2026 Nissan Frontier King Cab

As competitors winnow down the body style choice to crew cab/short bed and move away from normally aspirated (non-turbo) and V6 engines, the Nissan Frontier stands out as the only one in its segment to offer a choice of cabs, bed lengths, and a V6 – and a powerful one at that. It is a solid all-around truck, with the ability to tow more than 7,000 pounds, excellent off-road-ready trims, very comfortable seats, and a smooth ride. In addition, every trim level of this Nissan is protected by the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety features.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize trucks, including the Nissan Frontier.

The new Dark Armor package, which is based on the SV trim, has a black grille, side mirror covers, badges and black “FRONTIER” lettering on the tailgate, plus black 17-inch wheels. Inside, there’s a black headliner and dark door handles, HVAC vents, and accents.

The 4-wheel-drive SV and the PRO-4X now come with a drive mode selector with Rock, Sand, On-Road, Mud, and Hill Descent Control modes. The SV, PRO-X, and PRO-4X now come standard with an 8-way power driver’s seat (instead of the previous 6-way). The PRO trims come standard with heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and remote engine start for 2026. The SV trim is available with those same features, bundled in the new All-Weather package, which also adds dual-zone climate control.

The King Cab is only available in S trim (SV is gone), and the SL trim was removed from the Crew Cab roster. Citrus Strike is a new color for PRO trims, and Cardinal Red was deleted from the color palette.

Roush has partnered with Nissan for the new PRO-4X R Special Edition. The PRO-4X R comes with titanium-finished 17-inch wheels with Hankook all-terrain tires, and a titanium-finished skid plate, grille, and lower front fascia. Roush replaces the front suspension with an all-new Roush Performance x Ohlins system, with coilover shocks with external reservoirs and new upper control arms. It lifts the Frontier two inches.

The Frontier’s main competitors are the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Toyota Tacoma. Because the Tacoma and the Frontier are the only two to offer extended cabs, they have the two lowest starting prices; compare crew cab pricing across the board, and prices start within about $1,000 for all but the Canyon, which starts at over $40,000.

Before buying a new Frontier truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Resale values for the Frontier Crew Cab are just above the class average, the King Cab is a fraction below. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Frontier engine’s 310 horsepower matches the power output of the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon siblings, and is significantly more than that of Toyota Tacoma models without the optional i-Force Max engine. That power, combined with the smooth-shifting transmission, comfortable seats, and stable ride, makes daily driving a pleasure. Our editors praise the excellent low-end power delivery, which comes in especially handy off-road. But if you are used to the light feel of electric steering, the Frontier’s hydraulic steering will feel heavy.

Sticking with a naturally aspirated V6 and using hydraulic steering instead of electric gives the Frontier a pleasantly old-school feel off-road. It exudes stability and confidence on the trail, and the added off-road-specific features of the PRO trim levels, such as an electronic locking rear differential and Bilstein shocks, make off-roading even better. While the Pro-4X isn’t as an extreme an off-roader as the Ford Ranger Raptor or the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, we’re looking forward to driving the PRO-4X R to see how it compares.

Fuel Economy

That V6 power means V6 fuel economy, so its 21 mpg combined fuel economy (RWD) is a little lower than its competitors. The base Ford Ranger and non-hybrid Tacoma return 23 mpg combined. The Frontier’s fuel economy is 19 mpg combined with 4-wheel drive, 18 mpg with the PRO-4X.

The Frontier’s interior uses a chunky steering wheel and plenty of knobs and dials that are easy to reach while driving. However, there is also a 12.3-inch touchscreen, standard on all but the S trim, available wireless smartphone connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspot, and more. The King Cab seats up to four people and the Crew Cab can seat five people. When it comes to rear-seat legroom, the Crew Cab is more snug than its rivals.

When it comes to the cab and bed combinations, the Nissan Frontier gives you a wide range of options. The Frontier King Cab model has two full-size front doors and two smaller rear-hinged rear doors that create a wide aperture when opened. It comes only in S trim, and only with the standard 5-foot bed. (Note: the only other truck in this segment that offers an extended cab is the Toyota Tacoma. It seats two people and only comes with a 6-foot bed.)

Crew Cab models have traditional, full-size back doors to provide easy access to the larger rear cabin. It’s available with the standard bed or the 6-foot bed. The long bed is available with the Dark Armor, SV, and Pro-4X trims.

Standard V6 engine
The trend is to install a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, but we like this straightforward, naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 in the Frontier. It makes as much power as some optional engines in rival trucks.

Comfortable front seats
Nissan knows what it’s doing with its front seats. We’ve found the ones in the Frontier to be exceptional.

PRO trim levels
Even if we’re not going to explore the wilderness every weekend, these off-roading models have a certain coolness thanks to its dedicated hardware. Adding the PRO-4X R by Roush could be a great addition to this lineup.

Utili-track system
This comes in a couple of Convenience packages. It has rails in the bed with adjustable tie-down cleats, providing quite a bit of versatility when securing a load.

Fender premium audio
The famous American maker of electric guitars and amps has given its name to this 10-speaker system. It’s part of the available PRO Premium Package in the PRO-X and PRO-4X.

There’s just one engine in the Nissan Frontier, a 3.8-liter V6 making 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. This connects to a 9-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the default setup, with 4-wheel drive offered as an option or standard in the Pro-4X off-road specialist.

Payload and Towing

Maximum payload is 1,590 pounds, achieved by the rear-drive S King Cab. This combination in the S trim also offers the Frontier’s best towing capacity: 7,160 pounds. It isn’t best in class, but offers plenty of towing capacity for a decent-size trailer or boat.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Nissan’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. This includes roadside assistance, and these terms are typical for the class. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The Crew Cab version of the Frontier earned four stars overall out of a possible five from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and a mix of Good and Acceptable ratings from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety and driver assistance features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.