2024 Nissan Frontier: New Nissan Frontier Full-Size Truck Review

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2024 Nissan Frontier is the perfect type of medium-sized truck to buy right now. The 2024 Nissan Frontier is one of about half a dozen pickups that combine solid power and utility without the footprint of a full-size vehicle or the fuel costs. The flexible Frontier comes in two cab styles (extended or crew) and two bed lengths (short or extended), as well as a powerful V6 engine, a towing capacity of 6,600 pounds or more, and a host of optional active safety features.

The Frontier is still a good buy for the money. However, other redesigned competitors have raised the bar, leaving the Frontier slightly behind.

Nissan gets nostalgic for 2024, introducing the new Hardbody Edition, an appearance package reminiscent of the brand’s Hardbody lineup from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. The Hardbody Edition is an incredible throwback, from the 17-inch triangular alloy wheels to the black bumpers, fender flares, and roll bar of some of the era’s special editions.

You’ll know if you’re there. Even if you don’t, this new package puts a literal spin on the rugged Frontier. We’d prefer it in the original King Cab setup, but that’s just us. This year there is also a new premium SL model available that adds creature comforts such as leather seats, a sunroof, and an upgraded audio system.

  • MSRP: From $29,770
  • Dimensions: 210-224″ L x 73-75″ W x 71-73″ H
  • Engine: 3.8 L V6
  • Horsepower: 310 hp
  • Bed length: 58.8 to 73.2″
  • MPG: Up to 18 city / 24 highway

2024 Nissan Frontier Review

Although it’s not as powerful as Nissan’s full-size Titan. However, we’re pretty sure the 2024 Nissan Frontier midsize is newer and costs a lot less. It uses a 310 hp V-6 engine producing 30 more horsepower than the Honda Ridgeline that Nissan pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Rear-wheel drive is standard, but four-wheel drive is optional. Unlike the Jeep Gladiator, the Frontier offers two cab options, an extended King Cab and a larger crew cab version. The Frontier has a standard 5.0-foot bed and offers something the new Colorado doesn’t—an optional 6.0-foot bed.

Nissan’s midsize car isn’t as powerful as the Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger, but its low base price and standard features may shine as brightly as LED headlights for value-minded buyers.

Once a desert, the mid-size truck landscape is now thriving. Both the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma have been redesigned for 2024, emphasizing more power, comfort, and improved technology. The newly redesigned Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon (for 2023) offer class-leading towing capacities, while the Jeep Gladiator is tough off-road and practical on the highway.

Meanwhile, the Honda Ridgeline has a distinct advantage with less hauling and towing capacity but a comfortable ride, impressive fuel economy, and innovative storage features.

  • Smooth ride quality
  • Stable and secure handling
  • Helpful storage spaces for small items
  • Hardbody Edition appearance package evokes Nissan’s 1980s-era pickup
  • New SL top trim added to crew-cab trim levels
  • Minor feature changes to trims and options

2024 Nissan Frontier

What’s New for 2024?

The Frontier gets a luxury SL trim for 2024, which comes standard with leather upholstery, a 10-speaker Fender stereo system, and fancier LED lighting elements.

We’re particularly enthusiastic about the 1980s-inspired Hardbody Edition model, which borrows styling elements including wheels, body decals and a bed-mounted sport bar from the Nissan Hardbody pickup truck that paved the way for the modern Frontier.

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2024 Nissan Frontier Design

The 2024 Nissan Frontier has certainly seen a lot of advancements in its interior design, and the Frontier benefits from a lot of those advances. A large, easy-to-read infotainment touchscreen dominates the interior and still leaves more than enough space for the climate controls and various other buttons.

However, some of the buttons are not laid out logically and are sometimes difficult to find. Clunky instrument panel menus and steering wheel-mounted controls could also benefit from a rethink.

Surprisingly, the Frontier doesn’t offer a telescopic steering wheel, making 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 decidedly tight for adults. Outward visibility is on par with its class.

There’s an optional surround-view camera system for the Frontier. This can help make parking easier, but the camera display is low-res and grainy.

2024-Nissan-Frontier

2024 Nissan Frontier Interior

Luckily, the Frontier features an interior design and materials that seem like vast improvements over the outdated, plastic-laden cabin that plagued its predecessor. Not only has Nissan added cooler trim pieces and much-needed soft-touch surfaces, but the company has also introduced more contemporary features.

The gauge cluster now offsets its analog gauges with a larger 7.0-inch color display. A heated steering wheel and heated front seats are also available. Speaking of seats, the Frontier continues to provide comfort to our backsides with Nissan’s flexible Zero Gravity throne.

Interior cubby storage includes a bin above the dash and a stowage bin under the rear seat. The truck offers two wheelbases that provide short and long cargo beds, with the former measuring less than five feet and the latter just over six feet long.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The new Frontier’s infotainment system operates through a standard 8.0-inch or optional 9.0-inch touchscreen. A pair of physical knobs for adjusting the stereo’s volume and tuning settings are present and located below the screen.

The most desirable standard connectivity features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and several charging outlets, including a USB-C port. The Frontier can also be had with a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless smartphone charging. The sound system can also be upgraded to a nine-speaker Fender unit for an additional cost.

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Technology

The Frontier has a standard 8-inch touchscreen or an 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 workaround 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 a decent sound, but its subwoofer takes up some valuable rear underseat storage.

Standard on all Frontiers is driver assists such as driver attention warning, automatic emergency braking, and trailer sway control. Our test truck came with a few packages that added a lane departure warning, blind-spot warning with the 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.

Comfort

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.

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.

