2022 Nissan Frontier

On the outside, the Frontier gets snazzy new upright styling, adds cool features including LED taillights and grows almost 5 inches in length. Underneath the skin, the new Frontier shares a lot of DNA with the previous one, but with several much-needed improvements that modern buyers will appreciate.

There are new goodies too. All 4WD versions will come with hill descent control, and a new rear stabilizer bar joins a larger front bar to improve handling. The truck frame itself is a continuation of the one in the previous Frontier, but Nissan says it's been improved every year since it debuted in 2004 and has been further enhanced for 2022. We're eager to test the new steering — it remains hydraulic, as opposed to a more modern electronic unit — but its slightly faster steering ratio will hopefully deliver improved response and feel compared to the previous version.

Nissan also introduces a new Frontier trim: the Pro-X. Think of Pro-X as an off-road appearance package. This RWD-only pickup bears similar styling to the Pro-4X — sharing its LED exterior lighting package — but with very little in the way of off-road equipment. There are no skid plates or the electronic-locking diff. The Pro-X does get the all-terrain tires, Dana rear end and Bilstein dampers, though the shocks are tuned differently compared with the Pro-4X.

Nissan includes its supremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats as standard in the front, which we expect will make long drives vastly more enjoyable. There are even neat design features such as big, looping grab handles and sharp accent colors on certain models. Sure, there's still a lot of hard plastic, and the buttons and dials don't exactly shout "deluxe." But the Frontier has come a long way.

Elsewhere in the cabin, two front USB ports come standard, while a Wi-Fi hotspot, a wireless charging pad, rear USB ports and nine-speaker Fender premium audio system are all optional. On models with the larger touchscreen, you can even add a surround-view camera with an off-road mode for navigating precarious mountain trails.

On the safety front, only forward collision warning is standard. You can choose to add the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of driving aids, which includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert and braking. Other features such as adaptive cruise control, a driver alertness monitor and traffic sign recognition are also available.

Compared with the previous Frontier, executives say the bed floor remains the same, while the walls have grown taller to increase total depth. Maximum towing capacity remains the same, at 6,720 pounds when properly equipped. Maximum payload, meanwhile, increases to 1,610 pounds. Neither figure is tops in the Frontier's class, though both are formidable. Trailer sway control is now standard.

Whichever bed you choose, a built-in step is included to improve access. Also standard is a dampened tailgate — ensuring it drops gradually without slamming down. Nissan will offer two LED lights inside the bed for working at night too. Other available features include a spray-in bedliner and a system of adjustable rails called Utili-Track that can be used to secure large or oddly shaped cargo.