Do you want a pickup truck but don’t want the bulkiness of a full-size or the need to spend excessive money on fuel? Then the 2023 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab Pro-4X would be a great option as a midsize truck. Its a great balance between comfort in a day to day driving environment and a bit of some outdoor fun on a mountain.
Engine/Transmission
The Frontier has a 3.8L V6 engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. It is a smooth engine but also powerful when slightly pushed. By powerful, however, I don’t mean its quick. Its just powerful in the way that it does not struggle to go up a hill for example or to overtake another vehicle. Gear shifts are smooth, so it is not an issue whether you decide to cruise or accelerate fast. It produces 310hp and 281lb-ft of torque. I mentioned that you wouldn’t need to spend excessive amounts of gas but that does not mean it won’t be a gas guzzler, it just won’t be as bad as a V8. It is rated for 13.9L/100km in a city and 10.7L/100km in a hwy while I averaged a combined 11.2L/100km.
Handling/Performance
Driving in the Frontier does not feel like it is a big truck because, well it isn’t. It is a midsize truck that is smooth to drive most of the time. It also feels secure and sharp around turns but requires a bit of steering effort at slow speeds. In higher speeds, however, I found that it is effortless to steer. While on daily commutes, going over pothole’s bumps will be evident due to its suspension stabilizer. While the Frontier crew cab is equipped with off-road suspension it is not as properly equipped as the Tacoma TRD Pro for example so this may be an issue if you’re looking for a more off-road midsize truck.
Comfort
Unfortunately, the Frontier isn’t very comfortable. I found the seats to be a bit too stiff and flat so not enough support for your bottom or back. Spending a bit more than an hour driving was tiresome for me and needed to stretch often. The rear seats are also not as comfortable and not as spacious. The Frontier has 33.2 inches of rear leg room so it is slightly less than its competitors. Driving comfort, however, is comfortable for the most part; it is a smooth ride, and steering is responsive when at higher speeds.
Interior
I can’t complain about the interior of the Frontier because when compared to the interior of the Tacoma for example, it is more modern looking. When compared to other competitors though it does show its age and looks outdated. The gear shift looks like it belongs to an older vehicle in my opinion. One thing I do like that may now be considered old school, are the buttons and knobs for the important controls like the climate control and volume. It is equipped with a standard 8-inch touchscreen which is decent to use, not much going on. It is available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which works well when connected. It has a couple of cubby storage spaces throughout the cabin including under the rear back seats. Overall, it has an average interior nothing that wows but also not bad looking.
Exterior
The Nissan Frontier is quite stylish, I do like how it looks on the outside with its low gloss black painted grille. It is equipped with 17-inch painted pro-4X alloy wheels with all terrain wheels, off road shock absorbers, underbody skid plates, bed rail protectors, cargo tie down hooks and a 5ft bed to name a few cool features.
Pros/Cons
The starting price of the crew cab pro – 4x is $54,778CAD ($43,742USD). For this price you get a mid equipped off-road midsize truck with several standard features as mentioned above and safety features. It is decent on gas for a truck its size and its maneuverable around town. It is great for city driving and some occasional off roading. However, it is not spacious for the rear seats. It may work fine for below average in height individuals but it wont work well for tall adults. If a family truck is something you’re looking for, then this might not work as the seats are also not as comfortable.
2023 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X Gallery
