Driven: 2026 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X R by Roush

First glance: Holy shit, this car has a "Don't mess with me" face

To be honest, the first time I saw Roush modify this Frontier PRO-4X, I almost thought I had traveled to the set of "Crazy Max". The matte black grille, wider wheel arches, and the looming red impact bar underneath-the whole car looks like it's just finished a box of Red Bulls and ready to kick over the seat of the Ford Ranger next door. The original PRO-4X was already tough, but Roush punched it in the face: the raised suspension made the front look like a cow, and the 17-inch rims were matched with BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires. The pattern was deep enough to hold a slipper. Roush's own FOX 2.5-inch inner bypass shock absorber is also stuffed into the wheel arch-yes, the kind of black technology that can turn stone roads into marshmallows. I think the only minor flaw in the appearance is that the "ROUSH" label is a bit big, but who gives people the capital to show off?

Opening the car door: I only realized when I sat in that it was actually quite "divided"

If the exterior is a gym man, the interior is like a student in the study room-well, at least the passenger side. It was a wise decision not to make the interior a racing style, since Frontier users also have to take into account their daily commuting. The seats are still an original Nissan PRO-4X leather-and-fabric mix, and the stitching is a sexy red-I counted six stitches per inch, the same as Roush Performance standards. There is an additional "R" badge at the bottom of the steering wheel, and the floor pads have also been replaced with rubber pads with Roush logo. Very good, I don't feel bad when stepping on mud in rainy days. The 8-inch screen in the center console is responsive, but the wireless CarPlay occasionally skips frames-I mean, who cares about that when you're accelerating? The only thing that makes people want to complain about is the rear space: To make way for the supercharger cooling system, Roush moved the rear seats forward slightly, shrinking the legroom a little. The 1.8-meter-tall guy sat in and pressed his knees against the back of the front seat. He could only complain,"I spent 60,000 US dollars to fly economy class?"

Press the start button: my heart beats in my throat--the 3.8L V6 has a Roots blower added

Here comes the point. This 3.8-liter V6 codenamed VQ38D has 310 horsepower from the original factory. Roush installed it with his own Eaton TVS R900 Roots supercharger... Oh my God, the data went straight to 420 horsepower! And torque jumped from 281 lb-ft to 380 lb-ft, an increase of almost 100 lb-ft. The moment you step on the accelerator, the feeling of pushing your back is not like an explosion after a turbo delay, but like someone kicked in the trunk of your car-no, there is a rhino behind you in the parking lot against the back of your chair. rushed out. The ZF 9-speed gearbox is smart enough. It downshifts as fast as a dog that has been hungry for three days seeing meat, but the feel of the shift paddles in manual mode is plastic, which is bad. The coolest thing is the sound of the exhaust: Roush's customized stainless steel exhaust makes a low purr between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, a bit like a bear snoring in your ear, and then turns into a scream at more than 5000 rpm. -Shit, this sound is too high.

Cross-country? It scared those mud boys to tears

I specially found a wild road full of gravel and mud (actually, it was a construction site that no one cared about behind the dealer). Screw the transfer case to 4H and lock the rear differential, and this Roush Frontier is like a four-legged monster with super glue. FOX shock absorbers are as flexible as cat foot mats when climbing rocks at low speeds, but they can support the body when crossing potholes at high speeds, preventing you from breaking dancing in the back. Supercharging's low-torque performance is too suitable for off-road-with 4L gear, the engine can output almost peak torque at 1500 rpm, and you don't need to push forward with a big foot throttle. You can accurately control tire traction like an old driver. The only minor problem is that the steering force is too light. When walking on the washboard, the steering wheel will be a little popular with you, but it's good to get used to it. By the way, Roush also added an extra bottom guard (aluminum alloy, light), which makes him feel much more at ease when walking on big rocks.

Highway cruising: It's gentle and like a person

Don't think that this guy will only act wild. While cruising at high speed, the car was much quieter than I thought-maybe Roush had soundproofed the hood and firewall (I didn't see it in official documents, but ears wouldn't fool me). The 9-speed gearbox presses the speed to 1800 rpm at 80mph, and the supercharger is almost silent, with only the exhaust gas humming softly. Adaptive cruising and lane keeping work fine, but because of the higher center of gravity after the suspension upgrade, the roll is a little larger when going through corners than the original factory-but did you buy this car to cut corners? Save it. Fuel consumption? Don't ask, you're just VIP customers at the gas station. I drove all day (including an off-road section), and it showed 13.2L/100km, which was about 1.5 liters higher than the original factory. Pay more for the pressurized roar? Worth it!

The last comment: It doesn't have to exist, but it's cool

To be honest, Roush's Frontier PRO-4X R is not for everyone-it is about $15,000 more expensive than the original factory (starting at nearly $55,000), and Roush is only produced in small batches, with a total quota of 300 units in 2026. But if you're like me, and you're bored when you walk into a 4S store and see a bunch of mediocre pickup trucks, this thing is a life-saving medicine. There are problems with it: rear crowding, high fuel consumption, and a reversing camera resolution like Nokia in 2008. But it makes you grin every time you get on the bus-when you step on the gas, when you cross a puddle, and even more when you are photographed by passers-by. You want rationality? The official supercharger of the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro next door is cheaper than it. But what you want is the kind of pretentious feeling of "driving an official art piece produced by the modification factory", and this Roush is the only one. One last word: Don't test drive, you want to pay for it.