For the bulk of Nissan’s twenty-five-year history of the Frontier, the truck has been a bit of a redheaded stepchild in a segment dominated by Toyota’s venerable Tacoma. Sixteen years with minimal updates led to a general lack of appeal for a vehicle whose utilitarian functionality was overshadowed by a stale and dated product. Add to this the growing demand for mid-sized trucks which propelled the reemergence of Ford’s Ranger, engaged the likes of American Expedition Vehicles to collaborate with GMC and Chevrolet for the Canyon/Colorado, and expanded the Jeep brand line-up with the versatile Gladiator, and it became apparent Nissan needed to up the ante or be left in the figurative dust.
Read MoreMid-size trucks have become a popular platform within the overland realm because of their versatility, cargo space, and capability. As a matter of fact, every time I have gotten into a nicely built mid-size truck I’ve asked myself, “Why haven’t I gotten one of these?” and after enjoying two weeks in Nissan’s latest Frontier PRO-4X, that question still lingers.
On the inside, the Frontier PRO-4X is comfortable, with an intelligent, efficient layout, simple dash panel, and lumbar seating designed for long stretches on pavement. The materials don’t look cheap as has been the case with other comparably sized trucks I’ve tested. There’s plenty of room to comfortably seat four adults or even a young family of five, though space will eventually be an issue as children grow. That said, it’s the standard equipment, particularly for off-road travel, that most anyone reading this article will be particularly interested in.
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