2025 Nissan Frontier Review and Test Drive

Nissan makes changes to the 2025 Frontier pickup, but will it stand out?

Jeff Youngs | 

Mar 6, 2025 | 7 min read

Jeff Youngs

With the full-size Nissan Titan pickup discontinued, the 2025 Nissan Frontier midsize truck is tasked with serving the needs of all Nissan pickup buyers — and with keeping the automaker relevant in the highly profitable U.S. truck market.

A refresh for the 2025 Frontier aims to do just that, bringing more rugged exterior styling, higher towing capacity, and a larger available infotainment display. More crew cab and 6-foot bed configurations are also on the menu.

The 2025 Nissan Frontier comes in S, SV, Pro-X, Pro-4X, and SL trim levels with a choice between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD). Two cab sizes and two bed lengths are also available. Base prices range from the low $30,000s to the mid-$40,000s, including the destination charge to ship the truck to your local dealership from the Canton, Mississippi, factory that builds it.

For this Frontier review, I test-drove the range-topping SL Crew Cab Long Bed 4WD in Nashville, Tennessee. Optional equipment included premium Bluestone Pearl exterior paint and carpeted floor mats, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $47,750, including the $1,510 destination charge. Nissan provided the vehicle for this Frontier review.

Jeff Youngs

Is the 2025 Nissan Frontier a Good Truck?

While the 2025 Nissan Frontier is a competent midsize pickup, I don't think it stands out enough in its market. It does possess many positive qualities, including a standard V6 engine on all trims, comfortable front seats, a large infotainment touchscreen, and a spacious cargo bed. Aside from that V6, however, it might be tough to differentiate the truck from rivals such as the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma.

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What's Different About the 2025 Nissan Frontier?

Last redesigned for the 2022 model year, the Frontier receives several notable changes for the 2025 model year to enhance its aesthetics, capability, and usability. The modifications include updated front styling, interior comfort and convenience improvements, upgraded safety and infotainment technology, and enhanced towing and cargo-carrying capability.

Earlier models already had a muscular, chiseled front end, but the 2025 Frontier wears an even more squared-off mug, courtesy of a new front fascia, grille, and bumper. At the rear, a new tailgate finisher sets the Frontier Pro-X and Pro-4X apart from other trim levels. There's also a fresh 17-inch wheel design and a new optional exterior paint color called Afterburn Orange.

Inside the refreshed Frontier, the dashboard gets new trim, and a telescoping steering wheel is now standard on every trim level, making it easier for drivers of all shapes and sizes to find a comfortable driving position. The six-way power driver's seat also gains power lumbar adjustment, while a four-way power passenger's seat is now standard starting with Pro-X trim. Additionally, all 2025 Frontiers have a sliding rear window.

Mirroring an industry trend, most versions of the 2025 Frontier benefit from a larger infotainment touchscreen, making it easier for both the driver and front passenger to view information and adjust various settings. Android users will be happy to learn they can now enjoy wireless Android Auto connectivity, joining their Apple CarPlay-using counterparts.

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A few new safety-related technologies join the standard equipment list for 2025, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear parking sensors. A wireless phone charger is standard in all models except the base Frontier S, and a surround-view camera is standard on the top Frontier SL trim. The camera system's Off-Road mode allows drivers to monitor their surroundings at up to 12 mph. The SL also gains standard traffic-sign recognition.

Perhaps the most significant enhancements for 2025 relate to the Frontier's increased towing capability and greater availability of a crew cab paired with a long bed. Compared with the 2024 model, the Frontier's maximum towing capacity rose by about 500 pounds, making its new top towing figure 7,150 pounds, depending on trim level and configuration. While that's a step in the right direction, it still doesn't beat much of the competition.

In addition to the greater towing capacity, Nissan expands the availability of the Frontier's Crew Cab Long Bed configuration for 2025. Previously, buyers could only get that combination with SV trim. Now, it's available with SV, Pro-4X, and SL trim levels.

