2021 Ford Ranger vs 2022 Nissan Frontier

The 2021 Ford Ranger was available in SuperCab and SuperCrew styles, with the former featuring a six-foot cargo bed and the latter a five-foot bed. Trim levels included XL, XLT, and Lariat, all powered by a turbo four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). Our test model, a SuperCrew Lariat with the Tremor Off-Road Package, came with a spray-in bedliner and a SecuriCode keyless entry pad, priced at $46,865 including destination charges. The Tremor package added unique 17-inch dark gray wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires, red grille accents, and off-road hoop-style side steps, giving the Ranger a rugged, off-road-ready appearance.

Inside, the Lariat trim combined with the Tremor’s simulated suede seat inserts, all-weather floor mats, and six upfitter switches on the dashboard made it the best-equipped Ranger available. The cabin featured a clean and contemporary design with simple radio and climate controls, partial digital instrumentation, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Despite the prevalence of hard plastic, the materials did not feel cheap, maintaining a balance of functionality and style.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier marked a significant step in Nissan’s “Nissan Next” strategy, arriving as a dramatically new midsize pickup truck. Its blocky, rugged styling paid homage to the old Nissan Hardbody pickups of the 1980s and 1990s. The Frontier was available in nine exterior colors and two interior shades, with our test truck featuring Baja Storm paint and charcoal leather seating exclusive to the off-road-ready PRO-4X and 2WD PRO-X trims. The 2022 model was slightly longer than its predecessor, fitting well in garages and parking spots, and targeted competitors like the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma.

The Frontier was offered in King Cab and Crew Cab configurations, with the King Cab featuring a 6-foot bed and the Crew Cab offering a standard 5-foot bed or an optional 6-foot bed on SV trims. Optional features included a spray-in bedliner, LED bed lighting, and a three-channel tie-down system. Inside, the Frontier represented a massive step forward with Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, improved insulation, and a new center console offering more storage solutions. The truck also boasted over 80 optional accessories, emphasizing customization for truck and off-road enthusiasts.

The 2021 Ford Ranger was powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 270 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. The Ranger’s 4WD system allowed switching between 2-Hi, 4-Hi, and 4-Lo using a rotary dial on the center console. The Tremor Off-Road Package added a Terrain Management System with settings for Normal, Sand, Mud/Ruts, and Grass/Gravel/Snow, an electronic locking rear differential, and Trail Control for low-speed off-road cruise control. The Tremor’s off-road suspension, revised springs, and Fox performance shocks provided 9.7 inches of ground clearance and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles.

The Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul up to 1,860 pounds of payload, though the Tremor’s maximum payload decreased to 1,430 pounds. The EPA fuel economy rating for the Tremor was 19 mpg in combined driving, with our testing averaging 18.5 mpg. The turbocharged engine offered swift acceleration and refinement, while the Tremor’s suspension provided a comfortable ride on paved roads and impressive off-road capability. The Ranger Tremor proved maneuverable and capable on challenging trails, comparable to the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier featured a retuned 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing a class-leading 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission managed power delivery to either RWD or 4WD with 4-Hi and 4-Lo modes. The Frontier’s maximum payload was 1,610 pounds, and it could tow up to 6,720 pounds. The transmission provided smooth shifts, optimizing power and fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 18 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined for RWD models, and 17/22/19 for 4WD models.

The Frontier’s hydraulic rack and pinion steering system offered a heavier feel compared to the Toyota Tacoma’s electric steering. The PRO-4X trim included hill-start assist, hill-descent control, an electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks, steel underbody skid plates, and an aluminum front skid plate. The Frontier PRO-4X also featured a surround-view monitor with an off-road mode and a best-in-class approach angle of 32.3 degrees. The 2WD PRO-X trim offered similar styling without the off-road hardware.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor featured hoop-style step bars with a granular surface, mounted high for maximum clearance but limiting their usefulness for shorter people and posing a potential hazard for taller individuals. The SecuriCode keyless entry pad allowed locking and unlocking the doors with a passcode, though it appeared glued onto the doors, which sounded tinny when shut. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and six-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat were comfortable and heated, though the driver’s seat needed more seat track travel for taller drivers.

Rear-seat space in the Ranger was more accommodating than most midsize trucks, except for the Honda Ridgeline, though it lacked rear air conditioning vents and a power-operated sliding rear window. Storage options included bins under the rear-seat cushion, which lifted as a single piece, and a tailgate that was undampened but lightweight. The cargo bed offered 43.3 cubic feet of space (51.8 cubic feet for SuperCabs) with four tie-down hooks, though additional cargo solutions were available as accessories.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier offered exceptional comfort in the front seats with Nissan’s Zero Gravity technology, providing a level of luxury uncommon in the midsize pickup segment. The Frontier’s storage options were more convenient than those in the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, and it felt spacious behind the wheel compared to the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. The Crew Cab’s backseat provided manageable headroom and legroom, though the King Cab’s rear seats were suitable only for small items.

The Frontier’s Crew Cab featured eight cupholders, four of which could hold a 32-ounce bottle, and additional storage beneath the rear seat. The truck’s overall design and comfort were ahead of its competitors, with Nissan’s attention to detail and practical storage solutions setting it apart.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor came equipped with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen display, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, AppLink with Waze and Ford + Alexa, and FordPass Connect with a 4G WiFi hotspot. The system also included navigation and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. While Sync 3 was being phased out in favor of Sync 4, it remained competitive within the midsize pickup segment. However, voice recognition performance was inconsistent, with some commands misunderstood or ignored.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier saw significant advancements in technology, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen on S and SV trims and a 9-inch screen on the PRO-4X. The interface was user-friendly, with physical knobs for volume and tuning, hard buttons for audio source, map, and camera, and a dedicated menu button. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but required a wired connection. Optional features included a wireless phone charger, a Kicker tailgate audio system, and a 10-speaker Fender stereo available in the Premium Package. The Technology Package added safety features like blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control, while the Convenience Package included a spray-in bedliner, bed lighting, a trailer hitch, and heated mirrors, seats, and steering wheel.

The 2021 Ford Ranger offered the Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The blind-spot warning system included trailer coverage, and adaptive cruise control was standard on Lariat trim. The Ranger also featured rain-sensing wipers, wiper-activated headlights, and front and rear parking sensors. The NHTSA gave the Ranger an overall rating of four stars, with a three-star rollover resistance rating, while the IIHS rated it highly except for "Acceptable" front-passenger protection and "Marginal" headlights.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to perform better than its predecessor. The Frontier included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a driver attention monitor, intelligent forward collision warning, trailer sway control, rear-door alert, and an easy-fill tire alert. Optional safety features included traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and rear sonar.