Nissan Patrol News

What kind of adventure vehicle will best suit you, your partner and your family depends on your collective needs, wants and lifestyle. But the old adage rings true as much here as it does elsewhere: buy what you need, not what you want. If you want to head to your favourite campsite in the nearest National Park, which is accessible via a well-maintained gravel track with only some minor corrugations in the track surface then a standard AWD will certainly do the trick. Bonus: a set of aggressive all-terrain tyres will boost its adventure potential even more. If you want to travel way off the beaten track, tackle gnarly terrain (signposted ‘4WD-only’) and live like off-grid adventurers for a weekend or week then obviously a 4WD with decent all-terrain tyres, low- and high-range 4WD, diff locks and plenty of ground clearance is your best bet. The core difference between the two drivetrain types – AWD and 4WD – can be boiled down to this: an AWD is a vehicle that drives all of its wheels, all of the time, while a 4WD uses a driver-selectable system to mechanically engage the drive to all four wheels. (For a comprehensive explanation of the two systems, read this. Vehicles with a permanently engaged AWD system have been designed and engineered for daily driving on the blacktop with occasional use on dirt or mild off-road conditions. These vehicles are usually lighter and lower than a 4WD. 4WDs (aka 4x4s) are generally bigger, heavier, more robust and better suited to slow, hard-core off-roading, think Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, Nissan Patrol or Ineos Grenadier. In the modern market, the Nissan Patrol (4WD), Subaru Outback (AWD), and Hyundai Palisade XRT (AWD) offer a decent spread of comfort and capability – on- and off-road – and each in their own right holds plenty of appeal as a daily driver and potential adventure vehicle. So, what do you need to know when buying a family car for adventure? Read on. An AWD is fundamentally safer to drive on-road than a 2WD or even 4WD in challenging conditions (wet weather etc) on sealed surfaces or even dirt or gravel tracks. Rather than a transfer case, AWD vehicles use a drive system with a limited-slip differential or an electronically controlled clutch that directs torque to whichever wheel needs it most to achieve safe, optimum traction, while still allowing for a rotational difference between front and rear axles. Some AWD systems work better than others, but the principle goal remains the same: get torque to and traction at the right spots in order to keep the vehicle’s driver and passengers safe. AWDs also sit lower on the road than their 4WD rivals and have dimensions – length, width and height – that bolster the vehicle’s potential for stability in ordinary driving conditions, as opposed to 4WDs which generally have a higher centre of gravity and are heavier and more cumbersome. To further boost their capability for safe driving in traction-compromised situations, AWDs – think Subaru Crosstrek and the like – often have a variety of drive modes (including Normal, Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud) that adjust engine torque, throttle response and traction control, among other things, to suit the road surface and conditions the vehicle finds itself. It’s important to keep in mind here that not all AWDs – or 4WDs for that matter – are equal; some AWD systems, like Subaru’s X Mode in the Subaru Outback Wilderness, are able to help the vehicle tackle terrain so challenging that it would otherwise seem out of an all-wheel drive’s realm of capability. X Mode’s snow/dirt and deep snow/mud options – each tweaking acceleration, off-road traction-control activity and front and rear axle limited-slip function, among other things, to suit the terrain – add another level to the Outback’s capability. AWDs are also cheaper on fuel than 4WDs and this adventure slice of the market will only become more competitive as more hybrids and EVs enter the chat. So, what is an AWD capable of? It depends on the vehicle’s all-wheel-drive system and its ground clearance, off-road angles and tyres. Light off-roading – well-maintained gravel roads and dirt tracks in dry conditions – is absolutely fine because that’s well within an AWD’s capabilities and it results in very little wear and tear on the vehicle, minimal