2021 Nissan Frontier debuts in the USA

The new Frontier for North America has very little to do with an internationally available car by the same name, so let us delve into the details.

Nissan used to produce pretty much one and the same car under ‘Navara’ and ‘Frontier’ monikers not long ago, offering the former in Europe, Asia and Africa and the latter in the United States. However, while the Navara changed generations in 2014 and has recently been facelifted, the Frontier never received any major updates since its original debut in 2004. The second-gen Frontier addresses that to a certain extent.

The chassis and the frame remain unaltered: the front axle uses a dual-wishbone independent suspension design, while the rear axle makes do with a solid beam and leaf springs (the Navara has coil springs). The hydraulic power steering also remains on the list, even though with a 16% shorter steering pinion. The body is all-new, and the chassis enjoys minor tweaks here and there.

Customers may choose from three available cab configurations. The first is King Cab (wheelbase: 3.2 meters / 10.5 feet; truck bed length: 1,860 mm / 6.1 feet). The other two are listed as Crew Cab, but while one keeps the same wheelbase and has a shorter 1,510 mm (4.95 ft.) bed, the other one has a whopping 3,551 mm (11.65 ft.) between the axles and the bed, like the Crew Cab. This makes it 5,692 mm (18.67 feet) long, while the regular version spans 5,339 mm (17.52 ft.).

The analog dashboard is still there, although there is a 7-inch color display between the gauges. The multimedia system comes in 8” and 9” sizes and supports a touch-based interface and Wi-Fi. The traditional gear stick and hardware controls continue to be present.

The manufacturer claims the vibrational load on the cabin has dropped by 80% compared to the previous generation. Paid options include all-around view cameras and a dedicated Off-Road Mode that enables drivers to plan their routes taking into consideration all the known obstacles.

The Frontier received a new engine back in 2020, so it should not be surprising that the 2021 model has nothing else to show. The naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 pairs up with nine-speed automatic transmission to drive the rear wheels, and you can opt for a part-time AWD with a hard coupling on the front axle. This will also net you a transfer case with multiple modes selectable from the dashboard.

The top Pro-4X spec additionally gains Bilstein shock absorbers, various suspension improvements, underbody protection, a rear diff lock, contrast-rich exterior and cabin accents, fender flares, and LED lights throughout.

The production will take place in the United states, and the cars will begin shipping in summer. The 2021 Frontier will hardly ever make it beyond the USA so as not to cannibalize Navara sales in other countries.