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The newly redesigned 2022 Nissan Frontier has plenty of fierce competition in the midsize pickup truck segment. One of which is the 2022 GMC Canyon, which received just a few updates for the new model year. Though the Nissan Frontier is completely redesigned for 2022, is it the better pickup truck overall? Here’s the 2022 Nissan Frontier vs. the 2022 GMC Canyon.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier is fully redesigned

Gray 2022 Nissan Frontier driving by a forest
2022 Nissan Frontier with NISMO Off-Road Parts | Nissan

The new Nissan Frontier maintains the same powertrain and boxed ladder-frame chassis. Other than that, almost nothing is the same as 2021. The overall length of the truck has increased by 4.5 inches due to the frontend redesign. It’s available in two or four-wheel drive and with a five or six-foot bed. Six is standard on the King cab and five is standard on the Crew cab. The Frontier has a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 310-hp and getting 17 city and 22 highway miles per gallon in the 4×4 variant. It also has the available Pro-4X trim level, giving owners more capable off-road upgrades.

It also has a maximum tow capacity of up to 6,570 pounds but it didn’t only get exterior upgrades. The Nissan Frontier also received Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, interior storage compartments, available heated seats and steering wheel, and improved interior materials. The standard 8.0-inch infotainment touch screen can optionally grow to 9.0-inches. A subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless smartphone charging are also available.

What’s new in the 2022 GMC Canyon?

Two 2022 GMC Canyon models parked next to each other with a mountain background
2022 GMC Canyon | GMC

For this model year, the GMC Canyon received a new Denali Black Edition. It gives the Canyon dark exterior details including low-gloss-black 20-inch rims, black assist steps, and gloss-black exhaust tips. The interior of the Denali Black Edition also includes all-weather floor liners. The 2021 Elevation package has been renamed the Elevation Premium package, though nothing about it has changed. The base-level engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that Car and Driver do not recommend. The other two options are the 3.6-liter V6 which produces 308-hp or the diesel four-cylinder.

The V6 features cylinder deactivation to preserve fuel, which gives the Canyon its 18 city and 25 highway mpg. When equipped with the diesel it can tow its maximum capacity of 7,700 pounds. The interior, though spacious, lacks a luxurious feel. The plastic switches and dated materials make the inside of a GMC Canyon seem cheap, even in the Denali trim. It does have touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an available 8.0-inch touchscreen upgrade, 4G LTE mobile hotspot, wireless charging system, and a Bose premium audio system.

Is the Frontier safer than the Canyon?

The 2022 Nissan Frontier playing in the dirt
2022 Nissan Frontier | Nissan

The 2022 Nissan Frontier comes with Nissan Safety Shield 360. This suite of safety features includes automatic high beams, automated emergency braking, and rear automated emergency braking. Its Technology package, which costs $990 additionally, adds more safety features. Highlights include lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, sonar rear park assist, and traffic sign recognition. An official safety rating is not yet available.

The 2022 GMC Canyon doesn’t bring much as far as driver-assistance technology. Available to the Canyon are forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking sensors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it an overall safety rating of four out of five stars. The rollover test yielded the worst results out of the front and side crash, and rollover test. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has yet to test the 2022 GMC Canyon, but its 2021 results are likely the same. The IIHS gave the 2021 Canyon a below-average rating.

As Kelley Blue Book noted, the 2022 Nissan Frontier and 2022 GMC Canyon both have plenty of pros and cons. While the Frontier seems to be the safer choice, the Canyon can tow more weight and is more fuel-efficient. The Frontier, since it was just completely redesigned for this model year, has a better design and is more up-to-date. Each of these trucks can be a great choice depending on your personal needs. The two trucks will both be available for purchase closer to the end of 2021.

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Section Editor - SUVs

Tim Harding

Having spent half a decade managing the reconditioning and marketing processes for upwards of 400 vehicles monthly, Tim is no stranger to the automotive industry. He has a deep understanding of the many different types of vehicles on the road today and brings to the table valuable insight into the industry itself.

Tim earned an Associate’s in English and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a Marketing specialization from Ashford University. Tim joined MotorBiscuit as an Autos Writer in 2021, and his work can also be seen at Gamepur, Overtime Heroics, and Pro Game Guides.

Tim is most inspired by the constantly changing automotive industry. He looks forward to a future when cars, particularly electric vehicles, look and operate completely differently than they do today. Tim’s content draws on this inspiration while also providing MotorBiscuit readers with useful consumer advice.