What do the Nissan Patrol and crocodiles have in widespread? They’re each dwelling dinosaurs.
The Y62-generation Patrol first launched globally method again in 2010, and the main mid-life facelift you see right here first debuted in 2019.
It’s one of many few fashions presently on sale that may problem the Mitsubishi ASX for longevity, and like its Japanese compatriot it’s nonetheless unclear once we may see a substitute – although the hearsay mill is speaking.
For now although, the 2024 Nissan Patrol vary sees one in every of its largest updates in years. In lieu of Nissan’s Yukuhashi plant placing out right-hand drive fashions with a extra fashionable inside like that of the US-market Armada, Nissan Australia has answered requires extra fashionable infotainment with a domestically engineered sollution.
As such, there’s a brand new infotainment system that lastly affords Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and within the means of creating this resolution there’s a redesigned centre stack. In any other case, it’s the identical ol’ Patrol.
It’s nonetheless a beast of a factor, however in comparison with one thing like a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Sequence feels suitably old style. However for some individuals, that’s precisely what they’re after in a rugged, family-ready 4WD.
We received a pattern of the brand new Patrol Warrior within the Victorian excessive nation as a pleasant reminder of the flagship Nissan SUV’s capabilities. Does it nonetheless measure up?
How a lot does the Nissan Patrol price?
Costs are up by $3000 throughout the vary, with the entry-level Patrol Ti now ranging from $87,900 plus on-road prices.
To see how the Nissan Patrol traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
What’s the Nissan Patrol like on the within?
That is the place the most important adjustments have been made for MY24.
All the eye has been targeted on the centre stack and console, centring across the revised fascia incorporating the brand new show, in addition to a brand new storage possibility on your telephone.
The ten.1-inch show is pretty low set however is far bigger and better in decision than the outgoing mannequin’s ageing 8.0-inch show working an interface from the early levels of final decade.
Extra adjustments embrace the removing of 1 USB-A port for a quicker USB-C connection and a 15-watt wi-fi smartphone charging pocket – lastly, someplace to retailer your telephone! A brand new cool field lives underneath the entrance centre armrest, too.
Included within the new infotainment system is DAB+ digital radio and an iGO Road Navigation system, which comes with a complimentary one-month subscription to Hema 4×4 Navigation for off-road steering. There’s additionally (lastly) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, each obtainable with a wi-fi connection in addition to wired.
The brand new show – the product of a partnership between Nissan and Melbourne-based agency Directed Applied sciences – is fitted on the Premcar manufacturing unit flooring in Warrior variations, and on the port by Prixcar in Ti and Ti-L variations.
Connecting my iPhone 15 Professional Max was a fast and straightforward course of, and new inbuilt mapping expertise is much extra fashionable and usable than the previous Nissan-supplied unit.
However there’s no escaping that the consumer interface appears to be like aftermarket, and the fitment of this show has eliminated the previous mannequin’s surround-view digital camera with Transferring Object Detection.
Whereas these adjustments courtesy of the brand new infotainment system are nicely overdue, the actual fact the Patrol Warrior measures 5269mm lengthy (+94mm vs Ti) and 2079mm broad (+84mm vs Ti) means parking this massive rig simply received just a little bit harder.
It’s all in any other case unchanged from earlier than, with the Warrior benefitting from some alternative adjustments together with gloss black trim inserts – the usual wooden panels are taken out by Premcar, then resprayed and reinstalled – in addition to Alcantara accents. It’s positively younger and sporty than the usual Patrol Ti.
As beforehand reported, construct high quality is stable and it’s nearly lounge-like within the common trimmings, with leather-based adorning most surfaces and foremost contact factors completed in what really feel like high-quality supplies.
The lashings of chrome and metallic accents all assist to create an upmarket atmosphere befitting of the worth tag, although different parts betray the Patrol’s advancing age.
A major instance is the instrument cluster, which just like the pre-update’s infotainment system and centre stack dates again to the Y62’s authentic launch in 2010. The analogue dials are wonderful, however the primary monochrome show which lacks a digital speedometer readout would barely move in a base Qashqai not to mention a $100,000 Patrol.
