2026 Nissan Frontier
3rd generation (2022–present)
Spec plateChecked Sep 2026
- Starting price
- $32,150
- 4x4 from
- $35,150
- Max towing
- 7,150 lb
- Max payload
- 1,590 lb
- Most power
- 310 hp
- Ground clearance
- 9.5 in
PRO-4X Crew Cab
Our verdict
The Frontier is the simple, old-school choice in the class: one V6, a nine-speed automatic, a two-speed transfer case and a rear locker on PRO-4X. It gives up geometry and gadgets to the Tacoma TRD Pro and Colorado ZR2, but a PRO-4X costs tens of thousands less and does most trail work without complaint. Plan on a lift and bigger tires if you run rocky trails, because the stock breakover angle is the weak spot.
Best for
Buyers who want a traditional body-on-frame midsize 4x4 with a naturally aspirated V6, a real low range and a factory rear locker without paying Tacoma or Colorado ZR2 money.
Skip it if
You need a front locker, sway-bar disconnect or hybrid-level fuel economy, or you want a factory off-road trim beyond PRO-4X.
Strengths
- 310-hp V6 is the only engine, so there are no weak base-engine configurations
- Locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks and all-terrain tires come standard on PRO-4X
- True two-speed transfer case with a 2.717:1 low range
- S King Cab 4x4 starts at $35,150, and every 4x4 gets the same 310-hp V6
- 7,150-lb maximum tow rating
Weak spots
- 18–19 mpg combined in 4x4 form trails the turbo-four and hybrid rivals
- No front locker or sway-bar disconnect, even on PRO-4X
- PRO-4X ramp breakover (19.6°) is tight for a dedicated off-road trim
- King Cab is S-only for 2026, so no short-cab PRO-4X
Capability vs other midsize trucks
- Cabs
- King Cab, Crew Cab
- Bed lengths
- 5 ft, 6 ft
- Fuel economy
- 18–19 mpg combined for 4x4 models (PRO-4X 18, other 4x4s 19) per fueleconomy.gov
- Pricing notes
- Nissan's 2026 launch pricing (Aug. 2025), excluding the $1,695 destination charge. $32,150 is the S King Cab 4x2; the cheapest 4x4 is the S King Cab 4x4 at $35,150. PRO-4X Crew Cab starts at $41,870 (5-ft bed) or $42,370 (6-ft bed).
- Configurations
- King Cab (S grade only for 2026, 6-ft bed) or Crew Cab with a 5-ft bed (126.0-in wheelbase) or 6-ft long bed (139.8-in wheelbase); every Frontier uses the same 3.8L V6 and 9-speed automatic.
Off-road hardware
4WD / AWD system
Part-time 4WD on all 4x4 models: a two-speed transfer case with 4-High and 4-Low, rear-wheel drive in 2WD mode, no full-time or automatic 4WD setting. Nissan lists transfer case ratios of 1.00 high and 2.717 low, with a 3.692:1 final drive. Active Brake Limited Slip (a brake-based traction aid) is standard on every grade.
Low range 2.717:1
Locking differentials
Electronic locking rear differential on PRO-4X only. All other grades use Active Brake Limited Slip, which brakes a spinning wheel instead of locking the axle. No front locker on any Frontier.
| Approach angle | 32.3° |
|---|---|
| Breakover angle | 19.6° |
| Departure angle | 23.0° |
| Ground clearance | 9.5 in |
| Water fording | Not published |
Off-road tech
- Drive mode selector with Rock, Sand, On-Road, Mud and Hill Descent Control modes (SV 4x4 and PRO-4X, new for 2026)
- Hill Descent Control (4x4 models)
- Hill Start Assist
- Active Brake Limited Slip
- Intelligent Around View Monitor with Off-Road Mode (PRO-4X)
- Bilstein off-road shocks (PRO-X and PRO-4X)
Engines & transmissions
| Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L V6 (VQ38)Only engine; standard on all grades. 310 hp at 6,400 rpm and 281 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm. | 310 hp | 281 lb-ft | 9-speed automatic |
The off-road trims
SV 4x4
Part-time 4WD with 4-Low, the new-for-2026 drive mode selector, and Hill Descent Control; an all-terrain tire package is available.
PRO-4X
Crew Cab only for 2026, with Bilstein off-road shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, 265/70R17 all-terrain tires, skid plates, and Intelligent Around View Monitor with Off-Road Mode.
Roush Frontier PRO-4X R
Roush-installed upgrade on the PRO-4X with a Roush Performance x Öhlins 2.0 suspension (2-in. lift) and 265/70R17 Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme tires; the Roush parts are sold and warranted by Roush, not Nissan.
What's new for 2026
New Dark Armor blacked-out appearance package, a five-mode drive mode selector on SV 4x4 and PRO-4X, and heated front seats, heated steering wheel and remote start made standard on PRO grades. Citrus Strike paint joins the PRO-X and PRO-4X palette, and Roush offers a PRO-4X R upgrade. A limited 250th Anniversary Edition PRO-4X (2,500 units, tailgate badge only, no price increase) was built through July 2026.
Rivals worth a look
Sources & data notes
These specs were checked on September 24, 2026 against the sources below, starting with the manufacturer's own material. When a figure isn't published, we leave it blank instead of estimating. Ratings are maximums for the best-equipped configuration; confirm yours on the door-jamb labels.
Sources for this page 9
- usa.nissannews.comusa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/2026-nissan-frontier-press-kit
- usa.nissannews.comusa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/2026-nissan-frontier-pricing-starts-at-32150
- usa.nissannews.comusa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/2027-nissan-frontier-sport-press-kit
- usa.nissannews.comusa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/nissan-launches-250th-anniversary-edition-frontier-honoring-america-and-the-brands-us-manufacturing-heritage
- usa.nissannews.comusa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/one-million-frontier-trucks-nissan-canton-marks-major-us-milestone
- usa.nissannews.comusa.nissannews.com/en-US/channels/us-united-states-nissan-models-frontier
- en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Titan
- fueleconomy.govfueleconomy.gov/ws/rest/vehicle/49838
- fueleconomy.govfueleconomy.gov/ws/rest/vehicle/49839
Understand the hardware
