While it does seem rather unusual for a vehicle like this, that's been hardly changed, aside from the drivetrain, since 2004, to get a new engine like this, but considering a completely redesigned Frontier is coming in the next year or so, it's actually a smart idea on Nissan's part, get any possible bugs and issues out of the way with the new engine now, that way there's less to worry about when the completely redesigned model arrives.

Needs the pre-facelift