I drove a $48,000 Nissan Frontier. It’s simple, powerful, and delivers pretty much everything you need in a truck.

• The Nissan Frontier has been one of America’s best-selling midsize pickup trucks since 1998.
• I was impressed by the Frontier’s powerful V6 engine, easy-to-use cabin, and solid tech features.
• The truck’s fuel economy is lackluster, and its steering can feel heavy and unwieldy.

Since its debut in 1998, the Nissan Frontier pickup has been a popular midsize workhorse for weekend DIYers and tradespeople alike.

Fast forward a quarter century, and the Frontier remains a popular midsize pickup, with 68,000 sold in the US last year. It trails the segment-leading Toyota Tacoma but remains ahead of rivals like the Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, and Jeep Gladiator.

I recently spent a week with a long-wheelbase 2025 Frontier Crew Cab SL 4X4.