Robin Warner explores the 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X, highlighting its refreshed design and mechanical features, including the naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine and Bilstein shocks.
This walkaround covers the updated front fascia, interior technology, bed functionality, and various package configurations available for this model.
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He spent five years of his adult life as an engineer: four years in traction and stability control calibration, and little over a year in vehicle dynamics. He also spent 15 years of his adult life as an editor at various magazines, including stints at Car and Driver, Road & Track, and Autoweek.
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An AI-summarized transcript edited by a staffer is below.
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Summary
The transcript reviews the 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X, which receives a refreshed front end, a new exterior color and several equipment updates. The overall impression is of a traditional, old-school midsize pickup that prioritizes simplicity, capability and off-road hardware over cutting-edge technology. Pasted text
Exterior Styling
The 2025 refresh gives the Frontier a cleaner front fascia with a large grille, three horizontal silver grille elements and additional horizontal detailing lower on the front end. The Pro-4X gets red front tow hooks, chunky headlights, fog lights and styling designed to provide additional approach clearance.
The Pro-4X also includes:
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- Bilstein off-road shocks
- Skid plates protecting the engine and fuel tank
- A front-facing camera
- 1.7 inches of additional width compared with other Frontiers
- 9.5 inches of ground clearance
- 17-inch Pro-4X wheels
- 265/70R17 all-terrain tires
The extra width gives the truck a more substantial stance while also contributing to stability.
Engine and Performance
Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 producing:
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- 310 horsepower
- 281 lb-ft of torque
The engine is described as decidedly old-school because it has no turbocharger, hybrid system or mild-hybrid assistance. The engine is mounted longitudinally, with much of it positioned behind the front axle, which should help weight distribution.
The Pro-4X also uses part-time four-wheel drive and an electrically locking rear differential, making it well suited to off-road driving.
Exterior Color and Configuration
The test truck wears Afterburn Orange, a new-for-2025 color costing $425. The reviewer particularly likes the contrast between the bright orange paint, black exterior trim and Pro-4X wheels.
The truck is equipped with a Crew Cab and five-foot bed. SV and higher trims can be ordered with a six-foot bed and longer wheelbase.
The styling remains fairly traditional for a pickup, with black fender cladding, black mirror trim and a relatively tall stance. Pasted text
Bed and Utility
The Frontier’s five-foot bed is practical and includes several useful features:
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- AC power outlet
- Utility track system
- LED bed lighting
- Spray-in bedliner
- Tie-down points
- Integrated bumper steps
- Tailgate cupholders
The reviewer demonstrates that a bicycle fits in the bed, although the five-foot bed requires turning the bike’s front wheel to close the tailgate.
Rear Seat Space
The biggest weakness identified is rear-seat comfort.
The reviewer, at 5-foot-11, has just enough knee room but finds the seat bottoms too low, resulting in mediocre thigh support and awkward ankle positioning. The rear seats also create a relatively tight seating position for adults.
On the positive side, there is good headroom, an armrest with cupholders, USB-A and USB-C ports, 400 watts of AC power, and substantial under-seat storage. The rear seatbacks/bottoms can be raised to create a useful cargo-storage area. Pasted text
The conclusion is that the rear seat is probably better suited to occasional use or additional cargo than carrying four adults regularly.
Interior and Technology
The Pro-4X cabin gets distinctive red stitching and Pro-4X patterns. Available equipment includes leather seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, power seats with lumbar adjustment and a moonroof.
The test vehicle has the Pro Premium Package, priced at $3,080, which adds:
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- Fender premium audio
- Leather seats
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Moonroof
- Navigation
- Traffic-sign recognition
- SiriusXM
The Pro Convenience Package adds features including the bedliner, utility track, heated mirrors, heated steering wheel and seats, bed lighting, surround-view monitor, wireless phone charging and remote start.
Infotainment
The Pro-4X has a 12.3-inch center touchscreen paired with a 7-inch display between the analog gauges.
The larger screen supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is described as responsive and easy to operate. The reviewer doesn’t consider its graphics particularly impressive, but appreciates the quick operation and straightforward controls.
Lower trims get an 8-inch display, with wired smartphone integration. Pasted text
The cabin also has dual-zone climate control, heated seats, USB-A and USB-C ports, wireless charging, deep center-console storage and physical controls for the four-wheel-drive system.
One particularly appreciated old-school feature is the foot-operated mechanical parking brake rather than an electronic parking brake. Pasted text
Pricing
Pricing starts at:
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- Base Frontier: $34,960
- Pro-4X: $43,280
- Test vehicle: $49,255 with options
For roughly $49,000, the reviewer considers the Frontier comfortable, capable and convenient, particularly for buyers who value traditional truck attributes and off-road capability. Pasted text
Bottom Line
The 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X stands out by being deliberately conventional. Its naturally aspirated V6, physical controls, mechanical parking brake and traditional four-wheel-drive system contrast with newer pickups that increasingly rely on turbocharging, electrification and digital interfaces.
Its strengths are off-road capability, straightforward engineering, useful technology, good bed utility and distinctive Pro-4X styling. Its biggest weakness is the cramped and somewhat uncomfortable rear seat.
The reviewer’s overall assessment is that the Frontier is a comfortable and capable midsize truck that embraces its old-school character — and, in many respects, that’s exactly what makes it appealing.