risk of damage to the vehicle or, more importantly, the occupants, and little to no stress for the driver and passengers. In their favour is the fact that AWDs are capable of staying planted on wet and slippery surfaces, bitumen, dirt or gravel. An AWD’s off-road capabilities can be improved with a set of decent all-terrain tyres but those still won’t turn it into a rock-crawling beast. In an AWD it’s best to avoid driving on anything beyond a well-maintained dirt track in dry weather and certainly do not take on any ‘4WD/high ground clearance only' tracks, sand driving or rock crawling. Anything more rigorous and you risk damage to the vehicle’s underbody, at a minimum, and mechanical damage and personal injury, at worst. Hard-core rock-crawling is the realm of vehicles with low- and high-range 4WD, larger and grippier tyres, locking diffs, and more ground clearance, more underbody protection and more wheel travel than AWDs. Avoid driving an AWD on sand, other than very firm-packed sand, and even then I wouldn’t spend much time on that surface. Sand driving puts heavy stress on a vehicle, and AWDs don’t have a lot of ground clearance, so they’re prone to bellying out on tall crests in between deeper wheel ruts on a beach. An AWD is a good all-round vehicle with ample potential as a daily driver, family taxi and weekend adventure machine and it will accomplish all of those duties, comfortably, capably and safely. These vehicles are designed for use on sealed surfaces roads with some dirt or light-duty off-road use thrown into the mix, and can reliably handle the demands of wet-weather driving. AWDs have plenty of potential for adventures, but there’s no substitute for real 4WD and diff locks when it comes to off-roading that’s beyond well-maintained gravel tracks or firm sand. A 4WD makes the most sense as a great all-purpose vehicle because it can be big and tough and it has a drivetrain, mechanical and suspension set-up engineered to get you anywhere you want to go. A 4WD in the traditional sense has a transfer case with high- and low-range 4WD, as well as larger and grippier tyres, more ground clearance and more wheel travel than a conventional AWD car. Hopefully, your 4WD also has locking diffs. 4WDs also now have such sophisticated driver-asst aids – such as off-road traction control, hill descent control and crawl control (like cruise control but for low-speed 4WDing) – that even a beginner 4WDer can look and feel like an off-road expert. But mostly a 4WD’s off-road appeal and capability all boils down to the fact that it has the gearing, torque, grip, wheel articulation, and underbody protection needed to tackle legitimate off-roading. And those in-built mechanical and engineering attributes make 4WDs a whole lot of fun because they give the driver and passengers the ability to drive (legal) tracks and to reach places people may otherwise not be able to reach using any other ground-based transport. Alas, sometimes even a vehicle with low-range 4WD, off-road drive modes and diff locks can be hampered by something fundamental – as was the case on a recent test of the MGU9. That ute is comfortable and well behaved on-road but its off-road flaw – a lack of ground clearance – was swiftly exposed on even the most innocuous of bumpy terrain. Very disappointing. But, all in all, a 4WD is engineered to cope with the worst life can throw at it – including towing 3500kg or more. These vehicles are big, sturdy and offer the driver and passengers a real sense of comfort, safety and security. A 4WD gives the driver a high driving position, ample visibility, and an inherent feeling of being in control at all times on the road. A 4WD is roomy, so, as well as people and dogs, it’s able to carry a lot of gear (groceries, camping stuff, sporting equipment). Some 4WDs have seven or eight seats, so there’s the opportunity to transport even more people. The trade-off is that 4WDs are big and heavy compared to AWDs, so can be more challenging to drive in and around town than their lighter, more nimble counterparts. You might want a 4WD but chances are you don’t really need one. An AWD makes a lot of sense, particularly if you're being realistic about how you'll use the vehicle. Overall, an AWD is cheaper, more fuel efficient and a better all-rounder than a 4WD. Buy what you need, not what you want.

