2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2022 Nissan Frontier

The 2022 Frontier represented Nissan’s latest step in its “Nissan Next” strategy, promising to deliver 10 refreshed, redesigned, or debuting vehicles over 20 months. Following significant updates to the Kicks and Armada, and full redesigns for the Rogue and Pathfinder, the Frontier arrived as a dramatically new midsize pickup truck. With blocky, rugged styling reminiscent of the old Nissan Hardbody pickup from the 1980s and 1990s, the 2022 Frontier was designed to look like a solid block of metal machined down to its final shape. Available in nine exterior colors and two interior shades, the Frontier offered a variety of customization options, including a spray-in bedliner, LED bed lighting, and a three-channel tie-down system.

Inside, the 2022 Frontier marked a significant step forward for Nissan’s midsize pickup and the entire segment. The front seats featured Nissan’s lauded Zero Gravity technology, and insulation improvements helped reduce engine, wind, and road noise. A new center console provided more storage solutions, and there was ample space ahead of the shift lever for personal items. Nissan also recognized the importance of customization, offering upwards of 80 optional accessories for the Frontier, including a sport bar for the truck bed, hood graphics, and easily removable off-road steprails.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty underwent a complete redesign, resulting in a visual evolution rather than a revolution. Available in six trims—XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited—the Super Duty offered a range of features from basic work truck amenities to luxurious comforts. The XL trim included 17-inch wheels, vinyl upholstery, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Lariat trim introduced modern creature comforts like leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 12-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The King Ranch trim, which we tested, featured 20-inch alloy wheels, a two-tone paint job, and less chrome compared to previous versions. The interior boasted two-tone brown leather, perforated seats with saddle leather and stitching, and an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium stereo system. The Platinum trim offered similar features with more cosmopolitan styling, while the range-topping Limited trim included nearly every package and option available, such as Ford’s max-recline seats and a massive dual-panel sunroof.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier’s powertrain was highlighted by its 3.8-liter V6 engine, which had been retuned for the heavier 2022 model. This engine produced a class-leading 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. The Frontier’s acceleration was strong, and it had plenty of passing power at highway speeds. The nine-speed automatic transmission managed power efficiently, shifting down eagerly when climbing hills and climbing back up the gear ladder to maximize fuel economy. The Frontier’s maximum payload was 1,610 pounds, and it had a towing capacity of 6,720 pounds.

Fuel economy for the Frontier was not its strong suit, with EPA estimates of 18 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined for rear-wheel-drive models, and 17/22/19 for four-wheel-drive models. The Frontier’s hydraulic rack and pinion steering system provided a heavier steering feel compared to competitors like the Toyota Tacoma. The PRO-4X trim offered a capable off-road kit, including hill-start assist, hill-descent control, an electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein shock absorbers, and steel underbody skid plates. The PRO-4X also boasted a best-in-class approach angle of 32.3 degrees.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a range of powerful engine options. The base engine was a 6.8-liter gas V8 producing 400 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. A 7.3-liter V8 was also available, making 430 horsepower and 485 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking diesel power, the F-250 offered a 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbodiesel V8, producing 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. Our test model featured a high-output version of this engine, delivering 500 horsepower and an incredible 1,200 pound-feet of torque.

Power was routed to rear-wheel drive on the base XL trim or standard four-wheel drive through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 10-speed transmission managed power beautifully, ensuring the diesel engine was always in the optimal powerband. The F-250’s towing capacity maxed at 22,000 pounds when properly equipped, and Ford’s Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and onboard scales made towing easier. Despite its size, the Super Duty was manageable in traffic, with precise steering and good road negotiation.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier offered a comfortable and capable interior, particularly in the front seats. Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats provided a level of luxury uncommon in the midsize pickup segment. The Frontier also offered convenient storage options, with eight cupholders scattered around the Crew Cab cabin and additional storage beneath the rear seat. However, the backseat space was more limited, with the King Cab’s rear seats being unsuitable for adults and the Crew Cab offering only a manageable amount of headroom and legroom.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty was available in regular cab, SuperCab, and Super Crew configurations, with either a 6.75-foot or 8-foot bed. The SuperCab featured rear-hinged clamshell doors, providing a wide opening for the entire cab. Our test model included an optional Warn winch on the front bumper and a soft-opening tailgate with bed steps for easy access. Inside, the F-250 offered tons of cupholders, a massive center storage bin, dual glove boxes, and ample space in the doors for bottles or gear. The rear seats in the Super Crew model folded up, providing a large cargo area protected from the elements.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier saw significant advancements in its technology offerings. A standard 8-inch touchscreen came on the S and SV trims, while the PRO-4X featured a 9-inch screen. Both screens were user-friendly, with physical knobs for volume and tuning, hard buttons for audio source, map, and camera, and a dedicated menu button. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but required a wired connection. The Frontier also offered a wireless phone charger, an optional Kicker tailgate audio system, and a 10-speaker Fender stereo as part of an expensive Premium Package.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty’s base infotainment system was an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Our test model had a larger 12-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, offering a logical control layout and redundant dials for radio and climate controls. The F-250 also featured multiple USB ports, a wall-style power outlet, and wireless device charging. Ford’s Trailer Navigation system allowed drivers to input trailer weight and dimensions, optimizing routes to avoid tight turns and low bridges.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it offered a range of standard advanced driver assistance systems under Nissan Safety Shield 360. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a driver attention monitor, intelligent forward collision warning, trailer sway control, rear-door alert, and an easy-fill tire alert. Optional safety features included traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and rear sonar.

Starting at the XLT trim, the 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty came equipped with the Ford CoPilot 360 suite of driver assistance features. Depending on the trim, these included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centering assist, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The F-250 also offered dual-tier power-adjustable and power-telescoping trailer mirrors, a trailer blind-spot monitoring system, and an industry-first backup camera for when the tailgate is lowered.