The 2021 Nissan Frontier is offered for sale in three trim levels; these are S, SV, and PRO-4X. A new, direct-injected 3.8-liter V6 engine that develops 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque is the common powerplant for all models, as is a standard nine-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive can be specified on all models except the range-topping model, which is four-wheel drive only.
Base S trim comes as standard with manual climate control and front seats, remote keyless entry, and cruise control. Next up is SV trim, which adds only premium cloth on the seats and heated rear-view mirrors as standard, but makes more optional extras available, notably an ambient-temperature gauge, heated front seats, and an automatically dimming interior rear-view mirror. The flagship PRO-4X derivative is adventure- and off-road-focused and comes with off-road design features and specifications that include bespoke alloys, high-pressure Billstein shock absorbers, a limited-slip differential, a rear diff locker, and skid plates. Inside the PRO-4X, the driver's seat gets eight-way and the passenger seat four-way electrical adjustment, the front seats are heated, and an electrically tilting and sliding moonroof is fitted.
Nissan Frontier prices start at $27,190 for the Frontier King Cab S 4x2 model while the mid-spec SV starts at $28,070 in 4x2 King Cab guise. The top-of-the-line PRO-4X Crew Cab carries an MSRP of $37,890. These prices exclude tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,195. In 2019, when the Frontier was still available with a four-pot engine, it started below the $20,000 mark, and the price hike of around $7,500 comes as quite a shock but can be attributed mostly to the inclusion of a standard 3.8-liter V6 engine and new nine-speed transmission.
Three option packages are offered for 2021: the Value Truck Package, which is available on SV-trim trucks; the Midnight Edition Package, which is available on Crew Cab SV SWB trucks; and the new Special Edition Package, which is available on Crew Cab SV SWB trucks.
Choosing the Value Truck Package includes a factory-applied spray-on bed liner, a class 4 tow-hitch receiver, fog lights, a sliding bed extender, and a rear sonar system, as well as dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, and a vehicle-security system.
The Midnight Edition Package offers appearance changes such as Midnight Edition black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black front grille, black door handles and mirrors, black step rails, custom badging, and a body-color rear bumper. This is for those enthusiasts who want to portray a slightly sportier image.
Finally, the Special Edition Package includes a trip computer, bodyside detailing, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a body-colored rear bumper, and a satin-chrome grille.
Let's be honest: the 2021 Nissan Frontier isn't a premium lifestyle pickup truck in the way the Ford Ranger or Toyota Tacoma is. In fact, it doesn't even try to be anything but a bare-bones truck that is eager to work and is light on the pocket. The fact that Nissan has introduced its next-generation powertrain in the 2020 car should make the purchasing decision slightly easier. If we had the money to buy a Frontier, we would forego the masses of standard features available on the SV and PRO-4X (we're joking, obviously), and head straight for the base model truck which offers a sturdy base from which to explore both city and outdoors in a budget-friendly way. We would go for the 4x4 version in Crew Cab configuration, but new owners will go for the body type that suits them best. It's a homespun but tough truck that gets the basics done without complaint and is perfect if you need something down to earth that won't cost you an arm and a leg.
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