2024 Nissan Frontier

2024 Nissan Frontier Engine

The Frontier inherits Nissan’s new naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V-6, which made its debut on the last-generation 2020 model. The engine generates 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and rear- or four-wheel drive. Our first driving impressions revealed that the Frontier’s V-6 provides adequate thrust and smooth operation.

We drove the off-road-oriented Pro-4X model that’s ready and willing to tackle rugged terrain, even if it’s not as capable as the Jeep Gladiator. We also appreciated the Nissan’s new quicker and more direct steering and the many other chassis enhancements that have helped the truck feel more composed and refined on the go.

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.

Performance

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.

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Towing and Payload Capacity

The Frontier’s towing capacity maxes out at 6720 pounds, so it falls short of rivals such as the Chevy Colorado, the GMC Canyon, and the Jeep Gladiator, all of which can pull at least 7650 pounds. The Nissan’s maximum payload is 1610 pounds.

2024 Nissan Frontier MPG

The rear-drive Frontier is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. With four-wheel drive, those figures drop to 17 mpg city and 22 highway. During our 75-mph highway route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, a 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X managed 20 mpg. For more information about the Frontier’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

2024 Nissan Frontier Models

The 2024 Nissan Frontier is a midsize truck available in two body styles: an extended cab with two doors (King Cab) and a four-door crew cab. The extended cab comes with a 6-foot cargo bed, while the crew cab has either a 5-foot bed or a 6-foot bed. Powering every Frontier is a 3.8-liter V6 (310 horsepower, 281 lb-ft of torque) and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive (with low-range gearing) is optional.

2024 Nissan Frontier

2024 Nissan Frontier Trim

2024 Nissan Frontier S – MSRP From $31,265
The S trim retains its basic work-truck status with basic cloth seats, 16-inch steel wheels, black exterior trim, and a tilt-only steering wheel. It’s not a penalty box, however, with a seven-inch multi-information display in the gauge cluster, power windows (front and rear), and 32-ounce-sized cup holders. The Utility Package is offered for $700 and includes a spray-on bed liner and two 120-volt outlets – with one mounted in the bed.

2024 Nissan Frontier SV – MSRP From $33,965
The SV trim feels far more in line with consumer expectations with 17-inch alloy wheels, painted bumpers, grille, door handles, power mirrors, and premium cloth seats with eight-way power adjustability.

The SV trim offers the new Hardbody Edition Package ($3,890) offers unique 17-inch wheels, black front and rear bumpers, a grille, door handles, mirror caps, molded-in black fender flares, mud-flaps, a bed-mounted sport bar, black tow hooks, unique door and tailgate black accents, and a black exhaust finisher to play off one of Nissan Design America’s first production designs.

The Hardbody Package also requires the SV Convenience Package (otherwise available separately) for $2,190 which includes the Utility Package from the S trim, heated mirrors, a remote engine starter, fog lights, proximity entry, heated front seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic temperature control, and a sliding rear window.

2024 Nissan Frontier PRO-X – MSRP From $37,795
The PRO-X gains off-road focused gear such as all-terrain tires, heavy-duty shocks, and skid plates and some desirable features including LED headlights, unique 17-inch wheels, red-painted accents on the badges and tow hooks, and embroidered cloth seats.

The PRO-X Convenience Package is $2,190 and matches the features of the SV’s Convenience Package and adds a surround-view monitor with moving object detection, and an off-road camera use mode.

With the PRO-X Convenience Package and the Technology Packages selected, the PRO Premium Package is available for $2,750 with dark 17-inch wheels, a sunroof, leather leather-appointed front and rear seats, and premium interior surfaces with contrast stitching.

2024 Nissan Frontier SL – MSRP From $41,135
The SL trim is new for 2024 and includes every feature offered by the SV trim except the Technology Package which is still available for $990.

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Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Frontier offers an assortment of driver-assistance technology as part of the Nissan Safety Shield 360 system. Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection is standard, but everything else is optional. For more information about the Frontier’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Other key safety features include:

  • Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
  • Available lane-departure warning
  • Available adaptive cruise control

2024 Nissan Frontier Price

We think the SV trim level has the best mix of standard features and value. Our ideal version starts with the crew cab—the larger of the two available cab sizes—and four-wheel drive. An 8.0-inch touchscreen (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat are standard, but we’d upgrade our truck with the Convenience and Technology packages.

Together they add adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automated emergency braking, heated front seats and steering wheel, a trailer hitch, lights in the cargo bed, and a spray-in bed liner.

  • S $31,265
  • SV $33,965
  • PRO-X $37,795
  • PRO-4X $40,795
  • SL $41,135
  • Hardbody Edition $42,095

Verdict

We like the 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.

People also ask Nissan Frontier 2024

Q: Will there be any changes in the 2024 Nissan Frontier?

A: As the first full production model designed by our studio, it’s an important piece of history to us at Nissan Design America.” Also, new for the 2024 model year, Frontier Crew Cab adds an SL grade that’s ideal for the buyer seeking more comfort and convenience from their truck.

Q: What new packages are available for the 2024 Frontier?

A: The 2024 Frontier also adds an SL grade on Crew Cab models. It bundles several appealing features – such as LED lighting, leather-appointed seating, a Fender® 10-speaker audio system, and more – in a grade level that reflects customers’ interest in a highly equipped midsize truck.

Q: Is Nissan redesigning the Frontier?

A: Nissan is giving its Frontier pickup truck a major redesign for the 2024 model year. The new Frontier will be based on the same platform as the Nissan Navara, which is sold in other markets around the world.

Q: Why is the Nissan Frontier so expensive?

A: In other words, not much has changed on the 2023 Nissan Frontier to warrant a price hike, but prices are up across the industry now that materials supply is low. These new Frontier prices place the truck higher on the price scale than competitors, like the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger.