NISSAN Navara / Frontier Double Cab Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Nissan introduced a new generation of its Frontier pickup in February 2021 as a 2022 model year, and it was more than a utility vehicle.

The mid-size pickup was no longer just a workhorse, and many customers preferred them for their off-road abilities. Instead of towing a trailer with tools and materials, these vehicles were more often seen towing a trailer with motorbikes, ATVs, or ski-jets. The customers started to be more concerned about comfort features rather than metallic bumpers. Last but not least, they asked for better-looking vehicles, not just tools on wheels.

From the outside, the 2021 Frontier featured a completely renewed flat front area. Its LED headlights were unique on the market with their twin DRL light-strips design. The black grille sported the Nissan logo in the middle and a mesh pattern that mimicked a fence. Its tall bumper showed a cut in the middle to make room for a metallic shield, offered as an option. The beltline featured a small step on the front doors and a second one on the back of the rear ones from its sides.

Inside, Nissan installed a flat front-fascia dashboard with a slightly rounded instrument cluster where it placed a 7” display. A 9” infotainment touch-screen claimed the top side of the center stack. Like its predecessor, the Frontier was offered in two cab versions: King and Crew. Depending on the version, a 5- or 6-ft bed was fitted as standard.

Under the hood, Nissan installed a new, direct fuel injected, 3.8-liter V-6 paired as standard to a 9-speed automatic (dual-clutch) transmission. It was available with 2WD or 4WD with a shift-on-the-fly ability and a low-range gear. The carmaker installed an LSD as standard for off-road enthusiasts, while an electric locking differential was available on specific versions.

Nissan has a very long experience in off-road vehicles and one of its top-models is the Nissan Navara/Frontier pickup. In 2016, this model surprised the market by launching the first vehicle in its segment with coil springs at the rear, whereas all the others offered leaf-springs. At the beginning of 2020, Nissan showed an updated version.

Some things are as good as they are and the Nissan Navara/Frontier Double Cab is one of those vehicles, having been praised around the world. Now Nissan has added some changes, just to update it to the new rules and regulations regarding emission and safety norms. But the carmaker didn't have to work too much since the car was very good since its launch.

The revised 2020 Navara Double Cab has new headlights and other small visual changes. But the real upgrade is underneath the surface. Under the hood, there is the same 2.3-liter turbodiesel engine from Renault, but both variants of it are twin-turbo. The entry model has a mere 3 hp increase to a total of 163 hp but has a bigger torque, reaching 425 Nm (313.5 lb-ft). The top version has the same 190 hp. Fuel consumption has been improved and now it has a combined value of 6.9l/100 km. The transmission offered is either a new 6-speed manual gearbox or the same 7-speed automatic as before.

For stopping power, Nissan has installed new 320 mm discs on the front and replaced the old rear drums with new 308 mm discs. Thanks to some other weight savings on the vehicle, the payload has been increased to 1180 kg (2601 lbs).

Nissan built its name on the utility vehicles since its cars were named Datsun in the '30s. Over the years, it became famous for its pickup range and, in Europe, especially due to the Nissan Navara.

In 2015, this model surprised the market by launching the first vehicle in its segment with coil springs at the rear, whereas all the others offered leaf-springs. And the list of surprises was even longer.

Some things are as good as they are and the Nissan Navara/Frontier Double Cab is one of those vehicles, having been praised around the world. Its stylish look with big front fascia and overfenders on the front wheel-arches and curved window line were far from a regular, workhorse, pickup-truck.

Inside, there was a 5-seat cabin with enough room for adult passengers both in front and in the rear. Depending on the trim level, the car was fitted with a touch-screen infotainment unit on the center stack. On the center console, there was the gear-stick or the selector for the 7-speed automatic gearbox. The base trim level featured only air-conditioning, power windows, and a CD-Radio.

Under the hood, there was a 2.3-liter turbodiesel engine from Renault, but both variants of it are twin-turbo. The entry model offered 160 hp. The top version had 190 hp. The standard transmission offered was a 6-speed manual.

Nissan introduced the second generation of the Navara in 2005 and offered it in three versions: Simple, King, and Double Cab. Depending on the market, it named it Navara or Frontier.

While the first generation of the Navara was a true-to-the-bone workhorse, the second generation started a smooth transition toward a leisure vehicle. To further emphasize this, in some markets, the Japanese carmaker sold both generations in parallel, one as a work truck and the other as an upmarket pickup. It was an intelligent decision, and customers soon realized they might choose one of the 2005 Navara/Frontier instead of an SUV.

The double-cab version was aimed at families wishing for adventure, kayaking, off-road biking, and other outdoor activities. Moreover, the vehicle's design was bolder, with a front fascia interrupted only by the V-shaped chromed trim on the grille. While the headlights looked small compared to the overall front design, they were actually big enough. Moreover, the body-colored front bumper was offered for most trim levels. At the same time, the additional fog lamps from the lower outer side were provided only for the higher versions. The profile revealed a four-door cabin with enough room for easy ingress and egress. That led to a shorter bed, which was no longer that useful as a work truck but big enough to carry all the camping gear someone would need for a weekend.

The cabin also was adequate for up to five passengers, but the straight-up rear bench's seatback was not comfortable on long trips. Yet, the front occupants could enjoy enough room and a center stack that hosted the CD player and the HVAC controls. On the center console, a couple of cup holders and the shifter shared the space in front of a storage compartment.