We like the 2024 Nissan Frontier's smooth and powerful V6 engine, comfortable ride and well-appointed interior. But a somewhat cramped back seat, cluttered infotainment system and general middle-of-the-road capabilities keep it from being a standout midsize truck.Read full review
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.
Pros
Smooth ride quality
Stable and secure handling
Helpful storage spaces for small items
Cons
Hard to find a comfortable driving position
Odd layout of some controls and on-screen menus
Steering is overly heavy
Less rear seat space than other midsize crew-cab trucks
It's a great time to be a midsize truck shopper. The 2024 Nissan Frontier is one of about a half-dozen pickups offering robust strength and utility without the full-size truck footprint or the full-size fuel cost. The versatile Frontier offers two cab styles (extended or crew) and two bed lengths (short or extended), plus a gutsy V6 engine, a 6,600-plus-pound max towing capacity, and a host of optional active safety aids. The Frontier remains a worthy choice with strong value. But several redesigned rivals have since raised the bar, leaving the Frontier already feeling a bit behind.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Nissan Frontier S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.42 per gallon for regular unleaded in Illinois.
For 2024, Nissan gets nostalgic and introduces a new Hardbody Edition, an appearance package that evokes the brand's Hardbody lineup from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. From the 17-inch triangular spoke wheels to the black bumpers, fender flares and roll bar of some that era's special editions, the Hardbody Edition is a fun throwback. If you were there, you know. Even if you weren't, the new package adds some literal flare to the rugged Frontier. We'd prefer it in King Cab configuration, similar to the original, but that's quibbling. A new SL premium trim is also offered this year and introduces luxuries such as leather upholstery, a sunroof and an upgraded audio system.
Competitors to consider
Once a desert, the midsize truck landscape is thriving. Both the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma have been redesigned for 2024, emphasizing more power, comfort and improved tech. The recently redesigned (for 2023) Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon offer class-leading towing capacity, while the Jeep Gladiator is formidable off-road and practical on. The Honda Ridgeline, meanwhile, goes its own way with less hauling and towing capacity but a comfortable ride, impressive fuel economy and innovative storage features.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Average
7.5
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
We like the 2024 Nissan Frontier's smooth and powerful V6 engine, comfortable ride and well-appointed interior. But a somewhat cramped back seat, cluttered infotainment system and general middle-of-the-road capabilities keep it from being a standout midsize truck.
How does the Frontier drive? The Frontier isn't the quickest midsize truck. Our Frontier Pro-4X test truck (this is the off-road-oriented trim) accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, which is an average time for the class. But the engine really shines in day-to-day driving. There's ample midrange grunt and the transmission doles out smooth shifts even under full-throttle acceleration. The Frontier's brakes are similarly effortless. They're easy to operate in city traffic as well as powerful enough to stop the truck promptly when you need it.
Confident handling is another bright spot for the Frontier. The truck feels planted around turns, even with the Pro-4X test truck's all-terrain tires. But the very heavy steering is a head-scratcher. It requires a considerable amount of effort to maneuver the Nissan through a parking lot or over a trail at low speeds. On the upside, the Frontier can take on its fair share of rugged terrain.
Comfort
7.5/10
How comfortable is the Frontier? The highlight here is the Frontier's comfortable ride quality. Big dips and bumps are simply shrugged off at high speeds, and the Frontier remains similarly composed around town. Other aspects of the Frontier aren't as polished. The front seat's padding is a bit too firm and flat, and a lack of seat adjustments means you might find it hard to settle into an optimal seating position.
The climate control system is relatively straightforward to operate and is able to maintain a comfortable temperature on a hot day. But we were disappointed that our Frontier didn't have air vents for rear passengers. We also noticed an excessive amount of wind noise on the highway.
Interior
7/10
How’s the interior? Nissan has certainly come a long way with its design of interiors, and the Frontier benefits from many of those advances. The large, easy-to-read infotainment touchscreen dominates the interior and still leaves more than enough room for climate control and various other buttons. However, some of those buttons aren't logically laid out and can be hard to find at times. The clumsy instrument panel menus and their steering wheel-mounted controls could benefit from a rethink too.
