No truck should be so nice that I even have to pause for even a moment to wonder if I should really fill the bed with mulch or hop into the cab after loading a dozen bags of Quikrete in the back. I like trucks that are nice, but not “too” nice.
So, if I have any criticisms of the Frontier, it’s not inherently with the vehicle itself. The current Frontier is very similar to the original Frontier, and I say that with all affection for pickup trucks with an inherent utilitarian nature. But stepping in to our 2019 Frontier Pro 4X test truck, you could have been easily excused for thinking you were hopping into a restomodded 1997 model. “Facts” say that the current-generation Nissan Frontier-known as the D23 chassis-has been around since the 2014 model year. I can easily see the need for a truck like this. The only thing that gave me a clue that ours was newer was the flashy PRO-4X graphics and wheels.
Next time you’re out and about and you spot a Frontier, I challenge you to correctly guess the year. Toyota has done similar with the Tacoma, but they’ve at least refreshed the looks a bit. And if the top-of-the-line PRO-4X were about $10,000 cheaper than it actually is, then it would be easier yet to quell my desire to lambast the Frontier. It feels easier to fault the Frontier for this than it does something like the Ford E-Series because so much has changed between 2005 and now, at least from an automotive perspective. And much like other vehicles that have been through more than one presidency during the same production cycle, updates have been kept to a minimum. That’s the first year we got this rendition of the Nissan Frontier here in the U.S. You’ll also get keyless entry, cruise control, and power doors and windows. Not only that, but with the PRO-4X package, Nissan will paint the grille and bumpers body color. The PRO-4X comes equipped with Bilstein off-road high-pressure shock absorbers, skid plates on the fuel tank, oil pan and transfer case, an electronic rear differential locker 4-wheel limited-slip (ABLS) and unique machine-finished 16-inch aluminum-alloy off-road wheels with 265/75R16 All-Terrain tires. The mirrors are also heated and powered, and the package finishes with a moonroof, roof rack and a rear center arm rest.
So, what’s in the premium package? Leather seats for starters, with the driver getting eight-way power, and the passenger getting only four. With the $2100 Premium package and floor mats, our tester came in at $37,440.
In Nissan speak, this is the top-of-the-line model, which starts at $34,190. Our tester was a PRO-4X Crew Cab 4X4 Automatic V6. And it’ll do everything you could want a truck to do-who could ask for more? Well, unless you’re a rental fleet, quite a few. You get a truck with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that puts out around 150 horsepower and a five-speed manual. And when you compare that to other new vehicles in a similar price bracket, you’re not doing too badly. If you tick (or untick, we suppose) the right boxes, you can walk away from the dealership with a new truck for under $20,000.
The 2019 Nissan Frontier soldiers on with little in the way of substantial changes.