The new Nissan Patrol Y63 has given Aussie 4WD buyers some serious thinking to do.  Nissan recently revealed pricing and key specifications for the new-generation Patrol. There are some huge changes for the Patrol in 2026, but Nissan has done its best to trump the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. So, how does it shape up to its sparring partner on the numbers? 2026 pricing (before on-road costs) Pricing is pretty close, with both models skirting on the edge of the $100,000 mark to start, despite the Patrol being about $2500 more expensive than its outgoing V8 sibling.  The Patrol undercuts the LandCruiser across the range, with Nissan’s 4WD kicking off from $350 less. The biggest gap comes in the sport-focused variants, where the Patrol Pro-4 X is more than $10,000 cheaper compared to the GR Sport grade of the LandCruiser.  Hybrid LandCruisers are the most expensive, with a near $11,000 gap on the most expensive Patrol variant.   This round goes to the Patrol, but there might not be much in it for buyers on base price. Nissan made the big decision to ditch its much-loved naturally-aspirated 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine for a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 unit. The good news is the Patrol’s petrol V6 boasts even more power than the V8, producing 317kW, compared to 298kW on the outgoing model.  This blows the LandCruiser 300’s twin-turbo diesel V6 engine out of the water on power because it only produces 227kW. It's debatable how much difference this will make in the real world as torque often proves more important for 4WDs when it comes to off-roading and towing capacity. Both the Patrol and LandCruiser 300 pack 700Nm in a dead heat. The LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid edges the Patrol, making 341kW and 790Nm, although it does come at a price premium as covered above.  The Patrol’s engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, while the LandCruiser 300 uses a 10-speed unit.  Nissan claims its new Patrol can tow 3700kg, which is 200kg more than the industry standard and what is offered for its Toyota rival.  Nissan has not revealed the fuel efficiency of the Patrol, so it cannot be compared with the LandCruiser 300's 8.9L/100km.  The Patrol’s fuel tank is 13L smaller than the LandCruiser 300, and is a noticeable step down on the Y62 model, impacting how far it can travel between fill-ups. Fuel efficiency will be an important point to compare, especially with fuel prices continuing to surge. The Y62 returned claimed fuel consumption of more than 14L/100km, so the Y63 will need to offer a substantial improvement to remain competitive. The Patrol trumps in power numbers and has superior lugging capacity, so it is the winner on the figures for now. The Patrol features much of the equipment and interior luxuries available on the LandCruiser 300 as standard. All variants are equipped with a joint 12.3-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver display. By contrast, buyers need to upgrade to higher grades of the LandCruiser to receive a 12.3-inch digital driver display.  The Patrol also rides on 18-inch wheels as standard, compared to the LandCruiser 300's 17-inch examples. The Patrol edges the LandCruiser 300 when it comes to standard equipment, but there’s not much in it again. Nissan’s 10-year/300,000 conditional warranty is hard to go past, but services must be completed at an authorised Nissan dealership to be eligible.  Toyota offers a similar deal, adding an extra two years of warranty for the car’s engine and driveline when serviced at dealerships.  Nissan offers capped price servicing at $499 per visit for the first five appointments, working out roughly $2000 less than the LandCruiser over its first five years.  Without authorised dealer servicing, the Patrol’s warranty reverts to a five-year/unlimited kilometre promise, which matches the LandCruiser’s standard one. Nissan’s stacks up a better deal than Toyota’s seven-year engine and driveline alternative, and it’s also cheaper. If buyers don’t opt for capped price servicing, the pair can’t be separated.   Nissan has put forward a compelling proposition for its Y63 Patrol.  It’s cheaper, more powerful and better equipped as standard than the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.  The Patrol’s real test will be whether it can match the LandCruiser’s reliability record, but a 10-year/300,000km conditional warranty shows Nissan is backing its 4WD to do the business.  Only time will tell whether the Patrol can provide a serious threat to Toyota’s iconic name.  It’s undeniable it's already doing so on paper. 

Nissan’s decades old rivalry with the Toyota LandCruiser has been reignited and has hit DEFCON 1. The new Y63 Nissan Patrol will arrive in Australia at the start of 2027 after a two-and-a-half-year wait since its reveal. Now the Japanese brand has confirmed prices and confirmed its beefed-up six-tier Patrol range. Customers can now put down a deposit for a specific grade with their local dealer. Nissan hasn’t set a deposit amount as it will be up to the specific dealer, but expect something in the range of $500-$1000. The big news? Nissan’s Patrol is cheaper, more powerful and better equipped than the equivalent Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. The Ti grade kicks things off at $98,990 (before on-road costs), which is $2450 more expensive than the base Y62 Patrol grade. It is also $350 cheaper than the base LandCruiser GX. Full pricing table below. The Patrol continues to undercut the equivalent LandCruiser throughout its line-up, with the new-to-Australia off-road-focused Pro-4X grade severely cheaper than the LandCruiser GR Sport. The only other carry-over grade from the Y62 range is the Ti-L, which is about $14,000 more expensive than before but is complemented by the cheaper new Ti+ grade. It’s old news now, but the outgoing Patrol’s V8 petrol engine is no more. In its place is a twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine that makes 317kW and 700Nm.  