A Look Back at a Truck We Won't Get
When Nissan first showed the Frontier Pro earlier this year, it grabbed attention for something unexpected: its subtle Hardbody-era throwback. The Shanghai design team modernized the three-slot hood motif from the 1980s D21 and used it as inspiration for the LED light signature, creating a fresh but familiar face. Now that the truck has officially gone on sale in China, it still feels like Americans are missing out on the new-age Frontier we won't get.
What makes it even more intriguing is how the Frontier Pro represents a very different approach to midsize pickups. Nissan built it as a family-friendly, dual-purpose truck, pairing rugged design cues with a refined cabin and tech-heavy interior. It rides on a ladder frame, uses a five-link rear suspension, and offers a spacious cabin with a panoramic roof and big screens. The retro influence is paired with fully modern ambitions, and with hybrids gaining traction in the US these days, the PHEV version is well-positioned for American tastes.
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The Plug-In Frontier We Wish We Had
The Frontier Pro PHEV isn't just a truck with a motor and battery bolted on. It's Nissan's first-ever electrified pickup, and it arrives with numbers that would shake up the US midsize segment if it were offered here.
Power comes from a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a high-output electric motor. Combined output clears 402 horsepower and roughly 590 pound-feet of torque – numbers usually reserved for full-size trucks with big V8s. Nissan targets up to 84 miles of EV-only driving.
It remains a body-on-frame pickup with Intelligent AWD, an available electromechanical rear differential lock, and multiple drive modes, including a pure EV mode. Its 6-kW vehicle-to-load outlet adds a layer of outdoor practicality. On paper, it's the kind of electrified midsize truck that would fit the usage of an average American.
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Why It Won't Be Sold Here
In China, the Frontier Pro starts at 169,900 to 199,900 RMB, while the PHEV runs from 189,900 to 249,900 RMB. Direct conversion places the PHEV at $27,000 to $35,000. Of note, these aren't equivalents to hypothetical US pricing, but they highlight how competitive the truck is in its home market.
For context, the American Frontier starts at $32,150, without any electrification. Still, the odds of this new Frontier Pro reaching the US are low despite Nissan saying that it's going to be sold outside China. The truck is effectively a rebadged Dongfeng Z9 built in China, which would subject it to the chicken tax and steep tariffs – costs that would instantly erase its pricing advantage.
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