The Nissan Frontier is maybe probably the most old-school truck in the marketplace, nonetheless packing a 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6. The truck isn’t with out its rugged allure. However most would concede it is approaching time for the model to dispense with the protected mediocrity of the previous and embrace a brand new Frontier. Motortrend spoke with Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan’s chief planning officer within the Americas, a couple of new Frontier. He did not make agency guarantees. However he offered a breakdown of the challenges and the way Nissan plans to satisfy them.
2025 Nissan Frontier
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Frontier
- Engine
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3.8-liter DOHC 24-valve 6-cylinder
Key Takeaways
- Nissan confirmed the next-generation Frontier midsize truck can be electrified
- The “final answer” for the Frontier could also be a plug-in hybrid
- The present truck, on a dated platform with a large V6, might use an effectivity improve
- Nissan can also launch an electrical truck alongside the hybrid Frontier
Associated
Nissan executives advised us the brand new Xterra is a risk, however bringing the SUV again must be executed proper.
The New Nissan Frontier Will Be Some Kind Of Hybrid
Pandikuthira confirmed to Motortrend that the brand new Frontier “should be electrified.” Nissan is “nonetheless working” on what that hybrid powertrain will appear like. However Pandikuthira thinks the “final answer,” to keep up the automobile’s body-on-frame building and towing capability, could be a plug-in hybrid.
In keeping with Pandikuthira, the brand new Frontier ought to arrive earlier than the tip of the last decade, round 2028. It’s going to experience on a brand new platform that may accommodate ICE by means of PHEV choices. And Nissan might save improvement prices by converging the North American Frontier and international market Navara again into one truck; Nissan diverged the 2 when it constructed a brand new Navara in 2014.
The New Frontier Might Not Be Nissan’s Solely New Truck Coming
Nissan can also be launching a brand new scalable EV platform round 2028. It’s going to debut with EV crossovers for Nissan and Infiniti. However the platform might spawn as much as 5 new autos, together with an electrical pickup. The brand new truck could be a “mild payload” mannequin focused at active-lifestyle consumers. Nissan says they’re monitoring the section. However the truck has not but been authorised for manufacturing.
TopSpeed’s Take
Now we have a gentle spot for the Nissan Frontier. However there is a level the place old-school turns into simply outdated. And we’re sort of there. The present truck nonetheless runs on a considerably revamped model of the F-Alpha platform Nissan used within the second-generation mannequin, which entered manufacturing in 2004. It is laborious to undertaking ahead months within the automotive world, not to mention years, with all of the tariff uncertainty. However whether or not it is laws or market strain, Nissan’s subsequent truck, doubtlessly launching for the 2029 mannequin 12 months with a lifecycle extending into the 2030s, might want to do higher than 17 MPG metropolis and 21 MPG freeway with a 4WD powertrain. Some type of hybrid needs to be the optimum technique to obtain that.
It is going to be fascinating to see how the midsize truck section develops transferring ahead. Kia is planning an all-new electrical truck. Different producers like Mazda are trying on the section too. The Frontier is a robust vendor and revenue driver for Nissan now. However the model might must do extra to guard its market share transferring ahead.
