The Nissan Frontier hasn’t left the market yet despite some dismal sales in previous years due to the pandemic. Nissan appears to have some ideas to freshen it up for the next few years. 

According to Nissan, the 2022 Frontier will get a major makeover, which is what we’ve been waiting for. The question is, will it be enough to make it a true competitor?  

What does the 2022 Nissan Frontier bring to the table?

The Nissan Frontier has always been a decent pickup, but it hasn’t seen many changes since around 2008. However, this year a transformation will take place. There will be many improvements set to come with the 2022 model, and it couldn’t come soon enough. 

Nissan is adding a massive new grille to adorn the front, along with a chiseled hood. Framing the front-end are new interlocking headlights with enhanced tail lights dressing up the back. Under the hood, Nissan dropped a 3.8-liter direct-injection V6 engine that generates 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. Paired with it is a nine-speed automatic transmission. 

The interior is getting upgrades as well. You’ll get a seven-inch Advanced Driver Assist Display with a nine-inch color touchscreen. Among the tech features are Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, WiFi, and wireless charging. As for safety features, you’ll get Nissan’s Safety Shield 360, which is available for all trims of the Frontier. 

Are there enough improvements to the Nissan Frontier to compete with the Tacoma?

As previously mentioned, the Frontier produces 310 hp, which appears to be more than the Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition. This model is set to generate approximately 278 hp with 265 lb-ft of torque. That’s about 32 hp less than the Nissan, which makes a huge difference. 

With the Tacoma, you get Toyota’s safety suite, which is similar to what you get with the Frontier and Nissan’s safety shield. As for upgrades, we know there will be two new sporty models coming, which are the TRD and the Trail Edition. The Tacoma reportedly will get suspension improvements as well. 

Toyota hasn’t announced any other upgrades coming for the 2022 model year, but some speculate that we may see some changes in the 2024 model year. So, it can reasonably be said that Frontier has an excellent chance of being a top competitor for Tacoma. 

Can it compete with the Ford Ranger and the Chevy Colorado?

As with the Frontier, the Ford Ranger will get some major upgrades for the 2022 model. While we don’t know what powertrains will be available for the Ranger, we know it will have close ties with the Bronco, so it could come with a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 300 hp with 325 lb-ft of torque, which is close to Frontier’s offering. 

There may also be an option to upgrade to a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that generates approximately 330 hp with 415 lb-ft of torque. The Frontier, however, reportedly comes with only one motor option, which could make a difference when competing against Ford. 

The Chevy Colorado isn’t slated to receive upgrades for the 2022 model year, but reports say that there are major upgrades coming for 2023. Since General Motors had issues filling orders for the Colorado due to the chip shortage, the Frontier might be the better choice for 2022, which could see a delay if semiconductor chips don’t get back to normal production. 

The Nissan Frontier is forging ahead for the next model year. If you’re wondering if it’s able to compete, the answer seems like a resounding yes. We’ll see just how well it stands up to its rivals in the late summer of 2021 when the 2022 model rolls off the production line.