by Pros ›› Fun design, affordable price, old-school charm
Cons ›› Limited technology, cramped rear seats, average fuel economy
Few modern Nissan cars are as bright and attention-grabbing as this one, and that’s entirely intentional. What looks like a heavily modified Pro-4X pickup tells only half the story. Under the body, things are not as they seem. And that was also by design.
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Nissan recently invited Carscoops journalists on a tour of its Tennessee manufacturing facilities, and it was in this pickup that they traveled. From behind the wheel, they got a sense of something few have ever experienced. This car is not a prototype of a future trim level, but the result of an internal company initiative.
Key Facts
The goal was to create a show car. Something that catches the eye and helps potential buyers and owners imagine what’s possible with a larger budget. During Frontier testing, it became clear there’s a lot to enjoy visually here. And behind the bright look lies substance.
Design with a Wink
The paint you see is called Citrus Strike. It’s new for 2026, and the name is fully justified. It truly stands out. Especially compared to most of Nissan’s popular colors. It stays that way in most scenarios, as the company requires employees to wash the car after every use. But this Frontier is not just about color.
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It features a unique NISMO hood decal with topographic elements and coordinates. NISMO also installed additional LED spotlights. One on each upper edge of the hood. Two more are placed on the top of the NISMO roof rack above the cab. All four are activated by a single switch.
Behind the cab is a body-mounted accessory rack made of textured steel. It has numerous mounting points, and there’s a gun case on each side. Of course, owners could attach almost anything they desire to the rack from either side. Recovery tracks, off-road jacks, or other accessories would fit just as well.
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A set of 265/70/17 BF Goodrich KO2 tires provides excellent grip, mounted on NISMO Off Road Axis Black wheels capable of beadlock. Simply put, anyone could drive into a Nissan dealership tomorrow and order what you see. And that’s somewhat ironic, considering what’s hiding under the body of this pickup.
Interior
When you open the door of this show car, you can see a badge that makes you wonder if the factory made an assembly error. The seatbacks say “Pro-X,” which is objectively different from the Pro-4X badges on the rear doors of this pickup. That’s because underneath all this decoration lies a two-wheel-drive Pro-X trim, not the all-wheel-drive version labeled Pro-4X.
This isn’t the only change in this pickup compared to a standard Frontier, but we’ll return to that later. For now, let’s focus on what it’s like to be in this cabin. The seats are comfortable and have good lateral support.
As we noted in the 2025 Frontier review, this is a pickup for lovers of old, classic cars. All controls are exactly where you expect them. Forget about fumbling with a touchscreen to turn on the lights or open the tailgate. Every major function you might need instantly is accessible via a physical switch.
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At the same time, Nissan’s 12.3-inch multimedia system looks great, integrates flawlessly with Android and Apple, and responds quickly to requests. If there’s something customers might complain about, it’s probably the excess of cheap-looking and cheap-feeling plastic throughout the cabin. The reality is that such materials can be a real advantage for those planning to do real work with this pickup.
The rear seats might also draw complaints, as they are quite cramped. However, it’s worth noting that this entire segment has the same problem. Some brands offer pickups with even less space. The special TRD Pro IsoDynamic seats in Toyota leave comically little room.
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We are happy to report that while the Frontier has cramped rear seats, they have the same upholstery quality and design as the front ones. The bed in this case offers five feet in length, as well as a payload capacity of 1590 lbs.
Driving Impressions
Just as this Nissan has some old-school traits in the cabin, it also drives like an old-school pickup. We knew this since testing several different versions late last year.
What surprised us was that this particular Frontier felt different. The 2025 production versions of this pickup had heavy steering at low speeds and a chassis that could become unstable when the bed was empty.
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This Frontier’s steering is still heavy, but the tires absorb road imperfections so well that the sense of straight-line stability improves. The entire pickup is better stabilized and clearly holds its course when directed. The kickback and nervousness we felt on production wheels and tires with an empty bed in other Frontiers are absent in this show car.
The VQ38DD V6 engine under the hood continues to provide ample, naturally aspirated power at almost any rpm. Would we like more power? Of course, but the 310 horsepower (231 kW) and 281 lb-ft (380 Nm) of peak torque on offer are quite sufficient for everyday tasks.
The nine-speed automatic transmission that delivers power (in this case to the rear wheels) is very smooth. As we noted last year, this is not a very economical pickup, and undoubtedly, the larger tires and roof rack won’t help with that.
On the road, driving it was a joy. It attracted looks and provided clear feedback throughout the journey. The pedals allow for precise control and respond as expected. However, another cabin issue arose.
This particular show car has very dark window tint, which severely limits visibility. Off-road, this pickup proved surprisingly capable. Our time with it included muddy fields, gravel, and regular dirt.
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Despite power being delivered to only two pairs of wheels, the pickup had no problems traversing the terrain. This is partly thanks to the tires, but it’s worth noting the pickup performed excellently. Would it be better to have all-wheel drive for such antics? Absolutely. In a show car, real-world practicality isn’t always the priority.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, this Frontier is not some unattainable Semiw unicorn that barely moves under its own power, built by a secret unit. It’s a statement. Nissan took a regular Pro-X, dressed it in a persona with character, and used it to show what can be achieved with factory accessories and a little imagination.