This is matched to a nine-speed auto, and a full time 4WD set-up that has low and high gears. The Patrol has an electronic locking rear differential and eight different drive modes. All grades also have some hi-tech off-roading features such as an invisible bonnet view, which gives drivers an idea of what is beneath them as they cross rough terrain. Nissan also promotes a scavenger oil pump, which helps keep lubrication on steep or off-camber climbs. Nissan has confirmed towing capacity is 3700kg, and trailer blind spot warning is fitted standard across the range. Higher grades build on the towing prowess with trailer docking support and electric brake controller. Payload, fuel use and details won’t be known until closer to the vehicle’s launch date. The addition of the Pro-4X grade also puts into doubt the potential for a locally tuned Warrior version. The Pro-4X is the brand’s new off-road hero with adaptive air suspension and auto damper control that reads the road ahead and adjusts suspension accordingly. It has all-terrain tyres, unique front bumper, trailer docking support and electric trailer brake controller. There is no locally tuned Patrol Warrior grade for now, with the brand stating it is actively investigating a Warrior, but it wouldn’t commit to the rugged 4WD. One of Nissan’s biggest selling points over the LandCruiser is its service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km, compared to six months or 10,000km.  Nissan charges $499 per visit for the first five scheduled workshop appointments, which costs about $2000 less than the LandCruiser over the first five years. Nissan also backs its cars with a 10 year/300,000km conditional warranty, which requires owners to service their vehicle at a Nissan dealership or it reverts to a five year/unlimited km guarantee. All grades come with dual 12.3-inch displays, one for the multimedia the other for the driver’s instruments, Google built-in, which includes Google Maps, and Gemini AI assistant that can control certain car functions. The base Ti grade has: 18-inch alloy wheels  360-degree camera Three-zone climate control Synthetic leather seats and leather  Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheel Stepping up to the Ti+ gets you: Panoramic sunroof Privacy glass Power tailgate Roof rails Rain-sensing wipers Digital rear-view mirror Ti-L buyers can expect all that and more, including: 14.3-inch dual screens 12-speaker Klipsch stereo Head-up display Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper) suspension, which continuously adjusts suspension to driving and road conditions 20-inch alloy wheels Rotating view 360-degree camera Ti-L+ grade adds: Leather and synthetic leather seat upholstery Heated and ventilated front seats Massage driver’s seat Heated steering wheel Centre console cool box Biometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filter Multi-colour ambient interior illumination Pro-4X builds on the Ti-L grade with: Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper) 20-inch black-painted alloy wheels All-terrain tyres PRO-4X unique off-road front bumper fascia Centre console cool box Heated and ventilated front row seats Heated steering wheel Trailer docking support Electric trailer brake controller Biometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filter Range-topping Ti-L Reserve boasts the Ti-L+’s kit and: Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper) 22-inch step-machined alloy wheels Trailer docking support Electric trailer brake controller Dual 12.8-inch second-row entertainment screens Driver and front passenger massage seats

A fleet of Y63 Nissan Patrols has been spotted in Melbourne as the launch of the hotly anticipated rival to the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Mitsubishi Pajero inches closer. Spotted by an eagle-eyed commuter travelling down the Monash Freeway, a car carrier loaded with three examples of the Y63 was snapped this week. Interestingly, none of the cars wore any camouflage at all – not even the Nissan logo blacked out as it has been previously – suggesting these are launch cars that are literally ready to rumble. Adding fuel to that fire was the accidental publication of the Nissan Patrol line-up on Nissan's website earlier this month, revealing a six-grade range for the Y63 Patrol. “While the content was not intended for public release and included placeholder information used during website development, we can confirm the all-new Patrol will be offered in six well-specified grades in Australia,” said a Nissan spokesperson at the time. “The grade names may not be exactly as shown in the screenshots, and some of the information is placeholder content rather than final product details." The fact that these vehicles appear to be finished products that haven't undergone any kind of testing, and the Nissan site is now being updated with Patrol information, suggests the Y63 will be launching sooner rather than later. In fact, the brand has confirmed order books will open this month, but has remained coy on the actual on sale date. We now wouldn't be surprised to see the Patrol in showrooms in Q4 this year – an early mark on the early 2027 timing Nissan is suggesting. When it arrives, the Y63 will ditch the Y62's V8 engine for a newer and more powerful powertrain, with the headline act being a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 pumping out 317kW and 700Nm.

