Starting at
Starting at
310 | Horsepower (hp) | 270 |
3.8L V6 | Engine | 2.3L I-4 Turbo |
9 | Screen Size (in) | 8 |
The pickup truck segment of the automotive industry is in a league of its own. Easily the most versatile of body styles, pickup trucks serve many purposes for their drivers. These trucks are often used for work, commuting, off-roading, and daily driving. When a vehicle is expected to do so much, you better be sure to get one that can match your expectations. With so many makes and models available for purchase, how do you know which truck can meet all your needs? Or better yet, which truck can exceed all your needs?
There are certain trucks that are in close competition, always being compared against each other by prospective buyers. When you compare the 2022 Nissan Frontier vs 2022 Ford Ranger, you will see these two trucks have a lot of similarities, including their solid designs, tons of off-roading accessories, and similar price tags. However, they each have a set of characteristics that set them apart and reflect a clear winner: the 2022 Nissan Frontier. It has a newly redesigned off-roading platform and a more powerful engine, and it’s a Nissan, so you know you’re getting quality parts and a reliable build. Here, we’ll break down just why the Frontier pulls ahead of the Ranger as the better choice.
The 2022 Nissan Frontier houses a powerful 3.8L V6 engine with an output of 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. This is best-in-class horsepower, so it adds great value to the Frontier. The standard V6 engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that shifts effortlessly. The chassis is complemented with available Bilstein shock absorbers that take the impact of uneven pavement and reduce your ability to feel disruptions inside the cabin. Choose from rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive to optimize your truck to your exact specifications. The engine on the 2022 Nissan Frontier gets you 18 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway, which is remarkable for such a powerful truck.
To compare, the 2022 Ford Ranger offers a 2.3L turbocharged I-4 engine with an output of 270 hp. The transmission is an automatic 10-speed, and the EPA estimates that the Ranger gets 21 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway with rear-wheel drive, or 20 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway if you opt for a four-wheel drive configuration. While the Ranger pulls slightly ahead in fuel economy, it has a significantly smaller and less powerful engine.
One of the greatest features of having a pickup truck is the ability to take it out off-roading. Whether you need to pave the way at work or like to take your truck on adventures during your free time, off-road capabilities are crucial. We looked at details like tires, off-roading accessories, ground clearance, and more to determine how these two trucks hold up.
The 2022 Nissan Frontier received a redesign for the new year, much of which was centered around its off-roading specs. The Frontier has available all-terrain tires, so you can easily travel on roads, dirt, mud, sand, or snow. Every trim of the Frontier can be equipped with a 4x4 system that has 4HI to handle easier terrain and 4LO for any sort of thick mud, snow, or sand. As for your ability to move through those grittier terrains, the Frontier offers an impressive 9.8 inches of ground clearance and includes skid plates for even better endurance, so you can move with confidence, knowing you won’t easily ding up your chassis. The PRO-4X trim further adds an electronic locking rear differential, off-road gauges, and shiny red tow hooks.
The Frontier also has driver assistance features designed exclusively around off-roading, such as the Intelligent Around View Monitor with Off-Road Mode, Hill Start Assist, and Hill Descent Control. The Intelligent Around View Monitor with Off-Road Mode helps by activating 360-degree cameras when you shift into 4LO for multiple views that make it easier to maneuver tight spaces. Hill Start Assist is there to help you when you’re starting the truck on a steep incline. This feature prevents you from rolling backward by holding down the brake pressure long enough for you to shift from the brake to the gas pedal. Hill Descent Control steps in when you need to drive down a steep path. When you push the Hill Descent Control button, it automatically manages your speed and brake pressure to provide a steady, controlled descent.
The 2022 Ford Ranger has impressive off-roading capabilities, too. However, some of the features fall short of the Nissan Frontier. If you opt for the rear-wheel drive model, the Ranger has 8.4 inches of ground clearance. With a four-wheel drive Ranger, you get some extra space totaling 8.9 inches of ground clearance. While that’s still a good amount of room, it’s still significantly less than Frontier’s 9.8 inches of ground clearance. There is an available Terrain Management System that adjusts engine responsiveness, transmission shift points, and the truck’s handling in rugged terrain. The driver can choose four driving modes depending on conditions: Normal, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, and Sand.
For maximum off-road performance, you can equip the Ranger with what Ford calls the Tremor Off-Road Package. This package includes magnetic-painted alloy wheels, skid plates, modified suspension, and front and rear tow hooks. With the Tremor Off-Road Package, you also receive additional driver assist technology with Ford Trail Control. While the Ranger does have a rearview camera, it lacks an option for a surround-view camera. It also doesn’t have optional hill descent control.
These days, pickup trucks are driven for fun as much as they’re used for work. That’s why it’s important that drivers feel comfortable when they sit in the cabin. Expectations are high, and automakers are expected to go the extra mile to provide supportive seating, innovative entertainment systems, and long-lasting, durable materials. Both Nissan and Ford were diligent in designing the interiors of their trucks. Drivers will notice the thoughtfulness that went into the cabins on both the Frontier and the Ranger.
Inside the 2022 Nissan Frontier, you’ll find available features like a heated steering wheel, zero-gravity seating, a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and wireless phone charging capability. There are options for heated front seats, dual-zone automatic temperature control, and a remote engine start system to cool down your truck before you climb in. Your favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks will sound fantastic from the available 10-speaker Fender sound system. The 360-degree cameras beat out Ford’s rearview-only camera. The Frontier even comes with more headroom than the Ranger.
The interior of the 2022 Ford Ranger has plenty of great features. Inside, you’ll find available details like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, leather-trimmed bucket seats, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, the standard infotainment system only has a 4.2-inch screen and is not compatible with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. While the Ranger offers an optional B&O sound system, it is only found in the Crew Cab version.
Most drivers will tell you that safety and driver assistance features are just as important as performance, comfort, and off-roading extras. Daily driving is made easier with the inclusion of technology like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot alerts, and more. These features help us drive with confidence and protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our vehicles during ownership. Both the 2022 Nissan Frontier and the 2022 Ford Ranger are equipped with modern features that increase the safety of the trucks and help the driver navigate the challenges of roads, parking lots, and a variety of other terrains.
Nissan made some significant adjustments to the 2022 model year Frontier with new safety and driver assistance technology. The Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite includes High Beam Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind-Spot Warning, Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and class-exclusive Rear Automatic Braking. The Intelligent Forward Collision Warning System on the Frontier works by looking two cars ahead of you and signaling when it’s time to slow down. Plus, you get Intelligent Cruise Control and an Intelligent Around View Monitor that gives you a 360-degree view of your surroundings to help you manage tight situations. Also exclusive for this class of trucks is Traffic Sign Recognition, which displays relevant information like the current speed limit by reading road signs as you drive.
The Ford Ranger comes with a generous amount of safety and driver assistance technology. However, many of the more advanced features require going with one of the top trims or buying optional packages. The 2022 Ranger offers Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, a Lane-Keeping System, and cruise control. It is available with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), Cross-Traffic Alert, and Adaptive Cruise Control.