- we spied a prototype for the next-generation 2022 nissan frontier.
- the redesigned truck has a completely different body, and the interior should be new as well.
- it'll be powered by a 3.8-liter v-6 engine and use a nine-speed automatic transmission.
after selling the current-generation frontier for the last 15 years with only minor changes, nissan is finally readying a new version of its mid-size pickup truck. we spotted a prototype of the new 2022 frontier testing in michigan, revealing its squared-off new styling and the continuation of the king cab configuration.
nissan first teased the new frontier earlier this year, and we can see the same blunt front end here, despite a bit of camouflage. like the toyota tacoma's most recent redesign, the new frontier will likely be a new body and interior on top of the same frame as before, rather than a full ground-up redux. extended-cab and crew-cab models should remain available, along with short- and long-bed configurations.
we already know about the new frontier's new powertrain, because nissan introduced it in the outgoing truck for 2020: a 3.8-liter v-6 engine with 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque mated with a nine-speed automatic. in our testing, the new motor wasn't really any more impressive than the old 4.0-liter v-6, with the 2020 frontier delivering the same acceleration numbers and worse fuel economy than a 2017 model we tested. rear- and four-wheel drive will be offered, and we expect nissan to once again offer a pro-4x off-road trim level.
look for nissan to debut the new 2022 frontier either at the end of this year or early in 2021, with the new model arriving at dealerships a few months after that.