Over six generations since 1961, the Nissan Patrol has been a thorn in Toyota’s side. While the latter’s mighty marketing machine constantly reminds us that the LandCruiser has been part of Australia since 1958, the Patrol has also been around long enough to have people reaching for the clichés. Yep, the Nissan is also ‘part of the furniture’, ‘woven in the cultural fabric’ or simply ‘one of us’. In the lead up to the Y63 model that's finally due in the first quarter of next year, we take a look at how and why, for nearly two-thirds of a century, the Patrol has mattered more than Toyota would care to admit. Some 64 years ago next month, in September 1962, a Datsun G60 Patrol became the first motor vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert, according to Nissan. There was even a Marg on board. Though not with an e. D'oh! It drove a family of four, headed by geologist Reg Sprigg and wife Griselda, on a 12-day trek right in the heart of Australia. Among other obstacles, Nissan states they encountered 1100 sand dunes, in what must have been an excruciatingly dull “I spy…” to wile the hours away for the kids bouncing about in the back seat. The other child was named Doug. Which might have been appropriate given their average speed was just 5km/h during the ordeal. This stuff almost writes itself! But don’t worry, Toyota fans. In the latter stages of its construction, the Snowy Mountains Hydro scheme called upon the earliest LandCruisers imported to Australia, thus also forging an early bond with this country. But a Patrol was first to conquer a formidable desert. Sadly, for lovers of old technology, the current Y62 has reached the end of the line – quite literally, since the production line in Japan will switch to its Y63 replacement this month. For the record, the outgoing Patrol was unveiled all the way back in 2010, and has been on sale in Australia since early 2013, with a facelift coming later that decade. Fun fact! The current model did not receive factory fitted Apple CarPlay until May, 2025! Happily, for lovers of old tech, there’s always the Toyota 70 Series LandCruiser, which is technically way older than the Nissan since that first appeared in Australia in 1985. But, unlike the 78 Series utes and 79 Series Troop Carrier, the 76 Series five-door passenger wagon only arrived in 2007 and has been subjected to “pauses” due to high demand, model changeovers and other production constraints that Toyota deemed necessary, while the Patrol has hung around like a Simpson Desert bush fly. So, the old Datto gets the guernsey. Nowadays, and for good reason, it’s Chinese vehicles that have the reputation for copying others’ designs. But some of the earlier Japanese models were masters of plagiarism, allegedly, and the original Patrol was no exception. This was a Jeep knock-off, pure and simple, launched in the home market in September, 1951. The similarities were obvious, down to the boxy design, squared-off wheel arches, and multi-bar grille flanked by a couple of circular headlights. Perhaps Nissan needed to one-up Toyota, since the Willys Jeep-sanctioned Toyota Jeep “BJ” was displayed in January of that year as a prototype, as a precursor to the LandCruiser. But that didn’t enter production until 1953, so Nissan beats Toyota again. And, since arriving in 1960, over one-quarter of a million Patrols have been sold in Australia alone - though that's against over 1.15 million LandCruisers, so we know who's having the last laugh here. To suggest that the fourth-generation, Y60 (GQ series) Patrol stormed the market in 1987 would not be an overstatement. With its handsome design, chunky yet elegant proportions, coil-sprung suspension and car-like interior at a time when most 4WDs were workhorse basic, it scared the hell out of Toyota and made Australia Nissan’s second-biggest Patrol market globally over its 10-year run. What the GQ achieved should not be underestimated, since it transcended segments with its civility, flexibility, quality and capabilities. And purists still can’t shut up about the indestructable TD42 engine. This is why the SUV revolution actually started right here, years before the original Suzuki Vitara and the Toyota RAV4 it inspired swept across the world. Along with the Y61 GU from 1997 that succeeded GQ, we're talking peak Patrol here. If you think today's popular Everest that is based upon the Ranger ute is Ford’s first body-on-frame 4WD wagon sold in Australia, you’re way off. Earlier in the 1980s there was the F100-derived Bronco two-door wagon (that was actually assembled locally), but that paled compared to the Maverick, which was a GQ Patrol in all but badge. A by-product of the Federal Government’s Button Plan designed to rationalise excess Australian car production, the Maverick filled a gap in Ford’s line-up left by Bronco, and it worked. In fact, the Blue Oval Patrol was considered more of a success than some of the other badge-engineered model-sharing twins of the era, like the Holden Commodore-based Toyota Lexcen and the disastrous Nissan Pintara-derived Ford Corsair. This would have endlessly miffed Toyota, giving it another reason to despise the Patrol. For now, at least, there will be no affordable full-sized body-on-frame 4WD wagon available new in Australia with V8 power once the Y63 Patrol finally lands . That’s probably no bad thing given the excessive thirst of the peachy 5.6-litre V8 that is central to the Y62's appeal. Especially to oil companies. Even the trip computer struggled to keep the average fuel consumption under 20.0L/100km during our last outing with several last year. But there are buyers out there that would demand nothing less than the orchestral bellow of eight cylinders, especially in the superior Warrior version and its trick side exhaust. Much to Toyota’s chagrin, it’s also likely the Patrol probably snared some LandCruiser buyers once the V6-based 300 Series arrived in 2021.

