The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder and Frontier Are Here - This Is What You Need to Know

2022 Nissan Pathfinder

The new Pathfinder looks a lot more rugged and bold this time around. The Japanese automaker has retained the V-motion grille up front, but it looks a lot edgier and sharper overall. It comes with LED headlights as standard along with slim Daytime Running Lights. Nissan has added a few new wheel designs, too. At the rear, the ‘Pathfinder’ lettering is spread wide on the tailgate, just like the Armada. This is certainly going to be polarizing since ‘Pathfinder’ is a big word and it looks gaudy on the tailgate. The 2022 Pathfinder will be offered in 14 colors and combinations total, which includes five new dual-tone combinations as well.

On the inside, the Pathfinder is high on tech features.

The SUV comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an optional 10.8-inch Head-up display.

The center console now features a bigger nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Other notable creature comforts include ten-way power driver’s seat, climate-controlled front seats, Tri-Zone Automatic Temperature Control with second-row climate control, and heated rear seats, to name a few.

Nissan has offered various upholstery options on the new Pathfinder. This includes cloth, leather, and quilted semi-aniline leather-appointed upholstery. It is an eight-seater as standard, but you can opt for captain chairs for the second row with a removable center console. The convenience factor is high, too, as the 2022 Pathfinder now comes with a one-touch release/fold second-row bench seats that can be activated from either the driver’s side or passenger’s side.

The 2022 Pathfinder, as expected, retains the same 3.5-liter, V-6 engine that makes 284 horses and 259 pound-feet of torque. The biggest difference, however, is the deployment of a new gearbox.

Nissan has swapped the lousy CVT for a new nine-speed automatic gearbox and this will make wonders to the whole driving experience.

It comes with Nissan’s “Intelligent 4WD” drive system with seven drive modes, namely – Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut, and Tow. The maximum towing capacity is rated at 6,000 pounds, but this will after equipping it with the optional accessories.

Nissan Safety Shield 360 is now standard across the range and it includes stuff like Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and so on. The SUV will be offered in four trims – S, SV, SL, and Platinum. Nissan hasn’t revealed the prices yet, but we don’t expect a significant increase. The starting price for the current model is $31,980, so we speculate the 2022 Pathfinder to start around $33,000. The top-end, however, could breach the $45,000-mark.

2022 Nissan Frontier

Nissan has finally ditched the 15-year old design for a fresh, bolder, and more aggressive design. The automaker says it has drawn styling inspirations from the yesteryear Hardbody truck. Does this mean we ignore the fact that it looks like the Chevy Silverado? Anyway, the Frontier, unlike the Pathfinder, doesn’t come with the V-Motion grille and is following the footsteps of the Titan pickup truck. The tailgate has ‘Frontier’ embossed on it, and along with other redesigned elements, it gives a very rugged look at the back. Two new colors – Tactical Green Metallic and Boulder Grey Pearl – have been added to the existing palette. It will be offered in two different body styles and two different bed lengths.

Inside the cabin, the new Nissan Frontier feels fresh and is tech-savvy. Behind the steering wheel is a seven-inch digital instrument cluster. The 2022 Frontier also comes with an eight-inch touchscreen system as standard and a nine-inch touchscreen system as optional. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all the models. The truck comes with many more storage spaces all around.

The 2022 Frontier comes with the same 3.8-liter, V-6 engine as the 2020 model. It dishes out 310 horses and 281 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Nissan says it has tweaked the hydraulic steering setup and the suspension system for the 2022 model. The four-wheel-drive models come with an electronically controlled part-time transfer case, Hill Start Assist, and Hill Descent Control. The maximum towing capacity is rated at 6,720 pounds.

Nissan has also included a two-wheel-drive PRO-4X equivalent model called the PRO-X to give company to the four-wheel-drive model. The PRO-4X comes with stuff like LED headlights, taillights, fog lights and DRLs, and Lava Red grille accents. It is as off-road friendly as ever and features equipment like an electronic locking differential, Bilstein off-road shock absorbers, and underbody skid plates.

Stuff like Forward Collision Warning and Tire Pressure Monitoring System are offered as standard, but Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, etc. are optional. Even the Safety Shield 360 that’s standard on the 2022 Pathfinder is optional here. There is no word on the pricing yet, but we’d expect a hike of a few hundred dollars over the existing starting price of $27,090.