The 2025 Nissan Frontier Is the Perfect Truck for Doing Truck Things

All of the mid-size pickup truck category has been redesigned in recent years. The Frontier was one of the first, having been redesigned for 2022. It was the first Frontier to break away from the global model and be designed strictly for North America. It is five inches longer than the previous model and equipped with new technology. In some ways, when compared to competing mid-size trucks, Nissan zagged while everyone else zigged. Nissan of Rochester explains.  

There are two primary examples of how Nissan took a different direction than the competition. While competing models essentially offer just the configuration of a four-door crew cab with a short truck bed, the Frontier offers the extended King Cab in addition to the four-door cab. For those who never plan to carry rear-seat passengers, the King Cab trades the space for a longer six-foot truck bed—but you can also get the six-foot bed with the four-door cab. Previously, this configuration was only available on the SV trim, but for 2025, the four-door cab and six-foot-long bed configuration is also available on SL and Pro-4X models. When combined with a choice of rear-wheel or four-wheel drive on all but the Pro-4X (which has standard 4WD), the Frontier offers a choice of 17 different configurations. 

The same powertrain propels all those configurations, and this is the second area where the Frontier breaks from its competitors. While the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon all only offer turbocharged four-cylinder engines, the Frontier comes standard with a 310-horsepower naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6. The Ford Ranger offers a 2.7-liter turbo V6, but only on higher models. With its standard V6, the Frontier offers the most standard power in the category. It’s also the least expensive V6-powered truck on the market. This engine also helps the Frontier have a higher maximum towing capacity. At 7,150 pounds, it beats the Tacoma by 650 pounds.  

The Pro-4X is Nissan’s more off-road-focused model. It has standard 4WD, a higher ride height, and all-terrain tires. It is aimed at practical off-road use rather than the more extreme off-road use of models like the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, or Ford Ranger Raptor. As such, Nissan keeps its model range fairly tight, starting with the Frontier 4×2 King Cab S at $32,050 and topping out in the mid-40s with the Frontier SL Crew Cab long bed, again, all with V6 power. 

Without an offering like the Toyota TRD Pro off-road model or the luxurious GMC Canyon Denali, for example, the Frontier lacks the flashiness of its competing models. Instead, it focuses on being a solid hard-working truck. As Car and Driver says: “Sometimes you just need a truck to do truck stuff. The Frontier will happily do that and at a reasonable price.” 

If you have a need for a straightforward truck with good power, visit Nissan of Rochester and test drive the 2025 Frontier.