Nissan has confirmed its incoming Y63 Patrol will have six variants to choose from in Australia. The carmaker confirmed the line-up after it accidentally sent placeholder information live on its public website but has since been taken down, according to a Nissan Australia spokesperson. Images of the six-tier line-up were shared on social media showing the potential choices. “While the content was not intended for public release and included placeholder information used during website development, we can confirm the all-new Patrol will be offered in six well-specified grades in Australia,” said a Nissan spokesperson. “The grade names may not be exactly as shown in the screenshots, and some of the information is placeholder content rather than final product details.  “We'll share the official model lineup and key specifications later this month.” It is no coincidence that it matches the six-tier Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, with the two expected to go toe-to-toe for Australian 4WD customers. The Patrol appears to top out with a luxury focused version, with the more off-road focused Pro-4X variant one rung down. This flips the script on the LandCruiser, which tops its line-up with the rough-and-tumble GR Sport grade with the full fruit Sahara ZX next variant down. There is no Nismo version, which is available in the US and the Middle East, shown in the leaked line-up. And Australia is expected to gain a Warrior version created by local outfit Premcar in time. CarsGuide spotted an uncamouflaged version of the Patrol was spotted driving through Melbourne CBD this week ahead of its early 2027 launch date. This is after numerous sightings of covered-up versions undertaking local testing ahead of its on sale date. The brand confirmed order books for the new 4WD will open before the end of August, with prices and full specification to be reveal then. Nissan swaps out the Y62’s 5.6-litre eight-cylinder petrol unit for a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol making 317kW and 700Nm, or 19kW and 140Nm more than before. The Y63 Patrol is built on a new platform and is bigger in almost every way. It is now 5205mm long (+35mm), 2030mm wide (+35mm), though the 1955m height remains unchanged. It’s also bigger in the third row, thanks to the rear section and boot being 30 per cent wider than in the Y62. It’s got some high-tech suspension too, with the air suspension system allowing the car to raise up an additional 70mm. This helps improve approach and departure angles when tackling properly tough terrain.

Nissan has finally shared when its highly anticipated seventh-generation (Y63) Patrol will hit Australian shores. The brand confirmed the new 4WD will arrive in the first quarter of 2027 with the order books opening before the end of August. It is the first new Patrol since the long-serving Y62 debuted globally in 2010, before arriving in Australia in 2013. Headlining the changes for the new-generation SUV is the move to a new 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, which replaces the renowned but thirsty 5.6-litre V8 in the outgoing Y62. Producing 317kW/700Nm though, the new powertrain makes the Y63 the most powerful Patrol yet (with an additional 19kW/140Nm compared to the V8) and is paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Nissan confirmed the new-generation Patrol will have air suspension on some variants for the first time, which will have benefits both in its raised clearance for off-road ability, and a lowered height for entry and egress. The brand also says the suspension can automatically lower the vehicle at highway speeds for better fuel economy. Inside there are new features including dual 14.3-inch screens for the multimedia and digital instrument cluster, as well as a head-up display for the first time. It will be backed by a new 12-speaker, 600W, Klipsch-branded audio system There's also a new ‘Biometric Cooling’ feature, which Nissan says automatically adjusts the climate system by detecting passenger temperatures, and so-called ‘Zero Gravity’ reclining massage seats for both the front and rear positions. The incoming Nissan Patrol is built on a new platform and is bigger in almost every dimension, measuring 35mm longer and 35mm wider, with the same height, bringing total dimensions to 5205mm long, 2030mm wide, and 1955mm tall. Updates on the Y63 Patrol come shortly after Nissan confirmed last call on the outgoing V8 model. Japanese production is set to end this month. Australia will be one of the first right-hand drive markets to score the new Y63 Patrol. It launched in left-hand drive markets in 2024. The impending launch of this right-hand drive Y63 Patrol has even resulted in pre-production versions being spotted by CarsGuide in Melbourne. The Y63 Patrol will not only have to do battle with its historic rivals like the Toyota LandCruiser (now available with a plugless hybrid system), and the hotly-anticipated next-generation Pajero, but it will also have to face newcomers like the GWM Tank 500 and Denza B8. On top of that, the emerging 4WD enthusiast trend in China has seen an explosion of new plug-in hybrid options headed for this space, including from GAC and Geely. There is no word yet on Nissan’s ongoing tie-up with Premcar, which has seen the new Navara get Australian-specific suspension, and the outgoing Y62 Patrol get a halo off-road focused Warrior variant. Expect to learn more about the 2027 Y63 Nissan Patrol closer to its launch date in early 2027.