Right here’s hoping the next-generation Patrol involves Australia absolutely aligned with international specs, so Australian clients don’t should be jibbed in contrast to the remainder of the markets the Patrol is bought in.
As you’d count on of a automobile with the Patrol’s hulking dimensions, area within the second row is superb.
The broad and flat rear bench means seating three abreast gained’t depart your youngsters or youngsters punching on about who rides within the center, and taller passengers are catered for in all dimensions with good head, knee and leg room.
Facilities embrace roof-mounted vents and separate fan controls for the rear, in addition to map pockets behind the entrance seats, bottle holders within the doorways in addition to a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders within the second row.
The third row is disappointing, because the fastened second-row seat bases don’t mean you can open up a lot legroom, and the ground could be very excessive. It’s very a lot a kids-only space.
Children can have their ISOFIX seats hooked up to both of the outboard second-row seats, whereas there are additionally top-tether factors on the outboard middle-row seats in addition to the motive force’s aspect third-row seat.
To see how the Nissan Patrol traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
There’s no downsizing or turbocharging underneath the lengthy bonnet of the Nissan Patrol.
To see how the Nissan Patrol traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
How does the Nissan Patrol drive?
Our drive of the brand new Patrol Warrior was nearly solely on off-road trails close to Mount Disappointment in Victoria’s northern hall.
No adjustments have been made to the mechanical bundle, however the added comfort of the infotainment upgrades make the Patrol a better factor to stay with basically.
However the terrain we tackled was much less concerning the tech adjustments and extra about showcasing the added capabilities of the Warrior variant developed and remanufactured by Epping-based Premcar.
We did a short on-road stint en route from Premcar’s manufacturing unit in Epping, Melbourne, earlier than driving all the Warrior by Premcar vary up some trails by the Mt Disappointment State Forest.
After loads of rain the day earlier than, the paths had been moist and muddy. We traversed slippery climbs, watery dips, and all the pieces in between.
The Navara Warrior fashions had been pushed by us first, then the Patrol. It was fairly attention-grabbing to understand simply how settled and easy the Patrol was to drive following the utes, with its clever 4WD system capable of adapt to most eventualities with out having to fiddle with 4WD mode dials and locking diffs.
It might be massive and heavy – the Warrior is almost 2.9t – however the grunt from the V8 petrol engine underneath the bonnet and the traction from the 4WD system, along with the chunky Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tyres, helps it to fairly effortlessly navigate slippery and boggy terrain.
Even with 323mm of floor clearance, we seen the Warrior knocked its working boards on some dips and breakovers throughout our off-road drives, however so far as we all know there was no harm or unfastened bits hanging off the automobile consequently.
The sheer width of the factor (2079mm excluding mirrors), additionally means some skinnier trails may have you brushing the mirrors or the edges of the automobile on overhanging foliage. For those who care about your paint, it could be value getting paint safety movie when you plan on going bush usually.
On higher-speed dust roads with wider boundaries and no obstacles, the Patrol Warrior makes a wonderful dust buggy.
It’s nigh on unshakeable even with damp dust underneath its tyres, and it does a formidable impression of a V8-powered Dakar rally automobile – I’ll let you know how.
We had one in every of Premcar’s engineers clarify the varied modes of the Warrior’s bi-modal exhaust system. Whereas it adapts the valves to throttle enter, revs and automobile pace, when you flick it into handbook mode the valves keep open.
So what do you suppose I did on these sections? I began shifting manually by way of the gearshift like a sequential ‘field, and held gears to let the Patrol’s side-exit exhaust bellow by the forest as we transited between trails.
It does this simply as properly on pavement when you’re sport, and it’s a brassy, bassy tone that’s nearly unrivalled in modern-day motoring as most automobiles proceed to downsize and introduce pressured induction. Bliss.
As a reminder, the Warrior’s upgrades embrace a 29mm suspension raise with the remaining 21mm of raise supplied by the all-terrain tyres, whereas the dampers have been retuned and the suspension upgraded together with an 120kg GVM enhance.
There’s additionally a Warrior-branded metal bash plate up entrance, two rear restoration factors, in addition to black fender flare extensions to match the black-painted grille and mirror caps.
