The 2023 Nissan Frontier Is an Old-School Truck
Over the years, midsize trucks have gotten more and more complex. From turbocharged engines to active safety tech, some of this complexity is good, and some of it brings in questions of longevity. With the 2023 Nissan Frontier, you can get a midsize pickup that still embraces some old-school truck aspects.
Will there be a 2023 Nissan Frontier?
Yes, there is a 2023 Nissan Frontier; it is a follow-up on the 2022 Frontier. For the 2022 model year, Nissan gave its midsize truck its first major update in decades. And apparently, the wait seems to be worth it. The ride is more comfortable, the interior feels modern, and the exterior design is certainly more aggressive.
Despite the recent redesign, one key element makes the 2023 Frontier an old-school truck. Under the hood, there’s a 3.8-liter V6 engine. It makes 310 horsepower, and no, there’s no forced induction here.
Known as the VQ38DD, this engine first debuted in the 2020 Nissan Frontier, and it’s mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The VQ family of Nissan engines first went into production in the 1990s. Over the years, different configurations of this powerplant have been used in a variety of the brand’s products.
Is the Frontier good off-road?
The 2023 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X is ideal for off-roading. Despite the PRO-4X Frontier being designed for off-road use, it does maintain a certain level of on-road comfort. And that is a good thing because even with this package, a lot of these midsize trucks will live the majority of their lives on the pavement.
With the PRO-4X model, you get skid plates, Bilstein shocks, a locking rear differential, and some other off-road goodies. The available Intelligent Around View Monitor with Off-Road Mode can help you navigate rough terrain. And it’s a reflection of how far midsize trucks have come in recent years.
The 2023 Nissan Frontier is distinctively old-school
Although the Frontier is fresh off a redesign, it does maintain its old-school pickup feel. For instance, according to Car and Driver, Nissan still has not added a telescoping steering wheel. Although, you can get a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.
Speaking of seats, the third-gen Frontier comes with something known as “Zero Gravity” seats. Having sat in these myself, I can say they are fairly comfortable. But I have not spent an extended perior of driving in the new Frontier. They are more comfortable than you might expect from a truck in this segment.
Overall, the 2023 Frontier builds on what the 2022 model started. It’s got a good mix of modern features without feeling too complicated. I wouldn’t call it the best midsize truck out there. But for the right consumer, it could definitely be at the top of the list.
What I can say is that it certainly feels more comfortable and modern than the 2023 Toyota Tacoma, which is a pickup that is due for an update. And that is not a feeling I would expect to have, even just a few years ago.