An uncamouflaged version of the new Nissan Patrol Y63 has been spied on the city streets of Melbourne, Victoria ahead of an expected launch in either late 2026 or early 2027. The only thing covered up on this vehicle are the Nissan badges front and rear, though it’s very clearly a new Patrol. The vehicle is clearly right-hand drive and appears to be a high-spec example due to the large alloy wheels. In the UAE this trim level is called the LE Platinum City. It’s expected this Patrol is a test and evaluation prototype. It appears to have been out on gravel or dirt roads as the back and sides are dirty. The Y63 Patrol most notably ditches the Y62’s 5.6-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine for a V6 petrol. Globally there are two V6 petrol engines available, a 3.8-litre naturally aspirated V6 and a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6. The latter engine is what’s expected to be offered in Australia. In standard form, the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine produces 317kW and 700Nm, which is 19kW and 140Nm more than the outgoing Y62’s V8. However, the high-performance Nismo version bumps power to 369kW. There is still a nine-speed automatic transmission and drive is sent through a full-time four-wheel drive system. Compared to the outgoing model, the Y63 Patrol is built on a new platform, is slightly larger and has a boxier look, plus there are larger screens inside and the capability for higher-tech advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Nissan Australia hasn’t confirmed official details or specifications for the Y63 Patrol just yet. However, given the spied prototype appears to show a high-spec model, it’s likely to come Down Under. The current Y62 Patrol is available in Ti, Ti-L and Warrior trim levels in Australia. The latter receives a number of special touches from Melbourne-based engineering firm, Premcar. At this stage it’s unclear whether Nissan plans to engage with Premcar to create a hardcore version of the new Y63 Patrol. However, there is an off-road-focused Pro-4X version available globally and that may come to Australia. It may form the basis of the new Warrior eventually. Nissan confirmed that production of the outgoing Y62 Patrol is set to cease globally in August, with the Aussie-tuned Warrior version wrapping up soon after. “The Patrol has been a constant presence in Australian motoring, and the Y62 has played a defining role in that legacy,” said Nissan Oceania Managing Director Steve Milette in June 2026. “Its 5.6-litre V8 is part of what has made this generation so beloved by enthusiasts, families and adventurers alike. “As we look ahead to the all-new to Australia Y63 later this year, the run-out of the Y62 represents a genuine ‘last chance’ moment for Australians who want to add a new V8 Patrol to their garage.” More details on the upcoming Y63 Patrol are expected to drop imminently ahead of its Australian launch either in late 2026 or early 2027.

