Shopping Off-Road-Ready? Meet the Nissan Pro-4X Family of Pick Ups

If your company is making trucks in the year 2019, and you aren’t manufacturing an off-road-ready version with a loaded, highly-capable package of both performance and comfort upgrades… Are you really even making trucks at all? Recent market trends would suggest not. Call it the Raptor-ification of the pickup world, or the natural evolution of our refined automotive palate, but having one of these rigs that’s ready to tear it up right off the lot is now a requirement to be taken seriously. The Nissan Pro-4X family of pickups fit comfortably into this niche. With capability and a fair price point, they plan to give the domestic big boys a run for their money.

Whether you’re looking for the compact efficiency of the midsize Nissan Frontier, the ever popular full-size Nissan Titan, or the larger-still payload of the Nissan Titan XD, there’s a Nissan Pro-4X model that can get the job done—no matter the terrain.

Pick a Trim

Like its competitors’ off-road models, understanding what trim comes where in the Nissan lineup can get a little confusing. But essentially, the Pro-4X moniker can be thought of as a (very) upgraded version of the already nicely-equipped SV trim.

All three models begin with a base S trim, followed by the SV. For both Titan models, the Pro-4X falls next in line, followed by the luxurious SL and then the highfalutin, top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve (which definitely sounds like a bottle of scotch). The Frontier also starts with S and SV trims, but squeezes in a Desert Runner trim—a truck built to do exactly what you might suspect: run unpredictable, arid terrain. The Pro-4X follows close behind, adding a foundation of luxury to all that capability. The top-end SL rounds out the Frontier’s roster.

Nissan Pro-4X: Locked And Loaded

Be it the Frontier or one of its Titan big brothers, the Nissan Pro-4X package boasts quite a resume. Regarding performance, Pro-4X pickups come with upgraded Bilstein performance shocks, all-terrain tires, an electronic locking rear differential, and protective skid plates.

Safety-wise, front and rear sonar systems, blind spot monitoring, hill descent control, and rain-sensing windshield wipers add peace of mind. Useful features like a spray on bedliner, class IV tow hitch receiver and wiring harness, a rear utility bed step, electronically-locking tailgate, and utili-track channel system with four tie down cleats help get the job done.

As far as comfort is concerned, the Nissan Pro-4X models gain some tailored interior upgrades to the cabin and infotainment. For starters, the Pro-4X power-sliding rear windows are more of a must-have on owners’ pickup truck wish lists with each passing year. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather, and the sounds are courtesy of a 12 speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system. The heated front seats are captain’s chairs, the driver’s being equipped with 8-way power. Dual zone automatic climate control, heated tow mirrors, and plenty of other goodies also help make the Pro-4X package a wise choice.

So, which Nissan Pro-4X is the one for you?

Are you sold on the features that the Nissan Pro-4X offers, but not sure which model is the truck for you? It’s not an easy choice. Weigh the options, decide how much truck you’re looking for, how you’ll be putting it to use, and take a look at your budget. But rest assured, no matter which Nissan truck catches your eye, there’s a Pro-4X model available, waiting to get dirty and get some stuff done.

Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Whispers of a fully redesigned Frontier have been heard through the grapevine for a few years now. But alas, it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer, as rumblings suggest that 2020 will be the year. While the model is overdue for a refresh (it has remained virtually unchanged for over a decade), the Frontier remains a fan-favorite—and the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X remains a desirable off-roader.

Overall, the 2019 Nissan Frontier’s changes have been kept to a minimum. There’s a new 7-inch touchscreen. Cayenne Red joins the paint lineup. And umm, that’s pretty much it. Hey, no complaints here. There’s still a reliable 4.0-liter V-6 engine, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission in most models. The fully-boxed ladder frame lends to a ride that feels secure, if not quite stiff. And there’s an independent front suspension and a leaf spring live axle in the rear.

If the world is clamoring for a new Frontier, it certainly doesn’t seem to be affecting the current model’s popularity. Despite its spartan practicality, the model is still a top-seller for Nissan, even outselling its big-brother Titan by nearly 30,000 units in 2018. Basic, affordable, and honest, the Nissan Frontier is a legitimate contender among midsize pickups. And the Nissan Pro-4X treatment only ups the performance and class.

Current new models start at a base price a smidge above $33,000 with upgrades packages adding a few dollars, for sure. But even the most supremely outfitted Pro-4X comes in under $40k, an indisputably fair price for a truck that can do so much.

Nissan Titan Pro-4X

The likes of Ford, Chevy, and RAM may still run the show in the full-size light duty market, but the Nissan Titan is hellbent on carving out its own piece of that fan base. And its off-road-ready variant, the Titan Pro-4X, shows the automaker’s commitment to keeping pace with modern demands.

In line with the big boys, the Titan comes standard with a 5.6-liter V-8 engine paired to a 7-speed automatic, making 390 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque. And though it is far from a class leader in towing, the Titan can undoubtedly still get the job done, pulling over 9,600 pounds.

Just like the Frontier, the new 7.0 touchscreen is a welcome addition, ready for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and can even be had with a 4G LTE mobile hotspot. Cargo storage, always an area in which the Titan shines, does not disappoint. A spring-assisted tailgate and tucked-away, in-bed cargo boxes are handy and well-placed, as usual. And at $45,895 for the Nissan Titan Pro-4X, you’ll save thousands of dollars, simply by not buying a Raptor, and still be ready for anything.

Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X

Though they may share a cab, engine choice, and some other parts here-and-there, the Nissan Titan and Titan XD are very different pickups, complete with their own separate chassis and suspensions.

While the Titan fits in tidily with the pack of light duty full-size trucks, the Titan XD is something of an anomaly. It’s not quite a heavy duty, as it’s noticeably smaller than the other models in the segment, but it’s certainly bigger than a light-duty. What Nissan offers is a true in-between option. So, if the brackish water between the Titan and the conventional heavyweights is where you think you’d be most comfortable, then jump right in somewhere around the Titan XD.

The standard engine option for the Titan XD is the same 5.6-liter V-8 that the smaller Titan packs, paired with the same 7-speed automatic and producing the same specs. But the XD also offers a capable diesel option—a 310 horsepower, 5.0 liter Cummins churning out a competent 555 lb-ft of torque. This allows for the Titan XD’s max tow rating of 12,760 pounds, which pairs quite nicely with the gooseneck trailer hitch found on all Pro-4X models.

Yes, the tow capacity numbers come in lower than those of the bulkier heavy duties.

This comes as no surprise to anyone who has considered the unique size of the Titan XD. And with Pro-4X models retailing for $48,505, you can hitch up tens of thousands to your gooseneck and haul that money right to your savings account, considering that some similar Ford Super Duty models, though a little bit bigger, can nearly DOUBLE that price tag. And for what little more they might offer in the way of size, torque, and towing capacity, unless you plan to push your workhorse to its actual limit day in and day out, the juice just doesn’t seem to be worth the squeeze.

Are you a Nissan Pro-4X devotee? If so, let us know in the comments what you’re driving.