Believe it or not, the Nissan Titan was one of the first trucks to offer in-bed storage from the factory when it debuted in 2004. Ford technically did it first with the somewhat rare bedside tool box in the 1973–1979 F-Series, but Nissan revived the idea and ran with it, giving both generations of Titan the option of lockable cubbies and bins, which were great for hand tools, trailer hitches, and other valuables.
It certainly seems likely that the next-generation Frontier midsize pickup will follow suit. CarBuzz found even more patents from Nissan for configurable seats, midgates, and two separate storage solutions.
Base Trim Engine
3.8L VQ V6 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
9-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
310 HP @6400 RPM
Base Trim Torque
281 lb.-ft. @ 4400 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
18/24/21 MPG
Infotainment & Features
7 /10
Storage Flexibility Comes Inside
While the first-gen Titan got exterior storage cubbies and the second-gen got removable “Titan Boxes” that fit under the bed rails, the subject of a June 18 patent brings that lockable stash space to the truck’s cabin. Although most trucks nowadays feature some storage underneath the rear seats, Nissan has a plan to make that space much easier to access, even if there’s a human sitting back there.
Nissan Truck Underseat Storage Tray PatentUnited States Patent and Trademark Office
Instead of a pocket underneath the seat bottom, the storage space is actually a sliding tray, and the tray can be pulled out from either the driver or the passenger side, fully revealing its contents without having to reach all the way across or force passengers to get out. The rear doors also open to 90 degrees, a feature borrowed from the current Nissan Rogue that family customers love for how much easier it is to load and unload a car seat – in this case, the doors allow for the tray to slide all the way out.
Furthermore, the rear seat bottom still flips up if no one’s buckled in, providing another access point for the storage bins. This kind of flexibility is what turns opportunist sales into loyal customers, and the fact that it’s relatively simple for Nissan to implement only adds to its appeal.
2026 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X front 3/4Nissan
Versatility Is On Nissan’s Mind
This isn’t the first truck-related patent from Nissan this month. We previously reported on a novel “midgate” idea with a folding bulkhead that opens between the cargo box and the passenger cab, an idea made famous by the late Chevrolet Avalanche. But Nissan’s idea goes a little further: The rear seatback can either fold forward to make space for the midgate, or it can convert into a rear-facing jumpseat à la Subaru Brat.
2020 Nissan Titan with midgate patent illustrationNissan/Evan Williams/CarBuzz/Valnet
We have to admit we’re not entirely certain there’s a compelling use case for that idea, but considering both the cargo bin and midgate patents came out in the same week, it’s probably safe to say that Nissan is working up some novel storage solutions for its next-generation pickups. The current Frontier has been on the market since the 2021 model year, so we anticipate a significant update within the next couple years. Plan on seeing at least some form of these patents when it arrives.
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Nissan’s new pickup tailgate design could change how you use a truck’s bed.
Patent filings do not guarantee the use of such technology in future vehicles and are often used exclusively as a means of protecting intellectual property. Such a filing cannot be construed as confirmation of production intent.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Despite the reasonable popularity of its cars, Nissan is having some trouble with cash flow. But in the past, the company has been incredibly innovative – especially with trucks. The first-generation Frontier was the first small truck with a crew cab body style, and the genre-splitting Titan XD brought impressive capability thanks to its available 5.0-liter diesel V8.
Inexpensive, relatively simple solutions like the sliding underseat storage tray could give Nissan a leg up in the popular midsize truck segment, whose entrants often need every ounce of additional space they can get given their smaller footprints.
Related
Nissan Trucks Just Reached A Very Special Milestone In The US
The Frontier is having a great year, and the company’s factory in Mississippi is building them like crazy.
Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office
