2021 Nissan Frontier

Overview 

Teens yearn for the freedom of receiving their driver’s license on their sixteenth birthday, but reaching the same milestone isn’t so much a positive for vehicles. That’s the case with the 2021 Nissan Frontier, which has been on sale since 2005 with very few changes. Nissan did drop a new V6 in the truck for the 2020 model year, which, along with this 2021 model serves as a preview of the upcoming 2022 model year Frontier. With so long between updates, the Frontier is just in its second generation, but that will change with an all-new truck in 2022. 

In the meantime, the aging Nissan faces off against the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Toyota Tacoma. Late in 2021, new entrants from Ford and Hyundai in the compact pickup space put upward pressure on the Frontier with smaller, highly efficient and thoroughly modern options.

Nissan offers the 2021 Frontier in just three trims: S, SV and PRO-4X. Buyers have a choice of either the King Cab (extended cab) or the four-door Crew Cab. A long bed measuring just over six feet long is standard on the King Cab; the Crew Cab gets a five-foot bed as standard but the long bed can be ordered in the SV trim. No power tailgates or cargo boxes are available here, but to be fair to the Frontier, those features are generally reserved for the full-size truck segment. Interior storage is decent, especially when the back seat can double as a parcel shelf. All trims get the new V6, and four-wheel drive is optional.

Many new trucks utilize modern suspension systems in an effort to blend excellent ride quality with decent handling, but the Frontier is not one of them. Its setup shows its age, allowing jitters and road imperfections into the cabin unabated, though there is enough damping to swallow potholes and large bumps without bottoming out. On the other hand, the soft suspension’s ability to soak up impacts is offset by excessive body lean in curves. It allows a high degree of movement during evasive driving and braking—two situations where control is paramount. Noise and vibration penetrate the cabin at times creating a harsh environment.  

Frontier owners may also be disappointed in their towing capacity compared to its rivals, but the truck offers decent numbers. With 6,700 pounds of pulling power, the Frontier is behind the General Motors twins at 7,700 pounds and the Jeep Gladiator at 7,650 pounds. Payload is decent, at 1,400 pounds, but with a cab full of passengers that number can suffer. The 1,400-pound limit also puts a damper on using the Frontier for activities such as overlanding, as the necessary gear can easily surpass that number.

Tech advancements move quickly, so it’s not surprising that the Frontier isn’t up to speed with a new infotainment system and other features. It comes standard with a seven-inch touchscreen, a USB input, a rearview camera and four speakers. Nissan does not offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto or any advanced driver assist systems for the 2021 Frontier. 

Nissan backs the 2021 Frontier with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. No complimentary maintenance or services are provided during the warranty period.

Infotainment

Despite lacking, well, everything, the good news here is that the Frontier’s infotainment system is basic but functional. It’s easy to use and the screen remains nicely visible, even with its small size. The base four-speaker stereo struggles to compete with the plentiful road and wind noise in the Frontier’s cabin, but a Rockford Fosgate stereo is available with more grunt. Even without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto-they are not even available—there is Bluetooth for audio streaming, so smartphone owners aren’t left completely in the dark.

Cargo Space and Convenience 

The “short” or standard bed is 59.9 inches long and 28.8 inches wide at the tailgate. The “long bed” bed—standard on Kong, optional on Crew SV—measures 73.3 inches long and same tailgate width. Both are 44.4 inches wide between the wheel wells, which means common 4×8 sheet goods will need to be stacked on them or loaded at an angle. Depth for both is 18 inches, which calculates to 36.6 and 46.4 cubic feet of storage, respectfully. 

For reference, the Toyota Tacoma’s short and long beds measure in at 60- and 73.2 inches but are only 41.5-iches wide between the wheel wells. The Ford Ranger offers nearly identical 60- and 72-inch beds and 44.8-inches between wheel wells. The Chevrolet Colorado does little to disrupt the bed volume competition, bringing beds lengths of 61.2 and 74.4 inches and between the wheel-width of 44.4 inches. 

No power tailgates or cargo boxes are available here, but to be fair to the Frontier, those features are generally reserved for the full-size truck segment. Interior storage adds utility, especially when the back seat can double as a parcel shelf.

Is the 2021 Nissan Frontier worth it? Which Frontier is the Best Value?

Prior to the move to install a new powertrain, the Frontier was one of the most affordable trucks on the market. The new engine brought a $7,500 price bump with it, which can be a hard pill to swallow with such a dated truck. The base S trim represents the best value. All models get a V6 and there are no truly advanced options available, so the best Frontier is the cheapest Frontier. Savvy shoppers will want to wait until the 2022 hits showrooms for the best deal on a left-over 2021 Frontier. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2021 Nissan Frontier?

Despite its advanced age, insurance costs for the Nissan Frontier are right on par with its primary competitors. Our research suggests that a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,759, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $1653 for the Toyota Tacoma, $1719 for the Ford Ranger, $1,726 for the Chevrolet Colorado and $2,020 for the Jeep Gladiator. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.