Nissan Frontier Pro-4X Review: The Case for Staying Old-School

The 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X arrives as something of a quiet rebel in today’s midsize pickup segment. While competitors race toward turbocharged four-cylinders, hybrid assistance and touchscreen-heavy cabins, Nissan’s refreshed off-road trim leans hard in the opposite direction — and a fresh walkaround of the truck makes clear that this is a deliberate strategy, not a lack of ambition.

Visually, the 2025 update cleans up the Frontier’s face with a broad grille, three silver horizontal bars and extra horizontal detailing along the lower bumper. The Pro-4X variant sets itself apart with red front tow hooks, blocky headlights, fog lamps and a nose shaped to improve approach clearance. It also rides 1.7 inches wider than lesser Frontiers, a change that both fills out the stance and adds stability. Ground clearance comes in at 9.5 inches, and the truck rolls on 17-inch Pro-4X wheels wrapped in 265/70R17 all-terrain rubber. Bilstein off-road shocks and skid plates guarding the engine and fuel tank round out the hardware, with a forward-facing camera helping drivers place the truck on tight trails.

Under the hood sits a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 rated at 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. There is no turbocharger, no hybrid setup, no mild-hybrid trickery — just a longitudinally mounted engine pushed largely behind the front axle to help weight distribution. Power routes through a part-time four-wheel-drive system with an electrically locking rear differential, a combination that suits off-road work well.

The test truck wears Afterburn Orange, a new-for-2025 shade that adds $425 to the bill, paired with black cladding, black mirror caps and the Pro-4X wheels. It is a Crew Cab with the five-foot bed; buyers stepping up to SV or higher can opt for a six-foot bed and a longer wheelbase. That shorter bed is genuinely useful, offering an AC outlet, a utility track system, LED lighting, a spray-in liner, tie-down points, integrated bumper steps and even cupholders in the tailgate. A bicycle fits, though the front wheel has to be turned to shut the tailgate.

Inside, the story is more mixed. The cabin features red stitching and Pro-4X detailing, with available leather seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, power lumbar adjustment and a moonroof. The Pro Premium Package adds $3,080 of content including Fender premium audio, navigation, traffic-sign recognition and SiriusXM, while the Pro Convenience Package brings the bedliner, utility track, heated mirrors, surround-view monitor, wireless charging and remote start. A 12.3-inch center touchscreen pairs with a 7-inch gauge display and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Graphics are nothing special, but response times and physical controls — including a foot-operated mechanical parking brake — earn praise. The rear seat is the weak point: at 5-foot-11, the reviewer finds knee room just adequate but seat bottoms too low, hurting thigh support and ankle comfort, making the back bench better suited to occasional passengers or cargo than regular adult hauling. Headroom, an armrest with cupholders, USB-A and USB-C ports, 400 watts of AC power and under-seat storage are all positives.

Pricing starts at $34,960 for the base Frontier, with the Pro-4X at $43,280 and the tested truck reaching $49,255 with options. At roughly $49,000, the Frontier Pro-4X delivers off-road capability, straightforward engineering, useful bed utility and distinctive styling in a package that embraces its traditional character — a formula that will appeal to buyers who value simplicity over the latest tech trend.