Nissan Frontier Pro-4X Review: Better Than A Tacoma?

With so many of its competitors moving to smaller turbocharged engines or adding electrification, Nissan is content with keeping the Frontier simple. At least, for a little while longer.

Even with a minor update for 2025, the refreshed Frontier remains the definition of simplicity. This is a no-nonsense, old-school, just-like-your-grandad used to drive kind of pickup—and that’s part of what makes it so damn charming.

It starts with the engine. The same 3.8-liter V6 that debuted on this truck four years ago carries over into 2026 unchanged. It produces 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The Frontier’s V6 certainly isn’t the torqueiest engine out there; off-the-line acceleration is fine, but merging onto the highway requires generous throttle pressure. With no turbocharging or electric assist, torque peaks at a not-so-generous 4,400 rpm. The V6 isn’t exactly sounding eager to get there either—it can be droning.

The good news is that the nine-speed automatic is mostly seamless—you barely even know it’s there. In the right spec, the Frontier also has a max towing capacity of 7,150 pounds (or 6,680 pounds in this Pro-4X spec), higher than some of its four-cylinder rivals.

The standard Frontier’s ride is unremarkable—borderline uncomfortable. But the Pro-4X tested here adds some special off-road upgrades that make for a more livable truck as a whole. That includes stronger mounting points, retuned suspension components, and of course, Bilstein dampers.

It should also be noted that the Frontier also received a few visual tweaks for the 2025 model year, including new wheel options and the eye-searing Citrus Strike paint job you see here. It’s definitely eye-catching, for better or worse, and it pairs well with the Lava Red exterior accents standard on the Pro-4X model.

Photos by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Photos by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

While I didn’t take this truck off-road, it did perform like an absolute champ in traffic. Even with knobby Hankook tires, it has a much nicer ride quality than the base truck. It doesn’t bound as aggressively over bumps or crash down as hard on pavement. Yet, you still know exactly what’s happening underneath you at all times—which is exactly what you want in an off-road truck.

The Frontier’s hydraulic steering remains unremarkable, with a heavy rotation, no variable-ratio rack, and a pretty awful turning radius. Trying to make a U-turn in this truck is a tall order. The Pro-4X’s upgraded suspension certainly cuts down on body roll, but it’s still a far cry from Toyota’s TRD Pro or Ford’s Raptor specs.

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Where those trucks mostly limit you to crew cab with a short bed configurations, Nissan still offers a long bed option on the Pro-4X. This particular truck is still the shorter five-foot bed option, but it’s nice to know that the longer 6-foot bed also exists on the off-road trim.

Nissan still lags behind the competition on the tech front—the gauges are analog, for example (though some people might prefer that in the era of screen oversaturation). You can at least get the Pro-4X with the larger 12.3-inch screen, as the one tested here, and even with some outdated graphics, it all works well enough. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Nissan Frontier Verdict

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

For $48,735 as tested, you could certainly do worse than the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X—and that’s with options like the $3,080 Premium package (a Fender premium audio system, leather seats, etc.) and the $1,640 Pro convenience package (trailer hitch harness, spray-on bedliner, heated exterior mirrors, etc.). The base Pro-4X starts at just $43,615 with the standard bed.

It should be said that the Frontier Pro-4X doesn’t stack up with true off-roaders like Toyota’s TRD Pro or Ford’s Raptor models. Instead, the Frontier Pro-4X plays in the mid-range off-road space (think, TRD Off-Road or Tremor), and is priced competitively.

Wherever it fits, the Frontier is a solid truck. If you prefer an analog, old-school feel, this is the pickup to get. And if you want a bit of added toughness, the Pro-4X does just enough without going overboard.