I drove a $48,000 Nissan Frontier. It’s simple, powerful, and delivers pretty much everything you need in a truck.

The base Nissan Frontier King Cab 4X2 starts at $32,050, while my top-of-the-range Frontier SL Crew Cab long-wheel-base 4X4 starts at $45,610.

Premium paint, floor mats, and shipping fees pushed the as-test price for the Mississippi-built truck to nearly $48,000.

The Frontier is an attractively designed truck. Its rugged, squared-off looks blend modern styling with design elements like the vents atop the front grille, inspired by Nissan’s iconic Hardbody pickups of the late 1980s.

The truck’s towing capacity varies by trim, with the highest being 7,150 lbs for the base Frontier S King Cab 4X2.

My SL grade test car came standard with a class IV receiver hitch member, trailer sway control, and a tow/ haul mode switch.

The Frontier’s overall towing capability is on par with that of the midsize segment. However, those looking for a tow vehicle are better off shopping in the full-size segment.

With the Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado, and Canyon all powered by turbocharged four-cylinders, the Frontier is one of the last trucks in the segment to offer a V6.

My 4X4 test car boasts EPA fuel economy figures of 17 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined.

I had to be fairly ginger with the throttle to reach the EPA fuel economy figures, which weren’t great to start out with. But that’s the trade-off you have to make to keep the smooth V6 under the hood, and one I’m willing to make any day of the week.

The Frontier’s four-wheel-drive system defaults to rear-wheel drive but can be switched to four-wheel drive using a rotary dial on the center stack. The two-speed transfer case offers a four-low setting for when the driver needs additional torque and traction when driving off-road or hauling heavy loads at low speeds.

The Frontier drives like the modern body-on-frame pickup truck it is. It rides well, coasting over bumps with ease thanks to its large tires, and offers a relatively quiet cabin even at high speeds.

The punchy V6 and nine-speed automatic combined to deliver strong and smooth acceleration on demand.

One negative that stood out to me was its abnormally heavy steering, which can make navigating tight spaces a chore.

While it isn’t as refined as the passenger car-based Honda Ridgeline, the Frontier is more than civilized enough to be a comfortable everyday driver.

The Frontier’s cabin is designed to be durable and easy to use. And that’s exactly what it is. Ergonomics are excellent; all the buttons and switches are where one would expect them to be. The big rotary dials and physical buttons made on-the-fly use a piece of cake, especially during cold weather when the driver wearing gloves.

Although monotone and plasticky, the material quality is solid, and everything feels well put together. No errant squeaks or rattles were detected.

Lower trim levels come with cloth seating.

It’s one of the few high-end Nissan models not to offer a fully digital instrument display.

Overall, the 12.3-inch screen looks great, and Nissan’s infotainment system, while dated, is pretty easy to use. Unfortunately, its split-screen setup means you can only use 2/3s of its real estate.

However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are standard, do have access to the entire 12.3 inches of screen.

An eight-inch display comes standard on the base S trim.

Despite the upright seating position, the rear bench was comfortable to sit in. Rear seat passengers also get a power socket and USB plugs, as well as a sliding rear window.

Under the rear seats is also where you’ll find the subwoofer for the 10-speaker Fender premium audio system.

The bed is also equipped with adjustable Utili-track cargo tie-downs.

Lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear sonar system, intelligent forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control are all standard.

In a day and age of turbos, hybrids, and EVs, it’s refreshing to encounter a no-nonsense pickup with decidedly old-school sensibilities that’s also thoroughly modern.

From its basic work truck form to the fancy SL and off-road-focused Pro4X trims, the Frontier’s core essence remains consistent. Everything is centered on its sturdy ladder frame chassis, bulletproof V6 engine, and easy-to-use cabin.

Even when loaded with tech and luxury features, the Frontier still feels like a true, rough-and-tumble truck. It conveys a sense of solidity that inspires confidence in its drivers.

It’s been a decade since I last drove the second-gen Nissan Frontier, which was archaic even back then. The improvements and refinements made to the truck in recent years have been impressive.

And unless you need to tow massive trailers or boats all the time, the Frontier delivers pretty much everything you need in a truck for everyday life.

Honestly, it’s the kind of truck I’d spend my money on.