Surprisingly, the Frontier does not offer a telescoping steering wheel, which will make it difficult for some drivers to find a comfortable seating position. Rear passengers won't be too happy either, as the Frontier's rear legroom is definitely on the tight side for adults. Outward visibility is on par for the class. There is an optional surround-view camera system for the Frontier. It can help make parking easier, but the camera views are disappointingly low-resolution and grainy.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Save as much as $4,641 with Edmunds Click on the trim you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal. Savings vary by trim; $4,641 refers to estimated savings off of MSRP for the SV trim.
2024 Nissan Frontier King Cab pricing in West Chicago, IL
How’s the tech? The Frontier has a standard 8-inch touchscreen or optional 9-inch touchscreen. Those are good sizes, and the displays are bright. Unfortunately, Nissan's native menu interface is amateurish, oftentimes looking like an old website design instead of a modern interface. The work-around is to just use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and both look good on the touchscreen. Wireless smartphone charging is an option, as is the 10-speaker Fender audio system. The Fender system makes decent sound, but its subwoofer takes up some valuable rear underseat storage.
Standard on all Frontiers are driver assists such as driver attention warning, automatic emergency braking and trailer sway control. Our test truck came with a few packages that added lane departure warning, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning, a surround-view camera and adaptive cruise control. We found the systems to work well and they gave no false alerts.
Towing and Storage
7.5/10
How are the towing and storage? The Frontier's maximum payload stands at 1,620 pounds, and max trailering is 6,640 pounds. These figures are slightly below average for the class, but for real-world use they're certainly enough to allow you to pull a small or midsize trailer without too much difficulty. Optional add-ons include adjustable tie-down cleats, a spray-in bedliner, under-rail lighting and a 120-volt power outlet
There's ample storage inside the cab thanks to a large tray in front of the shifter, cupholders and the space where the optional wireless charging tray sits. As a bonus, the underarm center console is large enough to hold a couple of water bottles. The door pockets for front and rear passengers are about average size.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates that a Frontier with four-wheel drive will get 19 mpg combined in city/highway driving, which is average for a 4WD midsize truck with a V6. We had no problem confirming that number on our real-world evaluation route, where our Frontier test truck returned 19.9 mpg.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Frontier a good value? Nissan's pricing for the Frontier is comparable to what you'll pay for other midsize trucks. Our Pro-4X test truck's build quality was solid, too. Still, it is hard to overlook the lack of certain features, such as a telescoping steering wheel. Nissan's warranty coverage trails most of the class. It offers a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. At three years/36,000 miles, roadside assistance is a bit shorter than most, and free maintenance is not included.
Wildcard
7.5/10
Thanks to more polish and refinement than the previous-generation Frontier, the new version is far more comfortable and easy to live with. We also like that the truck looks distinctive without going over the top. But it has lost some of the charm and truckiness of the outgoing generation. It was a truck and proud of it to a fault. This new Frontier feels more SUV-ish in places.
Which Frontier does Edmunds recommend?
The midrange SV doesn't add many standard features compared to the base trim, but it gets our nod because it offers options unavailable on the base trim. We'd add the Convenience package for its heated seats, spray-in bedliner, sliding rear window and other useful upgrades. The SV is also the only way to get a crew cab and long-bed configuration.
The overall sentiment of the 2024 Nissan Frontier is mixed. Owners love its powerful engine, solid construction, and traditional truck design that’s comfortable for tall drivers. They appreciate the truck's handling and features such as a strong radio, nice steering feel, and good mileage, especially on highways. However, some owners find problems with steering and rear seating, and a few report issues with the truck's durability and reliability, such as problematic technology features and transmission troubles.
