Nissan is in the midst of a comprehensive product renaissance. In the last few years, the Japanese car brand has launched several new models and has redesigned or heavily refreshed most of its cars, trucks, and SUVs. The trend continues in 2022 and beyond. The Frontier midsize pickup and Pathfinder SUV are all-new for 2022, and Nissan is already taking reservations for the 2023 Ariya electric crossover SUV. The long-awaited next-gen 2023 Nissan Z car will also hit the streets during calendar 2022. During all of the new-product fervor, Nissan has quietly discontinued the compact and full-size NV vans.
Photo: Ron Sessions
Following some content and trim level shuffling for 2021, Nissan further tweaks the Altima midsize sedan's packaging for 2022. Newly available for the SR trim with the base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is a Midnight Edition package with unique "black-out" exterior trim and body components, gloss-black 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a moonroof, among other items.
Nissan refreshed the Armada for 2021, giving the big SUV a rugged new front end and a redesigned center stack. Understandably, the changes for 2022 are minimal, limited to a one-touch power-folding function for the third-row seat on the Platinum trim.
By far the oldest midsize pickup on the market, the Nissan Frontier gets the long-awaited redesign it so desperately needs for the 2022 model year. The new Frontier has a bold new look on the outside and a more modern interior with the latest driver-assistance and connectivity technologies.
Nissan offers the 2022 Frontier in King Cab (extended cab) and Crew Cab body configurations, with rear-wheel (2WD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD). Two bed lengths are available—5-foot and 6-foot—and S, SV, Pro-X (2WD only), and Pro-4X (4WD only) trims are available. Introduced a year earlier in the 2021 Frontier, a 310-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine is standard in the new Frontier. It works with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
Technology upgrades include standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an available 9-inch touchscreen, available connected services with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless smartphone charging. The new Frontier also has standard intelligent forward-collision warning, and Nissan Safety Shield 360—the automaker's suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS)—is available on every trim.
While official news regarding the future of Nissan's GT-R supercar is scarce, industry sources suggest a three-model lineup for 2022: standard GT-R, GT-R Nismo, and a new Nismo Special Edition. The 565-hp, 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine carries over on the standard model, while both Nismo models employ a 600-hp version of the same engine. All mate with a sequential 6-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that sends power to all four wheels. The new Nismo Special Edition features a carbon-fiber hood, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and Stealth Gray paint with red accents.
While Nissan hasn't yet announced changes to the 2022 Kicks, the small crossover SUV did receive a number of exterior and interior updates for the 2021 model year, so changes for the new year are likely to be minimal. Although Nissan markets the Kicks as a crossover, all-wheel drive is not available. While this may seem a bit counterintuitive, it's one way Nissan can keep the price of the vehicle so low.
A new lower price headlines the changes to the 2022 Leaf, Nissan's groundbreaking electric vehicle (EV). With the price cut, the 2022 Nissan Leaf S now retails for $28,375 (including the $975 destination charge). Buyers may also be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit, making the Leaf even more appealing. In addition to the price cut, a quick-charge port and portable 240-volt charging cable is now standard. Adding even more value, Nissan makes standard eight features from the prior year's Technology packages for the SV Plus trim, including the ProPilot Assist ADAS suite and a surround-view camera. Additionally, the Leaf Plus trim features a larger-capacity 62-kWh lithium-ion battery, increasing the EV's range to 226 miles.
Nissan's "4-Door Sports Car,” the Maxima turned 40 years old in 2021 and rolls into 2022 available in three trims: SV, SR, and Platinum. Powered by a 300-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine mated with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Maxima features standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 as well as NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM. For 2022, heated rear seats are now standard on the Platinum trim, and Scarlet Ember Tintcoat replaces the previous Carnelian Red Tintcoat on the paint palette.
The sporty Murano crossover SUV—available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims—is a carryover for the 2022 model year. The Murano receives a couple of minor changes that only apply to the SV trim. First, a new Midnight Edition package is available. It includes a black-colored grille, lower fascia, exterior trim, and unique gloss-black 20-inch alloy wheels. Also new on the SV is standard leatherette seat upholstery as well as heated front and rear seats.
Like the Frontier pickup, the Nissan Pathfinder 3-row midsize SUV is all-new for the 2022 model year, complete with a bold exterior design and a completely redesigned interior. Nissan says it looked to the original 1987 Pathfinder for design inspiration for the SUV's new exterior. For sure, the new Pathfinder has a more rugged look than the previous model, returning some of the original's mojo that it lost in recent generations.
Like the SUV's exterior, the 2022 Pathfinder's interior is much improved. The cabin is noticeably bigger, with an extra 10.6 cubic feet of interior space compared to the previous model, and the Pathfinder can carry eight passengers for the first time. In terms of new technology, Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard. Additionally, a 10.8-inch head-up display, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and ProPilot Assist with Navi-link are all available, as is Nissan's intelligent forward-collision warning.
An all-new 9-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes, and a new intelligent 4WD system offers seven different drive/terrain modes.
One year after a complete redesign, the 2022 Rogue—Nissan's most popular model—gets a new powertrain, including an improved CVT and a smaller-displacement version of the automaker's groundbreaking variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engine. The new 1.5-liter 3-cylinder VC-Turbo engine in the Rogue delivers 201 hp and 225 pound-feet of torque, increases of 11 percent and 24 percent, respectively, compared to the 2021 Rogue. What's even better is that fuel economy improves, up 3 mpg to 33 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
An all-new Rogue Sport is expected for the 2022 model year as Nissan continues revamping nearly its entire crossover and SUV lineup. For now, the current version of the compact Rogue Sport is available, slotting between the smaller Kicks and larger Rogue. Available in S, SV, and SL trims, the Rogue Sport has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a CVT. Both front-wheel drive and 4WD are available.
Nissan's popular Sentra compact sedan rolls into 2022 with only a couple of minor equipment changes. The sporty SR trim is now available with a Midnight Edition package that includes the usual "black-out" body and trim bits, as well as black 18-inch alloy wheels. Additionally, a new All-Weather package is now available on the SV. It includes dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and remote engine start.
Nissan hasn't officially announced details for the 2022 version of its full-size Titan and (nearly) heavy-duty Titan XD pickups. But considering the competition is continuously updating its offerings, Nissan will need to up its game if it's ever going to make significant headway in the full-size truck market.
Redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Nissan Versa small sedan rolls into 2022 with no significant changes for a second straight year. Still, the Versa offers exceptional value and decent fuel economy in a safe, if not inspiring, package.
Nissan is the source of information in this article. It was accurate on December 20, 2021, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
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