2022 Nissan Frontier Reviews: What Are The Critics Saying?

Let's be honest: this was a long wait. The outgoing Nissan Frontier's rugged, durable, adventurous appeal worked exceptionally well, and Nissan had no desire to mess with success. Thousands of happy Canadian Frontier customers have been driving home in a tough midsize truck every year – why fix what ain't broken, right?

Thankfully, Nissan didn't have to fix anything. Instead, every single facet of the truck, every component and characteristic, was markedly improved for 2022. It's a complete overhaul. For the brand that essentially created the segment in 1959 with the Datsun 220, this new truck is a major leap forward.

But don't just take our word for it. Let's ask the independent experts, the auto journalists who get to spend extensive amounts of time putting every competitor through the paces. We scanned the internet following Nissan's initial first drive event and discovered, not surprisingly, that it's very easy to fall in love with the new 2022 Nissan Frontier. Here are the highlights from 10 reviews.

“All of these additions have transformed the Frontier into a top-notch riding and handling pickup. Potholes and rough roads are handled with aplomb — yes, it rides better than a Tacoma. This applies to both the Bilstein-equipped and ZF damper-equipped pickups, as the difference in on-road ride is minimal. Plus, it doesn’t fall apart when you decide to throw it at a twisty mountain road, which you’re likely to do if you use the Frontier for its intended adventuring purposes.” – Autoblog

“An excursion into Utah’s Rocky Mountains, with everything from steep inclines and loose dirt to deep ruts to a sea of shifting, medium-sized rocks (often all three simultaneously) created some of the most aggressive driving conditions we’ve tackled. It would have fully tested the most capable of today’s off-road vehicles, an elite club to which the 2022 Nissan Frontier can now claim membership. All this rugged capability, despite the truck’s placid on-road demeanor, has established a new benchmark in the midsize truck category.” – Forbes

"The real story is that the Frontier has leapfrogged the pack… Compared to a Toyota Tacoma, the Frontier feels like a Lexus… Body control is also top of class. The Tacoma that Nissan provided for comparison flopped and wallowed around corners, but the Frontier Pro-4X was composed even on technical mountain roads. Off-pavement, the Frontier’s Bilstein shocks allowed me to tackle a rock-studded dirt climb at a stunning clip.” Road & Track

"A byproduct of this stability is a tranquil cabin. It’s shockingly quiet inside at all speeds. Even in the Pro-4X model with its standard all-terrain tires, I didn’t really hear any tire thrum or wind noise. The SV with street tires was even more eerily quiet, which is wholly unexpected in  a pickup truck, especially the Frontier.” – Motor Authority

“The Frontier is targeting the Tacoma and, to a lesser extent, the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado. Based on our earliest and somewhat brief impressions, the Frontier won.” – Motor1

"Even in Pro-4X trim, the Frontier doesn’t exhibit excess body motion over bumps, yet the ride remains very comfortable for a boulder-bashing pickup. It’s surprisingly civilized, even when you’re driving somewhere that isn’t. Steering is responsive and perfectly weighted, and body lean is minimal for its class. The cabin remains quiet, even off-road, with little wind noise and less commotion emanating from the road. The Pro-4X model adds three skid plates, off-road suspension tuning with an electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein off-road shock absorbers and more. Once the sidewalk ends, you’ll find the Frontier retains its finesse." – The Detroit Bureau

“It doesn't have to shout down the drivetrain, either, which speaks only when spoken to, emitting a V6 grumble that by not sounding like a straight-piped Z is pleasant. This sound is, of course, only a side benefit of the Frontier's class-best horsepower, which makes it respond to the throttle with a surge the Tacoma can't match.” – The Drive

"The Frontier’s new interior is modern, comfortable, exceptionally well-screwed-together, and it looks and feels fantastic.” – Cars.com

"The seats are more supportive over long miles than the Toyota’s and they allow shorter or taller drivers to fit more comfortably, with better views of the truck’s corners. Plus, the cabin is like a sedan’s—quiet and reasonably refined. Too many mid-size trucks feel like economy cars on stilts, with wandering ride quality and cruddy plastic surfaces—almost like the manufacturers ignore the reality that these are daily drivers.” Men's Journal

"The revised architecture is walled in modern, angular sheet metal and houses a fully redesigned interior with contemporary convenience, connectivity, and critical active safety systems, including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.” – Consumer Reports