'This week I am behind the wheel of the 2027 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab, this one dressed in Bluestone Pearl. Frontier continues to appeal to people who want a midsize pickup with a traditional V6 and straightforward controls, and that includes me. It competes with the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma, but brings its own personality to a crowded field. My tester is the four-wheel-drive model with the short bed.
WHAT’S NEW
Nissan’s biggest addition for 2027 is a Sport Edition package for the SV, with black exterior accents, yellow interior stitching, all-terrain tires, and additional skid plate protection. Alpine Metallic joins the paint choices, and buyers of PRO models gain another way to order a moonroof with the Convenience Package. For this truck, the useful update is the PRO Convenience Package’s upgraded Qi2 wireless charger, which uses magnetic alignment and a cooling fan to improve charging consistency. The Frontier was substantially refreshed for 2025, and the terrain selector arrived for 2026, so those features carry forward rather than being new this year.
EXTERIOR
The Bluestone Pearl paint looks terrific with the dark grille, black fender flares, and dark wheels. This is a squared-off pickup with a broad hood, muscular front fenders, and an upright-looking cab that gives it a purposeful appearance. The grille has large horizontal openings and a prominent Nissan emblem, while the LED headlights and signature lighting give the front end a modern look without making it seem overdone.
Lava Red front tow hooks provide a little contrast underneath, and the silver-colored front skid plate adds to the rugged appearance. My truck has the optional Stars and Stripes Accent Package, which adds beadlock-style wheels, a red, white, and blue flag decal, grille accent lighting, and a black exhaust finisher.
It also has PRO-4X mud flaps. Around back, FRONTIER is stamped across the tailgate, the PRO-4X badge identifies the model, and the rear bumper has useful steps at the corners. It looks like a truck you can put to work, which is exactly the point.
PERFORMANCE
Every Frontier has a 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 producing 310-horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. I like the simplicity of that combination. There is no turbocharger, and this is a conventional automatic rather than a CVT.
The PRO-4X adds shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case with four-wheel-drive high and low ranges, Bilstein off-road shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, and protective skid plates. The rear locker helps both rear wheels turn together when traction gets difficult, while low range provides additional control for demanding terrain. An active brake limited-slip system also helps manage wheelspin.
The terrain selector lets the driver tailor the truck’s operation to different surfaces, and separate hill descent and hill start assistance help on slopes. There is also a tow/haul switch. These are useful tools for someone who actually ventures off pavement or pulls a trailer, and the controls are easy to find.
INTERIOR
Inside, the cabin mixes a rugged layout with leather-appointed seating and Lava Red accents. The red grab handles on the doors, red details on the steering wheel, and large FRONTIER lettering below the touchscreen give it some personality. There are padded surfaces where you want them, while the large knobs and conventional gear selector keep operation familiar.
The heated front seats include an eight-way power driver’s seat with two-way power lumbar adjustment and a four-way power passenger seat. The heated leather steering wheel adjusts for both tilt and reach. Ahead of the driver are a large analog tachometer and speedometer with a seven-inch information display between them, so you get traditional gauges and a digital speed readout in the same place.
High on the center dash is a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and SiriusXM capability. The Premium Package adds built-in navigation and a 10-speaker Fender audio system. The photos show clear, large screen tiles and a separate camera display, while physical audio and climate controls sit below the screen. I appreciate being able to change the temperature without going on a scavenger hunt through menus.
The console holds the shifter, cup holders, a padded armrest, the wireless charger, and the four-wheel-drive and terrain controls. There are front USB-A and USB-C connections, plus matching charge-only ports in the rear. The back seat includes a fold-down center armrest with cup holders, and the seat cushions lift to reveal storage underneath. Rear legroom remains something to consider if you regularly carry adults. The optional tilt-and-slide sunroof has a manual shade.
STANDARD FEATURES
Standard comfort and convenience equipment includes dual-zone front climate control, PRO seat and steering-wheel stitching, heated front seats, a heated leather steering wheel with manual tilt and telescoping adjustment, an eight-way power driver’s seat with two-way power lumbar, a four-way power passenger seat, PRO-4X carpeted floor mats, underseat storage in the second row, Nissan Intelligent Key, and remote engine start.
