The 2023 Nissan Frontier Is A Great Midsize Pickup Truck You Forgot About
Buying a truck today is a frustrating and strange experience. Thanks to years worth of production issues, kinks in the supply chain, and insane consumer demand, the pickup truck market has been strained more than ever. The most popular pickup trucks, like the Ford Maverick, are extremely hard to find, and everything else wears price tags that are just out of sight. In all this insane truck demand, there is a great midsize pickup truck most of us forgot about, the 2023 Nissan Frontier.
Is the 2023 Nissan Frontier a good pickup truck?
Despite being a rather unpopular truck today, Nissan pickup trucks used to be quite the popular little numbers. In her review of the 2023 Nissan Frontier, MotorBiscuit Staff Writer Allison Barfield found it offers gobs of power, an attractive interior, and tons of clever storage as the second model year of the third generation.
Despite being largely a carryover model, the 2023 Frontier comes to us with loads of rad features and a powerful spec. I think part of the reason the Nissan Frontier is often forgotten about right now is because so many brand-new models and generations are competing in the midsize truck space. It has gotten buried in the newness of the Ford Maverick, Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and others. That said, the 2023 Nissan Frontier is a great, reliable truck offering
Let’s take a closer look at the forgotten-about Nissan truck.
2023 Nissan Frontier specs
The 2023 Nissan Frontier is a far more capable truck than the current tastes of truck buyers give it credit for. Right off the top, the Nissan Frontier comes standard with a 310-hp, 281 lb-ft of torque, 3.8-L V6, the highest standard power output for the segment. You won’t get power like that from the pricier Tacoma. That power output, paired with what Nissan calls a “heavy-duty frame,” allows the little Frontier to tow an impressive 6,690 lbs. Barfield puts those numbers into reality by explaining how much fun that power is when you put your foot down. She describes the acceleration as “peppy” and “athletic.” Although the power is poppin’ the Nissan does have some softer performance habits.
Barfield has less positive things to say about the handling. The Nissan’s steering is described as “oddly heavy,” especially at lower speeds. The turning radius is also a bit of a handful, requiring plenty of three-point turns. However, at higher speeds, the steering lightens up a bit. This is a shame because this wide turning radius can hurt when navigating tight trails.
Speaking of trails, the midsize Nissan pickup truck sits with a respectable ground clearance of 9.8 inches. While you get more power for less money than other more popular midsize trucks like the Tacoma or the Ranger, the Nissan Frontier doesn’t offer many off-road features. It has Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, and locking rear differentials. There is a proper 4WD with a 4WL mode, but there is no snow, rock, or sand driving modes.
Does the Nissan Frontier have a nice interior?
Listen, if the Nissan Frontier were nicer than anything else on the market, it wouldn’t be the truck you forgot about. That said, our review found it to be pretty comfortable. The new generation is certainly better than the previous generation. The seats are decent but will eventually get a bit stiff on longer trips. Eh, it’s a truck. Who cares, really? Overall, our review found the Frontier’s interior to be of decent quality, with plush leather and decorative upholstery in place of excessive hard plastics.
How much does the 2023 Nissan Frontier cost?
Nissan’s small truck is fairly moderately priced, considering how expensive everything else has gotten. That said, I wouldn’t consider the Nissan Frontier cheap. The Frontier comes in four trims ranging starting with a $29,190 MSRP. The trim breakdown is as follows:
- Nissan Frontier S: $29,190
- Nissan Frontier SV: $33,470
- Nissan Frontier Pro-X: $35,900
- Nissan Frontier Pro-4X: $38,900
Compared to the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma, which both start slightly cheaper, the Nissan offers far more in the lower trims than its competitors. The Ranger starts at $27,400 and is equipped with a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Tacoma starts at $29,585 and offers a 159-hp base engine. If you want the equivalent power and interior from Toyota or Ford, you will spend considerably more than the Nissan.
Don’t forget the small Nissan truck
The 2023 Nissan Frontier is a great midsize truck on its own. However, when you compare it against the other more popular midsize trucks, it really starts to look better and better. If that wasn’t enough to consider, the best part about it is that it is actually available. Many popular vehicles these days require crazy wait times and monster dealer markups. Maybe the less popular Nissan will serve you better. All we are saying is that it’s worth considering.