Buyers still love 4WDs in Australia.  It remains a big-selling segment, but some of its biggest hitters are suffering losses. China is starting to get a foothold in the market with budget offerings posing a serious threat to established regulars. Emissions-heavy vehicles such as 4WDs are also coming under fire from increasingly stringent rules in Australia. Here is the rundown of the best-selling 4WDs up to June 2026.  The Ford Everest large SUV is up front with more than 11,000 sales in 2026 so far, despite a near 10 per cent year-on-year drop.  It is based on the Ford Ranger, which is the best-selling ute in Australia. The Toyota Prado takes second place with more than 9000 sales so far this year, but it has experienced an even sharper drop of nearly 42 per cent year-on-year. The Prado is a scaled down version of the LandCruiser 300 Series, using a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, as opposed to the more powerful V6.  Isuzu’s MU-X is third, making 7564 sales up to June, but it too experienced a more minor slump of 3.2 per cent.  The LandCruiser 300 Series is currently fourth on the standings, and is the only car in the top five to have experienced a substantial growth in sales.  Its 6451 sales constitutes a 26.3 per cent rise compared to first six months of 2025. Toyota also released a performance petrol hybrid V6 variant earlier this year. The Suzuki Jimny rounds out the top five as a much smaller and cheaper competitor to those above it.  Priced from $31,990, before on-road costs, the Jimny is down 11.1 per cent compared to this time last year, while still amassing 3882 sales.  The Nissan Patrol is down nearly 25 per cent compared to its sales result up to June 2025, with 2843 sales so far in 2026.  The current Y62 petrol V8 Patrol will cease production next month, and order books for a new twin-turbo V6 will open later.   GWM’s Tank 300 mid-size SUV off-roader has continued to surge up the sales charts in 2026, with 2759 sales so far. The Tank 300 is available in petrol, diesel, plug-less hybrid and plug-in hybrid set-ups - more varied than any of its competitors.  BYD’s Denza sub-brand is another Chinese rival experiencing a solid sales return in Australia. Its B5 plug-in hybrid SUV has already accumulated 1445 sales this year, having only gone on sale in December 2025. Its bigger sibling the B8 is also approaching the 1000-unit mark midway through this year.  The ultra-luxury GMC Yukon Denali from the United States is starting to pick up momentum in Australia.  The V8-powered eight-seater Yukon Denali went on sale in the middle of last year, but 2026 has seen sales explode by nearly 190 per cent.  It remains a low-volume model with only 202 sales, as it carries a $174,990 price tag.  The 4WD segment is about undergo some serious changes in the next few months, including an influx of new models. The Mitsubishi Pajero will return to Australia, along with several new Chinese competitors likely to join it over the next 18 months. The anticipated Geely Galaxy Cruiser is slated for a UK launch, meaning Australia could its next step, while the GAC Yue 7 also seems to be on the way.  

Nissan’s luxury arm has reportedly delayed a high-performance large SUV that could have implications for its Nissan sibling. The Infiniti QX80 Red Sport, a performance version of the brand’s sibling to the 2027 Nissan Patrol, is heading back to square one with development restarting. Reports from the US said Infiniti has decided to aim higher than just building a high-output version of the QX80 large SUV, and will instead try to rival the likes of BMW M and AMG in creating a more complete performance package for the model. “As we have started to work on the project, we’re realising that power alone is not sufficient,” Infiniti Americas chief Eric Ledieu told Automotive News. “We know we have one chance at a first impression when it comes to this type of product. When you’re paying six figures for a performance-based SUV of this size and scale, it needs to deliver.” Originally due late this year, the QX80 Red Sport is now much further away. The existing QX80’s twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 will be tuned to produce more than the standard 336kW, though the likelihood of it being swapped for the 3.8-litre unit used in the GT-R as was seen in the Infiniti QX80 R-Spec concept built for the 2025 SEMA Show is unlikely. Infiniti has also built a 485kW QX80 Track Spec concept that could inform the WX80 Red Sport, though its production future remains uncertain. The Red Sport name has been dormant for some time, it being Infiniti’s high-performance variant badge, though its reception in Australia on the Q50 Red Sport and Q60 Red Sport was dampened by unfavourable reviews for its poor dynamics, parts-bin packaging and outdated tech. If Infiniti does revive Red Sport with proper investment as a rival to the German brands’ performance arms, it could have an effect on the fiesty Y63 Nissan Patrol Nismo. The Patrol Nismo sold in the Middle East uses the same 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, but thanks to “region-specific tuning” power has been bumped to 369kW (up from 317kW). Torque remains unchanged at 700Nm. The Nismo gains a range of mechanical upgrades. While it’s unlikely that a future performance model for the Patrol would land in similar areas to the QX80 Red Sport - expect an Aussie-developed Warrior version instead - the US development of the QX80’s performance variant could inform some of the work needed to give the Patrol an angrier outlook.