The wait is over, the refreshed and updated 2025 Nissan Frontier pickup trucks are arriving in dealerships right now. What are all the updates? Are they worth it? Is the new Frontier more competitive than ever before? Which new Nissan Frontier should you buy? How does Frontier pricing and features compare to all of the other midsize pickup trucks? Let’s dig in!
Style & Base Truck
First up, Nissan updates the styling of the Frontier in the front and the rear. It’s a mild update and you may not notice it right away. In fact, you may have to look at the 2025 truck side-by-side with the outgoing one to see all of the changes. What stands out the most are the three indents in the top of the grille that harken back to the Nissan Hardbody trucks.
If you are looking for the lowest price and best value, you can look at the 2025 Frontier S King Cab 2WD. This is their base work truck. It has a starting price of $33,560 after you add the $1,510 destination charge. The good news is that the only engine is the powerful 3.8L non-turbocharged V6 with 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque, which is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. However, you need to consider that the base work truck will have no bed liner, wired-only Apple Carplay or Android Auto, and a smaller 8-inch center infotainment screen. If you want wireless CarPlay or a bigger screen, you will have to step up to more expensive versions of the Frontier.
V6 Power!
Yes, all Nissan Frontier trucks use the same powertrain. The 3.8L “VQ38” V6 engine was first introduced for sale in March of 2020 in the previous generation Frontier. It is still basically the same engine, although it may have some tweaks done to it in order to comply with the ever-changing government emissions regulations. The power out out is 310 hp @ 6,400 rpm and 281 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm. It has a 6,600 rpm redline. Indeed, it does not have any turbochargers attached to it. It’s mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission and a 3.69-to-1 rear axle ratio.
The recent industry trend is to downsize engines and add turbos. Some are adding electric hybrid systems to their engines (such as the new Toyota Tacoma Hybrid). The benefit or small turbocharged engines are a lot of low-end torque, less of a need to downshift, and better fuel economy at highway speeds. This is according to our Denver 100 MPG loop testing.
If you prefer a more traditional V6, you will have to rev this V6 engine higher in order to make full power. Currently, Jeep, Honda, and Nissan are the only companies that are selling V6-powered midsize pickup trucks in the U.S. Toyota, GM, and Ford switched to smaller four-cylinder turbocharged engines.
More Capability?
The new 2025 Nissan Frontier has a maximum payload rating of 1,480 lbs and a maximum towing rating of 7,150 lbs. These are not class-leading numbers, but they are good and respectable. Nissan increased the towing capacity of the Frontier by over 500 lbs to reach the new 7,150 lbs level. If you are buying a Frontier PRO-4X, your truck’s payload will be closer to 1,200 lbs. This is also a good and competitive number if you compare it directly to the best-selling Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
They had to increase their towing ability, because the full-size Nissan Titan and Titan XD trucks are not discontinued. The only Nissan vehicle that can tow more than this is the all-new 2025 Nissan Armada. It has a tow rating of 8,500 lbs.
Interior
Nissan updated Frontier’s interior and it is most evident with the upper trims, such as this PRO-4X interior you see here. There is a new prominent 12.3-inch center infotainment screen. Don’t worry, many of the knobs, switches, and buttons are still here. The 4×4 system knob, the HVAC controls, the heated seats, and the rear locking differential (if equipped) are controlled via traditional switches.
Competition?
Let’s take a look at most of the competitors to the new 2025 Nissan Frontier. Let’s start with base “work” trucks first.
| Starting Price (including Dest.) | Built In | |
| 2025 Nissan Frontier King Cab S 2WD | $33,560 | Canton, Mississippi |
| ’24 Toyota Tacoma Xtra Cab SR 2WD | $32,995 | Mexico (2 plants) |
| ’24 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab WT 2WD | $31,395 | Wentzville, Missouri |
| ’24 GMC Canyon Crew Cab Elevation 2WD | $37,895 | Wentzville, Missouri |
| ’24 Ford Ranger Crew Cab XL 2WD | $34,315 | Wayne, Michigan |
| ’24 Jeep Gladiator Crew Cab Sport* 4×4 | $39,790 | Toledo, Ohio |
| ’25 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab Sport AWD | $41,545 | Lincoln, Alabama |
As you can see, the Chevy Colorado WT crew cab has the lowest starting price and it comes with a turbocharged 2.7L I4 engine and no cruise control. The Nissan Frontier King Cab (extended cab) is not the most affordable, but it is the lowest priced V6 and the most powerful midsize work truck you can buy.
Now, let’s take a look at the top of the line off-road midsize truck comparison.
| Sticker Price (including Dest.) | Reason to Buy | |
| 2025 Frontier PRO-4X Long Bed | $51,600 | Value |
| 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter Long Bed | $64,895 | Hybrid power |
| 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison* | $60,840 | 35-inch tires/Clearance |
| 2024 Canyon AT4X AEV Edition* | $65,995 | 35-inch tires/Clearance |
| 2024 Ranger Raptor* | $57,215 | Fun 3.0L TT V6 Power |
| 2024 Gladiator Rubicon X* | $62,235 | Convertible Top / Remove the Doors |
| 2025 Ridgeline TrailSport* | $46,775 | SUV-like comfort |
The new Nissan Frontier PRO-4X and the Honda Ridgeline TrailSport quickly become more attractive because of lower prices relative to competition. I listed my reasons to buy at the top. This is just the top reason that comes to mind. Naturally, there is more neuance to it. This is why you should watch the video below and stay tuned to TFLtruck.com and our TFLtruck Youtube channel for many more real-world pickup truck tests.
