2022 Nissan Frontier vs. 2021 Ford Ranger

2022 Nissan Frontier ・ Photo by Nissan

The 2022 Nissan Frontier was redesigned this year giving this mid-size truck a significant update. Exterior styling, interior design, technology, and safety features are new and take the Frontier from dated to thoroughly modern. It has trims for off-road enthusiasts and offers good capability with a powerful V6 engine.

The 2021 Ford Ranger aims for the same buyer with the capability to tow and carry a payload and a comfortable interior. There’s a choice of rear-wheel or four-wheel drive with a lineup of three trims and a well-equipped interior. It also has off-road packages for enthusiasts. Let’s take a closer look at these two midsize trucks to see which is the best.

A Range of Capable Trims

The 2022 Nissan Frontier is available in four trims. There’s a king or crew cab, two bed lengths, and rear- or four-wheel drive. The S starts at $27,840 while the Pro-4X is priced from $37,240. It’s a solid trim lineup with good standard features and extra off-road capability standard in top trims.

The 2021 Ford Ranger offers three trims with packages, including the new Tremor, that add off-road capability. It also has two bed lengths and two cabs with rear- or four-wheel drive. The XL is priced from $25,070, and the Lariat starts at $33,610. The Ranger comes out ahead for its lower pricing and flexibility to get top trims with or without added off-road capability.

: Ford Ranger

Photo by Ford

Each Offers Only one Powertrain

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

The 2021 Ford Ranger is powered by a 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. It has less horsepower than the Frontier, but the turbocharging and the extra torque make it surprisingly responsive. The Frontier comes out ahead, however, for its smoother and more aggressive power delivery.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan

Budget-Friendly 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 2021 Ford Ranger gets an EPA-estimated 21 mg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive sees those numbers drop to 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Add the Tremor package and it’s 19 mpg across the board. This one isn’t even close.

: Ford Ranger

Photo by Ford

Both Deliver Composed Handling and a Smooth Ride

The 2022 Nissan Frontier has a smoother, more well-mannered ride this year. It soaks up imperfections in the road with ease. Whether it’s rough pavement or potholes, the suspension system in the Frontier keeps the ride comfortable. It handles well without unnerving bounce or body roll during quick highway lane changes.

The 2021 Ford Ranger also offers a smooth ride that has no trouble managing rough road surfaces. It’s composed with good handling, but not quite as easy-going as the Frontier. Though body roll is minimal, it’s more pronounced in the Ranger and the ride is bouncier over uneven surfaces.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan

Towing and Payload Ratings Aren't Created Equal

These are mid-size trucks, so they don’t have the same high ratings of their full-size counterparts. That doesn’t mean they’re not ready to do some work. 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 Ford Ranger is also a capable truck with a max payload of up to 1,860 pounds and a maximum tow rating of up to 7,500 pounds. While these are both capable trucks, the Ford Ranger comes out on top.

: Ford Ranger

Photo by Ford

Off-Road Capability for Weekend Adventures

The 2022 Nissan Frontier offers two off-road specialty trims with the rear-wheel drive Pro-X or four-wheel drive Pro-4X. They have a variety of skid plates, upgraded shocks, an electronically locking rear differential on the Pro-4X, and an available Off-Road mode with cameras that automatically turn on in 4-low to give a better view on narrow trails.

The 2021 Ford Ranger doesn’t have off-road trims but instead offers several packages, including the new Tremor, for added off-road capability. There’s also an FX2 an FX4 package available even for the base trim. Available features include skid plates, off-road shocks, six dash-mounted auxiliary switches, rear locking differential, and four drive modes. The Ranger wins for its wider range of features across its lineup.

: Ford Ranger

Photo by Ford

Roomy and Attractive Interiors

There’s room for either four or five people in both trucks, depending on the cab you choose. Where the two differ isn’t so much in space as it is in overall interior comfort and quality. The Nissan Frontier is significantly better than the prior year. It has attractive trims at every level with options that include heated front seats and leather seating surfaces.

The Ford Ranger also has an attractive cabin with good interior materials. It makes leather seats standard on its top trim rather than requiring the purchase of an options package to get more luxury. Though both are comfortable, the Ranger comes out ahead for its more premium feel, especially in its top trim.

: Ford Ranger

Photo by Ford

The Importance of a Large Screen

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.

The 2021 Ford Ranger offers only a 3.5-inch infotainment screen on its base trim with a 4-speaker audio system and 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity. That’s quite small. The XLT and Lariat add an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Ford SYNC3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 6-speaker audio system. The larger screens on the Frontier make the system much easier to use.

: Nissan Frontier

Photo by Nissan

A Key Standard Safety Feature Makes a Big Difference

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 Ford Ranger likewise has limited standard safety and offers most safety features as a part of optional Ford Co-Pilot 360. Features are comparable to Nissan, but there’s one big difference. Ford makes forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard, while it’s optional on the Nissan Frontier.

: Ford Ranger

And the Winner Is…

The 2022 Nissan Frontier is a solid truck with great updates for this year. It has a powerful engine, good capability, and a range of well-equipped trims. The ride is smooth and comfortable, and it has good available safety features. It also has a large infotainment touchscreen.

Head-to-head with the 2021 Ford Ranger, however, the Frontier falls short. The Ranger has better fuel economy, more standard safety features, and a wider range of off-road upgrades, but its base infotainment system is lacking. It also comes out ahead for its more affordable pricing,

: Ford Ranger

Photo by Ford