While it’s often overlooked in a segment with big names like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma, the Nissan Frontier has long been a refreshingly basic pickup with solid features and decent capability. The automaker will likely try as hard as possible to keep it that way, but it’s bringing the truck into the 21st century kicking and screaming with a new hybrid variant, which is scheduled to arrive by 2028.
Nissan America’s chief planning officer, Ponz Pandikuthira, told MotorTrend that, “For its lifecycle to make sense and be compliant, it will have to be electrified.” The automaker believes a plug-in hybrid would be the best upgrade, but the technology isn’t ready yet. Pandikuthira said, “To keep that full spectrum of use, I think a plug-in hybrid would be the ultimate solution. We’re still working on it.”
The current Frontier comes with a 3.8-liter V6, and while the 310-horsepower engine is a nice upgrade over some of the truck’s closest rivals, it’s less efficient and doesn’t offer the liveliest acceleration, taking almost eight seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill in some configurations.
A hybrid would help with that issue, as electric motors’ low-down torque assists with off-the-line power. It should also boost fuel economy from today’s up to 24 mpg on the highway. Nissan doesn’t make the full-size Titan anymore, so a hybrid or plug-in hybrid Frontier can’t come soon enough.
[Images: Nissan]
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