This summary is AI-generated from the text of owner reviews
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Most Helpful Owner Review
Poor quality
1 out of 5 stars
Avo kentucky, 06/05/2024
2024 Nissan Frontier SV 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A)
Nothing it’s been in dealers service dept since I bought it. Which has been a month and a half. Vdc aeb rab lights came up day one, no driver assistance menu comes up, no technology features work. Nissan seems to have a hard time figuring out the problem, To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Nissan corporate has no answers and I’m stuck with a piece of crap with no end date in … sight. I have had fords, chevys, and rams all good tucks. This is my first and LAST Nissan
2021 Midsize Truck Comparison: Tacoma vs. Ranger vs. Frontier vs. Colorado & Canyon
NOTE: This video is about the 2022 Nissan Frontier, but since the 2024 Nissan Frontier is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
Midsize trucks can do it all. Quickly becoming the right size for many shoppers, midsize trucks are capable of towing, hauling and heading off-road. In this video, Ryan ZumMallen from Edmunds compares four of the top pickup trucks you can buy to see which is the best midsize truck for 2021. For this truck comparison, Ryan has the redesigned 2022 Nissan Frontier and puts it… up against the top-rated Toyota Tacoma, the Ford Ranger and the GMC Canyon (the Chevy Colorado is covered as well). Ryan spends time with each truck and discusses their respective strengths and weaknesses, and he gives you his pick for best midsize truck and why. So if you're on the hunt for your next midsize truck, look no further than our 2021 midsize truck comparison test of the 2022 Nissan Frontier, 2021 Toyota Tacoma, 2021 Ford Ranger, and 2022 GMC Canyon.
The Chevrolet Colorado and its GMC Canyon twin received thorough overhauls for the 2023 model year. These included fresh looks, new turbo four-cylinder powertrains and more advanced infotainment tech. A 7,700-pound tow rating — about 1,000 pounds more than the Frontier's max capacity — remains consistent, though, and helps keep the Colorado/Canyon near the top of the midsize truck rankings. The GM twins and Frontier are pretty evenly matched on power, although the Colorado delivers more low-end punch thanks to its turbo engine.
The Ford Ranger is fully redesigned for 2024, with much-needed updates that should make it a strong midsize pickup contender. A new V6 engine delivers a hearty 315 hp, there's more advanced infotainment, and new chassis and suspension settings promise a more comfortable and controlled ride. We haven't driven one yet, but the slate of upgrades alone sounds like enough to vault the Ranger in front of the Frontier.
Like the Ranger, the Tacoma undergoes a thorough transformation for 2024. While the Frontier recently had the edge on the last-generation Tacoma — smoother ride, more responsive transmission, better brakes — the forthcoming Tacoma is likely to resume its standing as one of today's top midsize pickups. Suspension updates, a switch to more powerful, efficient turbo engines, and even a hybrid option promise to make the Tacoma less of a daily-driven compromise. And the Toyota's towing capacity will be similar to the Frontier's.
Maintains a driver-set distance between the Frontier and the vehicle in front.
Intelligent Forward Collision Warning
Alerts you of a possible collision with the vehicle in front.
Intelligent Around-View Monitor
Gives you a top-down view of the Frontier and its surroundings for tight parking situations.
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Rating
Overall
Not Rated
Driver
Not Rated
Passenger
Not Rated
Side Crash Rating
Rating
Overall
Not Rated
Side Barrier Rating
Rating
Overall
Not Rated
Driver
Not Rated
Passenger
Not Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Rating
Front Seat
Not Rated
Back Seat
Not Rated
Rollover
Rating
Rollover
3 / 5
Dynamic Test Result
No Tip
Risk Of Rollover
20.4%
FAQ
Is the Nissan Frontier a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 Frontier both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.5 out of 10. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Nissan Frontier. Learn more
What's new in the 2024 Nissan Frontier?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 Nissan Frontier:
To determine whether the Nissan Frontier is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Frontier. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Frontier's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2024 Nissan Frontier a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 Nissan Frontier is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2024 Frontier and gave it a 7.5 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 Frontier is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2024 Nissan Frontier?
The least-expensive 2024 Nissan Frontier is the 2024 Nissan Frontier S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $30,030.
Other versions include:
S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) which starts at $30,030
SV 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) which starts at $32,730
S 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) which starts at $33,230
SV 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A) which starts at $35,930
If you're interested in the Nissan Frontier, the next question is, which Frontier model is right for you? Frontier variants include S 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A), SV 4dr King Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A), S 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A), and SV 4dr King Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.8L 6cyl 9A). For a full list of Frontier models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more