor1