2022 Nissan Frontier vs. 2021 Toyota Tacoma

2021 Toyota Tacoma ・ Photo by Toyota

Mid-size pickup trucks are a great option for those who want the capability of a full-size truck in a smaller package. They’re also less expensive and much easier to maneuver through cities with narrow streets and tight parking. The 2022 Nissan Frontier is all-new with a full redesign that adds technology and safety features.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma offers serious competition with a choice of engines and the capability to go off-road. It also has good standard safety and is available in a wide range of trims that make it easy to find one that fits your needs while staying within your budget. Let’s take a closer look at these two mid-size trucks to see which is the best.

Affordable pricing that keeps you on budget.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier comes in four trims with a king or crew cab, two bed lengths, and rear- or four-wheel drive. The S is priced from $27,840 and the Pro-4X is priced from $37,240. It’s a small lineup, but with a range of trims that cover everyday drivers and those who plan on heading off-road.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma comes in six trims. It also offers two cabs, two beds, and rear- or four-wheel drive. It also has two engine options. Pricing ranges from $26,400 to $47,030 with both basic and off-road trims. Though it starts slightly lower, top trims have a much higher price making the Frontier easier to fit into tighter budgets.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan

One Has Stronger Performance

Power for the 2022 Nissan Frontier comes from a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s a responsive engine that has no trouble moving the Frontier on-road or off with smooth shifts that provide even power delivery.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has a base 2.7-liter 4-cylinder with 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Also available is a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. It offers either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The base engine is underpowered, and even the larger engine doesn’t match the powerful V6 in the Frontier.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan

Clear Winner in Fuel Economy

The 2022 Nissan Frontier gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg highway with rear-wheel drive. Those figures drop to 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway with four-wheel drive.

The rear-wheel drive 2021 Toyota Tacoma comes in with up to 20 mpg city and 23 mpg highway with the 2.7-liter or 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with the 3.5-liter. Four-wheel drive trims get up to 19 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Although the numbers are close, the Toyota Tacoma gets better overall fuel economy.

: Toyota Tacoma

Photo by Toyota

One Is a Smoother Ride

The 2022 Nissan Frontier has a smooth ride that makes it a suitable choice for commuters. The ride is quiet with a minimal amount of road and wind noise. It does a great job of smoothing out rough road surfaces and hides all but the worst potholes. Even its off-road trims offer a well-mannered highway drive.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has a much harsher highway ride. It’s louder with noticeable road noise and it has a lot of body roll during quick lane changes. The Tacoma also has a rougher ride that lets through more of the vibration from uneven roads and loudly announces the presence of any potholes with a noticeable jolt.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan

Evenly Matched Towing Ratings

Mid-size trucks don’t have the same sky-high payload and towing ratings of their full-size counterparts, but they’re still plenty capable. The 2022 Nissan Frontier can manage a payload of up to 1,610 pounds with a maximum tow rating of up to 6,720 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has a maximum payload rating of up to 1,685 pounds with a maximum towing rating of 6,800 pounds, properly equipped. This is a close one with only a minor difference between the two, but the Tacoma ekes out the win.

: Toyota Tacoma

Photo by Toyota

Both Have Solid Off-Road Capability

The 2022 Nissan Frontier has four-wheel drive available on all but the Pro-X trim and standard on the Pro-4X. Off-road trims have an assortment of features including multiple skid plates, upgraded shocks, an available electronic locking rear differential, and an available Off-Road mode with cameras that automatically turn on in 4-low for a better view on narrow trails.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has four-wheel drive available on all trims and standard on the TRD Off-Road and TRD-Pro. They add skid plates, an electronically locking rear differential, drive modes including crawl control, and off-road shocks and suspension systems. The TRD Sport offers rear- or four-wheel drive with milder off-road features. The Tacoma offers more choice for off-roaders.

: Toyota Tacoma

Photo by Toyota

Attractive Interiors Deliver on Comfort

The interior of the Nissan Frontier received impressive updates for the 2022 model year. It has attractive materials at every trim level with available upgrades including leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, and power seat adjustability. Even without those upgrades, it’s a comfortable and welcoming space for passengers.

The Toyota Tacoma has a wider range of trims making its base trims feel a bit lackluster. The bonus is their more affordable price, but they’re not as attractive or as appealing as base trims of the Frontier. There’s also a heavier use of plastics, which gives the Tacoma a less upscale feel overall.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan

Infotainment Includes Key Smartphone Connectivity

The 2022 Nissan Frontier has a standard 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, AM/FM/SiriusXM, 6-speaker audio, and navigation with voice recognition. There are also two front and two rear USB ports. Top trims have a 9.0-inch touchscreen with 10-speaker audio and there’s the option for a premium 10-speaker Fender system.

Standard infotainment in the Toyota Tacoma includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen with 4-speaker audio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and four USB ports. Options include an 8.0-inch touchscreen and a 6-speaker JBL audio system. The Frontier has larger standard and available touchscreens. It also has more premium audio options available.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan

Focused on Standard Safety

The 2022 Nissan Frontier has a wide range of available safety features including lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear automatic braking, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and traffic sign recognition. Standard features are minimal and include driver alertness, forward collision warning, and rear door alert.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has standard pre-collision with pedestrian detection and lane departure alert. It adds standard rear parking sonar, blind spot monitor, and rear cross traffic alert on select trims. The Tacoma has more standard safety and adds more as standard on select trims giving it the edge over the Frontier.

: Toyota Tacoma

Photo by Toyota

And the Winner Is…

The Nissan Frontier has made great progress since last year, so this is a close contest. It offers better infotainment options than the Tacoma, and it has stronger performance from its V6 engine. It also offers a much smoother ride making it better suited to those who do lots of highway driving, especially long commutes.

The Toyota Tacoma delivers more extensive off-road capability and better fuel economy. It also has slightly higher towing and payload ratings. There’s a wider range of trims, too, but with much higher pricing at the top of the lineup. Both of these mid-size trucks are solid offerings, but the 2022 Nissan Frontier comes out ahead.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan