For many years here at BangShift we have heard the cries of, “why can’t anyone just make a simple truck, anymore?” We get it. As it seems almost every pickup truck on the market today is jam packed with widgets, technology, gadgets, and comforts that most people who want a truck seemingly get stuck with, wanted or not. Now look, we’re not Neanderthals around here and while we can appreciate someone who wants crank windows and rubber floor mats, we’re not quite that Spartan in our desires. No, we want some good stuff but we don’t want all the other junk that will present major league problems when it starts to inevitably fail in a few years of good use. The 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X is the answer to those, “give me a truck that works, drives, has some power, and isn’t a science experiment” requests.
The 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X is the top shelf model in the Frontier lineup. It’s of course off-road focused with a little more ride height, skid plates, a locking rear differential, Bilstein off road shock absorbers, upgraded wheels and all-terrain tires. It’s a basic and functional off-road package. There are no additional cameras, no buttons to disconnect sway bars in the cab, and no advanced “off road modes” to play with. In short, we love it. Two speed transfer case, locking rear axle, skid plates. Bring it on. The Afterburner Orange paint is also a good touch on this truck. We liked its visibility and its nod to the off-road attitude the 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X projects.
More functionality comes in the form of an actual six foot bed behind the crew cab. This is one of a diminishing number of trucks this size that actually offer a 6′ bed. If you don’t think that is a big deal you likely don’t use your truck as a truck much and that is OK, if you do use your truck frequently you’ll appreciate the volume that the bed provides for hauling, working, and more. The truck can tow about 7,500lbs to boot, so yes, you can haul your stuff around too.
The working end of things is also simple and straight forward. A 310hp 3.8L V6 engine does the job. It will shove this truck through the quarter mile in the high 15-second zone. We don’t say that to brag on the thing’s performance but rather to give you a real world example of what the acceleration is like. Effectively it is right what you’d expect for a truck. The engine sounds good and sends it power to the rear end through a nine speed automatic transmission. This is a capable and competent unit that was not gear hunting and upshifts, even multiple gear ones came swiftly.
What do you want in your truck cab? Do you want room? The 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X has it. Want nice but not over the top appointments? The 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X has them. A shifter? Got that too. The infotainment screen is generous and larger than we expected in this truck, the analog style gauges, yes that part actually has moving needles were nice, and the rear seat room was truly crew cab sized. No, you are not going to get lost back there but anyone of any height will fit and fit nicely.
We’re not sure why they decided to emblazon the Frontier name in body color across the center of the the dash but it was more a curiosity than an annoyance. Note the easy to use switches, buttons, and knobs. All good for gloved hands in the winter. The layout of the screen and the vents that flank it was seamless with the rest of the dash. A lot of cars can take note of this. The screen is not jutting out like a tombstone, it belongs here.
For an as listed price of $50,000 you could drive this off the lot, but who pays sticker price? That means you can have a truck that does all the truck stuff with none of the wizardry you don’t want or need in the $45-47,000 range. Remember this is actually the most loaded the expensive version of this truck as well. You can get the good stuff, the mechanical bits and a less flashy interior for less.
The Frontier is not a machine that makes your hair stand up when you see it, when you drive it, or when you tell your pals about it, but that is not the point. This is a truck’s truck and one that many people cry about not being able to find. They’re all looking in the wrong place. Don’t make the same mistake. Shop the 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X and tell us what you think.
