Nissan has a fresh trophy for football season: the Frontier PRO-4X has been voted the number one Best Truck for Tailgating in the USA Today Sports Readers'' Choice Awards, where a panel of editors curated the shortlist and the public picked the winner. The timing is convenient, arriving as Nissan expands the 2027 Frontier line-up with a new Sport Edition package designed to spread the rugged PRO-4X look to cheaper trims. For buyers, the award is marketing gloss, but the truck underneath it has quietly become one of the segment''s more compelling value plays.
Context & Background
The Frontier competes in a mid-size pickup class that has grown crowded and more expensive, led by the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado alongside the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator. Where most rivals have downsized to turbocharged four-cylinders, Nissan has stuck with a large naturally aspirated V6, a point of difference it leans on heavily in its marketing. Nissan says the Frontier is the fastest-growing pickup in the U.S. by retail sales growth over the December 2025 to July 2026 period, and cites S&P Global Mobility data indicating 92 percent of Frontiers sold in the past decade remain on the road, a durability claim aimed squarely at value-focused buyers.
Key Details
Every 2027 Frontier uses Nissan''s 3.8-litre naturally aspirated V6, producing 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque through a nine-speed automatic, which Nissan bills as the most powerful naturally aspirated V6 in its class. Properly equipped, the truck tows up to 7,150 pounds. Tailgate-friendly features include an available six-foot cargo bed, a 10-speaker Fender Premium Audio system and two 120-volt power outlets. The line-up spans S, SV, PRO-X and PRO-4X grades, with a starting MSRP of $32,490, roughly $350 above the 2026 model and excluding destination.
The headline addition for 2027 is the Sport Edition, a package that dresses the mid-level SV grade in PRO-4X-inspired styling with yellow accents for about $990. It adds off-road-style 17-inch wheels wrapped in Hankook Dynapro all-terrain tyres, an aluminium skid plate, LED fog lights and front accent lighting, plus an available Qi2 wireless phone charger. The idea is to hand buyers the PRO-4X attitude and some of its capability without paying for the full off-road trim.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.8L naturally aspirated V6 |
| Output | 310 hp / 281 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
| Max towing | 7,150 lb |
| Trims | S, SV, PRO-X, PRO-4X |
| Sport Edition package | approx. $990 on SV grade |
| Starting MSRP | $32,490 (excl. destination) |
Exterior
The Frontier keeps its upright, blocky styling, and the new Sport Edition sharpens it with PRO-4X visual cues and yellow exterior accents intended to catch the eye in a parking lot full of muted rivals. All-terrain tyres on 17-inch off-road wheels, added skid-plate protection and LED fog lighting give the SV a more purposeful stance than its price suggests.
Interior
Inside, the Frontier pairs a rugged, function-first cabin with the tailgate-ready kit that helped win it the award: the 10-speaker Fender Premium Audio system and two 120-volt outlets for powering game-day gear. The 2027 update adds an available Qi2 wireless phone charger for faster, more consistent charging over the previous pad.
What It Means for Buyers
On price, the Frontier''s $32,490 start slots between the Toyota Tacoma, which opens around $32,245, and the Chevrolet Colorado at roughly $34,495, but Nissan''s pitch is what the money buys. While the Tacoma has moved to a turbo four-cylinder, with an available hybrid, the Frontier still ships with a big-displacement V6 as standard, appealing to buyers who prefer naturally aspirated simplicity and easy low-end grunt. The Sport Edition is the shrewder story: giving the volume SV grade PRO-4X flavour for under a thousand dollars is an easy upsell and a direct answer to shoppers who want the look without the off-road premium. The award, meanwhile, is a seasonal marketing win rather than a reason to buy.
- ✓Standard 310 hp naturally aspirated V6, unusual in a downsized class
- ✓Competitive $32,490 starting price undercuts the Colorado
- ✓New Sport Edition adds PRO-4X style to the SV for about $990
- ✓Genuine tailgate kit: Fender audio, dual 120-volt outlets, six-foot bed
- ✓Strong reliability and resale reputation cited by Nissan
- ✕No hybrid or electrified option, unlike the Toyota Tacoma
- ✕Naturally aspirated V6 trails turbo rivals on peak torque and efficiency
- ✕Cabin and tech lag the newest competitors in outright modernity
- ✕Award is a readers'' poll, not an engineering benchmark
The 2027 Nissan Frontier, including the new Sport Edition package, is arriving at U.S. dealers now, assembled at Nissan''s Canton, Mississippi plant with its V6 built in Decherd, Tennessee. For buyers who want a straightforward V6 pickup with real tailgating credentials and a value angle, the Frontier remains one of the segment''s more sensible picks, trophy or no trophy.