Let’s be clear, the usual Patrol was already a really succesful machine – take a look at our 4WD Mega Take a look at for proof – however the Warrior enhances that additional with a harder aesthetic besides.
Be mindful, Nissan affords you all this functionality for over $40,000 lower than a LandCruiser 300 GR Sport, too.
To see how the Nissan Patrol traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
What do you get?
Nissan Australia affords three variants of the Patrol.
Patrol Ti customary tools:
- 8 seats
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system (NEW)
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto – wi-fi (NEW)
- DAB+ digital radio (NEW)
- iG0 Road satellite tv for pc navigation
- Hema 4×4 Navigation – 1mth subscription (NEW)
- 1 x entrance USB-A outlet
- 1 x entrance USB-C outlet (NEW)
- 15W wi-fi telephone charger (NEW)
- Digital rear-view mirror (NEW)
- 6-speaker sound system (NEW)
- First-row centre console cool field (NEW)
- 10-way energy driver’s seat
- 8-way energy passenger seat
- Leather-based-accented upholstery
- Computerized LED headlights
- LED fog lights
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Rear Helical limited-slip differential
- Hill descent management
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Reversing digital camera*
*Replaces outgoing mannequin’s {surround} digital camera with Transferring Object Detection
Patrol Ti-L provides:
- 7 seats
- 6-speaker Infinity sound system (NEW)
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- Reminiscence for driver’s seat, mirrors and steering column place
- Energy tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
- ‘Premium’ bumper with distinctive grille
- Energy sunroof
- Energy tailgate
- Puddle lights
- Roof rails
Patrol Warrior by Premcar provides – over Patrol Ti:
- Warrior entrance bumper, bash plate
- Black fender flares, mirror caps, grille
- Bi-modal exhaust – aspect exit outlet
- 2 x rear restoration factors
- Distinctive rear bumper – black valance panel
- Alcantara door and sprint inlay
- Excessive-gloss black inside trim
Is the Nissan Patrol secure?
The Nissan Patrol stays unrated by security authority ANCAP.
Commonplace security tools throughout the vary contains:
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot help
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep help
- Parking sensors – entrance, rear
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Tyre stress monitoring
How a lot does the Nissan Patrol price to run?
Like the broader Nissan vary, all variations of the Patrol are backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Nissan Patrol
With strict new emissions legal guidelines looming, the Nissan Patrol as we all know it might be on borrowed time.
The thundering V8 is predicted to get replaced by a twin-turbo V6 within the subsequent era, with extra energy and torque but in addition elevated complexity, much less noise, and fewer linear response.
For some that can be a godsend. The improved low-down surge of torque will seemingly make the subsequent Patrol extra easy to drive on the town and simpler on gas; and the anticipated tech improve might be two or three generations’ value of enhancements in comparison with the automobile on sale right here at this time.
However that’s not why Australians love the Patrol a lot, a part of the explanation the Premcar partnership and Warrior program got here to be.
It’s the analogue-ness of the Patrol that many have come to like. That’s on high of that beast of an engine, Nissan’s and the Patrol nameplate’s status for reliability, in addition to the general consolation and refinement the Y62 has been lauded for.
The proof is within the pudding. To the tip of Could there have been 3724 new Patrol models registered in Australia, a 46.3 per cent enhance on the Jan-Could interval in 2023 – price of dwelling disaster who?
Premcar can be anticipating its Warrior quantity to double in 2024 throughout its Navara- and Patrol-based choices, additional demonstrating the humungous urge for food in Australia for automobiles like this.
This dwelling dinosaur has some legs in it but…
MORE: Purchase a Nissan PatrolMORE: All the things Nissan Patrol
Professionals
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – FINALLY!
- Warrior is $40k lower than LC300 GR Sport
- Bellowing V8, close to unstoppable off-road
Cons
- Loses surround-view cameras for 2024
- Nonetheless very dated regardless of tech improve
- It likes a drink
High Line Specs
- Energy: 298kW
- Gas Sort: Premium Unleaded Petrol
- Financial system: 14.4L/100km
- CO2 Emissions: 334g/km
- ANCAP Security Ranking: Untested