Nissan Off Road Frontiers

Nissan finally gave the market a heavily refreshed Frontier in 2021. The 2022 midsize pickup isn’t all new, using the same powertrain as the previous model, riding on an evolution of the same chassis as before. It’s finally a looker in the cabin though, and a decent-handling rig with noteworthy power, the 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V-6 putting out 310 horses and 281 pound-feet of torque.

Starting with the entry-level S grade, this Frontier makes do with an aftermarket 2.5-inch lift kit, Calmini adjustable upper front control arms, and a dealer accessory sport bar in the bed, all dressed up in monochrome paint and retro graphics. The painted white steelies wearing Frontier Pro-4X tires are the truck’s standard spare wheel.

The Project Hardbody is the other nostalgia special, harking back to the Nissan Hardbody. This one kicks off with the Frontier’s SV grade, adding Pro-4X fender flares over a 3-inch lift and Calmini adjustable upper control arms. The Pro-4X also donated its front skid plate; the rock rails came from the dealer accessory catalog. NDA designed and milled a set of those delicious wheels then wrapped them in 33-inch BFG All-Terrains. Two 10-inch LEDs mount to the sport bar ahead of the bed-mounted spare-tire carrier. The blacked-out front-end pairs with a black hood sticker and ‘80s-style door graphics.

The Project Adventure goes its own overlanding way. Based on the hardest-core Pro-4X trim, it stands tallest with a 5-inch lift packing 34-inch BFG Mud-Terrains, and carries the most thanks to a Yakima LoadWarrior roof basket, SkyRise tent, and Yakima bed rack system. NDA laid up a custom carbon fiber snorkel for fording waterways; Kicker worked up a Bluetooth-enabled speaker system for flinging tunes from the bed. The custom wrap, an atlas of the United States, is a map of everywhere Nissan thinks this truck can go.

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