Other standard equipment includes the seven-inch driver information display, 12.3-inch NissanConnect touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio/text streaming, voice recognition for audio features, SiriusXM radio capability, and four USB connections. Exterior equipment includes PRO alloy wheels and all-terrain tires, LED headlights with LED signature lighting, LED fog lights, power outside mirrors, a dampened and locking tailgate, cargo-bed illumination, cargo tie-down hooks, Lava Red tow hooks, fender flares, and sliding rear glass. The Stars and Stripes Accent Package replaces the standard wheels with beadlock-style wheels.
OPTIONS
This truck has six options totaling $6,710. The $1,640 PRO Convenience Package adds a spray-in bedliner, the Utili-track system with two adjustable tie-down cleats, 120-volt outlets in the bed and rear console, heated outside mirrors, LED under-rail bed lighting, a trailer hitch with wiring harness, the Intelligent Around View Monitor with Off-Road Mode, and wireless charging.
The $3,080 PRO Premium Package includes a 10-speaker Fender premium audio system, leather-appointed seats, an auto-dimming inside mirror with HomeLink universal transceiver, an auto-tilt-and-slide sunroof with a manual shade, built-in navigation, and traffic sign recognition.
The $1,025 Stars and Stripes Accent Package adds 17-inch beadlock-style wheels, a red, white, and blue flag decal, grille accent lighting, and a black exhaust finisher. The remaining options are PRO-4X mud flaps for $290, PRO-4X all-season floor mats for $225, and premium paint for $450. Destination adds $1,775.
SAFETY FEATURES
Safety equipment includes Nissan’s Advanced Air Bag System, a vehicle security system, tire pressure monitoring with Easy-Fill Tire Alert, automatic emergency braking, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Driver Alertness, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear sonar, and rear automatic braking. Intelligent Cruise Control, automatic headlights, high beam assist, trailer sway control, hill start assist, and hill descent control are also included. The optional Around View Monitor provides additional views around the truck, with an Off-Road Mode for maneuvering on trails.
RIDE AND DRIVE
When I reviewed the 2026 PRO-4X, I liked its ride, V6 acceleration, cabin quietness, and visibility. The steering felt a little heavy around town, although that gave it a substantial feel. Those impressions provide a useful starting point for the 2027, which retains the same basic powertrain and chassis formula. The appeal is a capable pickup with the comfort and equipment to serve as an everyday vehicle, along with the hardware for weekend adventures. I still feel like the steering should be easier to make parking simpler.
VERDICT
The Frontier continues to make a strong case for buyers who like a V6, conventional controls, and useful off-road equipment in a midsize pickup. This Bluestone Pearl truck looks sharp, and the combination of leather, a sunroof, Fender audio, and practical bed equipment gives it a good mix of comfort and utility. Rear-seat room is still the compromise I would weigh carefully before buying.
2027 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X
- What I liked most: The traditional V6, straightforward controls, and combination of useful truck equipment and interior amenities.
- What I would change: Do something with the steering, it’s just too hard.
- MSRP: Base price $42,190. Total $50,675 with transportation.
- Fuel economy: 16 city/20 highway/18 combined.
- Odometer reading when tested: 150 miles.
- Official color: Bluestone Pearl.
- Weight: Curb weight 4,763 pounds; GVWR 6,012 pounds.
- Length-width-height: 210.2 inches long/74.7 inches wide/72.9 inches high.
- Fuel tank capacity: 21 gallons, with filler on the driver’s side.
- Towing capacity: 6,270 pounds.
- Spare tire: Full-size, mounted under the bed.
- 2027 Frontier PRO-4X in a few words: A straightforward, midsize pickup with V6 power and plenty of useful equipment.
- Warranty: Three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, whichever comes first.
- Final assembly: Canton, Mississippi.
- Website: Nissan
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