Also new for 2025 is the Nissan Maintenance Care program, which provides Frontier buyers up to three free oil changes during the first two years or 24,000 miles of ownership, whichever comes first.

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Big Truck Styling, Big Truck Power

The 2025 Frontier showcases a more expressive and rugged appearance, but the exterior design updates are neither offensive nor obnoxious. They're evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Beneath the Frontier's bulked-up front end lies the same 3.8-liter V6 engine as in earlier models, pumping out 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque that's sent to the rear or all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

On the road, the Frontier's performance is stout. Acceleration from a standstill is brisk, and gear shifts from the nine-speed automatic are smooth. There's a slight bit of engine harshness at higher revs, but that's easy to ignore as the engine's power immediately wins you over.

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You will pay a slight fuel-economy penalty for this level of performance, as the Frontier 4WD's EPA fuel-economy ratings of 17/21/19 mpg in city/highway/combined driving fall slightly short of the competition. At the end of my seven-day, 211-mile evaluation, the Frontier's trip computer showed exactly 19.0 mpg.

On smooth pavement, the Frontier's ride and handling are on par with the competition. As with most pickups, rough pavement and potholes upset the rear suspension, especially when the pickup bed is empty. As you increase the passenger count or cargo weight, things smooth out. With 4WD engaged, the Frontier lacked drivetrain refinement in tight turning maneuvers.

While the expanded availability of the Crew Cab Long Box configuration increases the truck's utility in some areas, it does have a slight negative effect on payload and towing capacities. Likewise, the associated increases in wheelbase and overall length may also reduce off-roading capability a bit, as vehicles with shorter wheelbases tend to have greater off-road ability.

Jeff Youngs

Larger Infotainment Touchscreen, Same Old Interface

The 2025 Frontier's new 12.3-inch infotainment display, standard on SV trim and higher, allows for enhanced viewing and easier icon selection than the base 8.0-inch screen. Likewise, the inclusion of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is a winner.

Unfortunately, despite the truck's larger screen and upgraded wireless connectivity, I found that the infotainment system still lacks refinement compared with what I've seen in the competition. For instance, the split-screen layout and tile graphics appear outdated. While you can customize both workspaces to your liking, why must users reconfigure two screens when Nissan could integrate everything into a single display? I didn't find the voice-command system particularly helpful, either, as it could only handle basic requests.

Keeping it old-school isn't all bad, however, as I appreciate Nissan retaining the volume and tuning knobs and a few other infotainment functions beneath the touchscreen. Also, pairing my iPhone 15 with Apple CarPlay was quick and easy, and I had no issues bouncing from one app to another. I also thoroughly enjoyed the powerful 10-speaker Fender premium audio system, which is standard on the Frontier SL.

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Though I didn't take the Frontier off-roading, I cycled through the various views to test the surround-view camera's Off-Road mode, an option that helps make navigating deeply rutted or especially rocky terrain both safer and easier.

Regarding the Frontier's advanced driver-assistance systems, I did not experience a single false alarm or unwanted intrusion. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centering systems effectively kept me in the right place on the road while maintaining a consistent distance behind the traffic ahead, regardless of the following distance I chose.

Jeff Youngs

Nissan's changes to the 2025 Frontier boost this midsize pickup in several areas that I believe matter to buyers in this segment. It has bolder styling and a bigger infotainment screen, tows more, and can handle longer loads across more trim levels. Also, I found its front seats extremely comfortable.

Now that the Frontier is Nissan's sole truck offering, the automaker will likely continue its work to make it stand out in the marketplace.

Jeff Youngs

Jeff has had a lifelong love affair with cars and driving. From his early days collecting Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars to the present day as an automotive journalist, he loves all things automotive. He also has more than 30 years of experience in the auto industry, including 19 years with J.D. Power in marketing and editorial management roles, five years with General Motors as a media-relations pro, and six years as a freelance automotive journalist. A muscle car, sport sedan, and convertible enthusiast, Jeff owns Blue Line Auto Media. His client list includes Capital One Auto Navigator, J.D. Power, CarGurus, Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, iSeeCars, and Autolist. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife and kids.