Nissan Frontier review

Part of what gives the Frontier character is how much it feels like a truck of yesteryear. Normally, this would be a polite way of saying it drives poorly, but it’s mostly to do with how communicative and direct the handling is. Not in a sports car way, mind you, but in a no-frills work truck way, that makes you feel more involved and connected to the components at work.

This is mostly evident in the heavier than usual steering, meaning that casual drives in this are more of a workout than ones in other modern cars. You won’t be wrestling the wheel as if you’re trying to street park a car with zero power steering, but it takes more effort than you’re probably used to these days.

What about off-road?

The Nissan Frontier can handle a fair bit of overlanding, contingent on its configuration. Naturally, the 4WD version fares better than the rear-drive model, and all are pulled by the same 3.8-liter V6, married to a nine-speed automatic, another fun and unusual thing about this truck. The independent front suspension and multi-leaf-sprung rear can be put to work, though don’t expect it to glide effortlessly over the dirt, you’ll certainly feel every bit of the earth you clamber over.

Equipping the Frontier with a dedicated off-road drive mode goes a long way to help the Nissan tackle a mix of surfaces, functioning in tandem with the standard active brake limited slip diff. PRO-X models upgrade things with an electronic locking differential and all-terrain tires, along with Bilstein-sourced suspension components to make travels off the grid easier.