Used 2022 Nissan Frontier Consumer Reviews

Name: 2022 Nissan Frontier Review
Brand: Nissan
Rating: 4.0 (44 reviews)

More about the 2022 Frontier

4.0

44 reviews

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Sweet ride

MadDadLunatic, 06/26/2024

2022 Nissan Frontier SV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A)

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Loving this truck.

Safety: 5 out of 5 stars

Technology: 5 out of 5 stars

Performance: 5 out of 5 stars

Interior: 5 out of 5 stars

Comfort: 5 out of 5 stars

Reliability: 5 out of 5 stars

Value: 5 out of 5 stars

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Outstanding truck for the money

John, 03/04/2025

2022 Nissan Frontier S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A)

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In April 2024 I bought a 2022 Frontier S king cab with 15K miles. The only factory option was an electronics package that includes lane assist. I'd originally intended to buy a late model used Tacoma, and for about two years had been on the lookout for one, but prices were insanely high. Clean used Tacomas have always been expensive, but after the pandemic values went through the roof. Prices remained so high that buying used made no sense. There was no sign that would change any time soon, so last spring I gave up on finding a used Tacoma and started shopping for new ones. The engine in the base model 2024 Tacoma is a turbocharged 2.4L inline 4. I read reports of very un-Toyota-like problems with those turbos. I've nothing against turbos in principle; for many vehicles they make perfect sense. Wringing extra horsepower from the same displacement is a big advantage for high performance applications and for maximizing fuel economy. But that advantage comes at the price of an additional single point of failure, an extremely expensive one if not covered under warranty. The turbo I-4 in the Tacoma is rated at 228-278 HP, more than I really need in a truck that size. A naturally aspirated version of the same engine producing, say, 180 or 200 HP would be just fine. In this case, the additional horsepower doesn't justify the expense and complexity of the turbo; this isn't a vehicle geared toward high performance or high MPG or extreme towing capacity. I'd prefer a naturally aspirated version of that engine, but that isn't an option for the Tacoma as of the 2024 model year. That prompted me to take a look at the Frontier. I had been leery of Nissan due to its spotty history with certain models over the last decade or so, the infamous CVT in the Rogue for example. So I read everything I could find about the current generation Frontier. My takeaway was that the naturally aspirated 3.8L V-6 generally is reliable. The design is straightforward; the only newfangled feature as far as I could tell is direct injection, which many if not most engines have nowadays. Power output is 310 HP, far more than enough for a vehicle its size, and significantly higher than the Tacoma. While that isn't a differentiator for me, neither is it a disadvantage. EPA fuel economy rating was about the same as for the Tacoma, so no differentiator there either. So the engine checked out. My other major concern was the transmission. The Frontier's is a 9-speed automatic designed by ZF and built by JATCO, Nissan's transmission subsidiary. ZF Friedrichshafen AG definitely knows transmission design. Their 8-speed automatic is widely considered one of the best automatics ever built, and has been used in a variety of vehicles including high horsepower applications. The 9-speed presumably is similar to that 8-speed trans (or at least I hope it is). As for JATCO, they did take a big black eye with the infamous CVTs, but as best I could determine the ZF 9-speed is solid. As of spring 2024 there were no widespread reports of functionality or reliability problems that I could find. Satisfied that the drivetrain checked out, I decided to look for a late model used Frontier. I soon found one at a nearby Nissan dealer. The price was fair, not great, but I wasn't concerned about finding the world's greatest deal. Base S model; the only option is an electronics package that includes lane assist, a feature I didn't care about at the time but has since grown on me. Beautiful fire engine red. No plastichrome whatsoever; exterior trim is matte black and finished such that it doesn't look at all cheap. I like the clean, simple red/black contrast. Nothing flashy about it; IMO it's one of the best-looking trucks on the road right now. The buying experience at that dealership was outstanding. 7,500 miles later, and so far I'm very impressed. Build quality in general seems very good, no rattles or clunks. Exterior paint is flawless as far as I can tell. Interior trim panels are high quality plastic, well finished and not the least bit flimsy. Switches, knobs, and buttons feel substantial and well built. There are no flaws in the upholstery and carpeting. The seats are very comfortable, better than other trucks I have owned and almost on par with the best sedans I've driven. Driving position and visibility are excellent. Handling and suspension are excellent for a truck; steering is precise and there is no tendency to wander on the highway. Turning radius is wide given its wheelbase but that's a minor annoyance. I was pleasantly surprised to find the truck doesn't have auto start/stop, a feature I dislike. I later spoke with an owner of a 2023 S model who told me his truck had start/stop, so that apparently was a change for the '23 model year. On several occasions the cruise control has mysteriously lost the speed I'd set as though I'd tapped the brakes, but no driveability issues otherwise. All things considered it's hard to imagine how a truck could be any better at that price point. Power on tap is more than sufficient. I'm no gearhead, but if the advertised 310 HP is exaggerated, it isn't by much. If I floor it at 40 MPH it will pin my shoulders back. Observed fuel economy is about 18 MPG city and 22-24 MPG highway. It got 16 MPG hauling a 4,000 lb box trailer cross country last summer, which I thought was very good. Changing the oil was easy, I didn't even have to put the truck on jackstands. Spin-on oil filter, yay. Had to remove a plastic access panel to reach it and the filter is situated such that it's impossible to remove without spilling half the oil out of it, but that's what shop rags are for. Minor annoyances: 1) Manual outside mirrors. Nissan couldn't have saved more than a few bucks by omitting power mirrors on the S model, so I assume the omission is meant to motivate buyers to spring for a higher trim level, but still... was that really necessary? 2) FM reception could be better. Beyond 15 or 20 miles from the broadcast tower, audio is drowned out by static whenever the turn signals or brake lights are active. 3) Bluetooth is not supported in Android Auto. Like the omission of power outside mirrors, I assume this is intended to incent buyers to move up from the S model, but again, seriously? The head unit has Bluetooth capability, it works fine for voice and text messaging and so forth, just not Android Auto. For Pete's sake, the 7 year old fleet rental Chevy I drove last fall fully supported Android Auto over Bluetooth. It's no big deal to plug the phone in, and I probably would much of the time anyway to let it charge. The deliberate omission of the feature just sets my teeth on edge a little bit. But those are trivial annoyances. All in all I think this truck at this price point is a home run; at least mine has been so far.