Nissan Patrol 2015 News

A number of potentially hazardous faults have been identified in vehicles sold in Australia, prompting a wide range of recalls.

Almost 200 luxury cars are now exempt from Luxury Car Tax, so why do buyers of family cars pay millions for the tax-on-a-tax each year?

In a bid to boost sluggish sales, Nissan has announced substantial price cuts and a consolidated two-grade model lineup for the 2015 Patrol V8 SUV, the first update since the model landed in Australia in January 2013.The big petrol-powered SUV range now starts with the $69,990 eight-seat Ti variant, which is priced a whopping $23,400 beneath its outgoing equivalent and an impressive $12,700 below the now-discontinued ST-L entry point.Priced from $86,990, the range-topping seven-seat Ti-L variant is now $27,500 cheaper.Neither model has lost any features as a result of the price drops, but the Ti now has the 9.3Gb music hard drive previously reserved for the Ti-L.In the engine bay, things are the same with the 298kW/560Nm 5.6-litre petrol V8 and seven-speed automatic transmission carrying over from the outgoing model, as does the "All-Mode" 4WD system.There's still no diesel, due to the petrol-loving Middle East making up the bulk of Y62 Patrol sales internationally.The shifter is now located on the right-hand side of the centre console, removing a significant reminder of the Patrol's left-hand drive origins. However, the centre row seat split-fold still favours entry to the third row from the right-hand side.New standard features of the 2015 Y62 update include an off-road monitoring system that gives the driver advice about steering angle, tyre slip and pressure, as well as a compass.The satnav system has also been updated to include real-time traffic monitoring.Carrying over from the outgoing Patrol are the Hydraulic Body Motion Control suspension swaybar system, all-around view camera system, and the leather-accented seats.New shades of white and grey paint are also available, with Alpine White and Precision Grey replaced by Ivory Pearl and Gun Metallic, respectively.The 2015 Y62 Nissan Patrol V8 is due to land in local showrooms early this month.

It costs $443.60 a week to keep the 5.6-litre Nissan Patrol ST-L on the road for five years, including its $90,000 purchase price, loan interest, fuel, new tyres, insurance and depreciation.According to the 2015 RACV's Driving Your Dollars study, the cheapest car to own is the Suzuki Celerio. With a drive-away price of $12,990, its weekly running costs total $97.65 over five years.Record low interest rates and falling fuel prices have made owning and driving a car more affordable in the past year, says the RACV. Its survey examined 111 popular vehicles across 13 categories, taking into account all expenses associated with ownership.RELATED: Australia's cheapest cars to own and run in 2014 This year's survey found the overall average cost of owning a car was $211.25 a week or 73.2c a kilometre - slightly down on the 2014 cost.The RACV's manager of vehicle engineering, Michael Case, yesterday advised car buyers to look beyond just the purchase price when shopping for a new car."Always be aware of the hidden costs - depreciation is the biggest single cost in owning a car, even if you don't see it until it's time to sell," Mr Case said.The survey also found that servicing costs have increased."It is important to know how much it costs to have your car serviced, to fill the tank, replace tyres, pay insurance, rego, stamp duty, spare parts and RACV membership," Mr Case said."Before you hit the showroom, do your homework... Ask yourself: 'Am I buying the car I want or the car I need?'."Nissan Patrol owner Ryan Mullins, from Bentleigh East, said he was happy with the costs he had to bear."I've never had a problem with my Nissan Patrol and the RACV survey wouldn't put me off from buying a new one," Mr Mullins said.Among the electric and hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius C had the lowest operating cost at $152.60 per week.RACV calculations were based on private ownership of a vehicle for five years, driving an average of 15,000km a year.For more complete information on the winners in each class, visit the RACV’s results here.

One in four SUVs still lack rear view cameras – even though the technology is now standard on a $14,990 hatchback.

New Honda Jazz sets new benchmark for rear view cameras: $14,990.

Diesel "classic" set to continue alongside new petrol Patrol indefinitely.

The company’s US division has released a Cummins V8 turbodiesel for its Titan pickup, which is based on the same F-Alpha platform as the Y62 Patrol four-wheel drive.And the local HQ say they’d be keen to see it here if available. “We would be first in line requesting the model for Australia, should a diesel Patrol be developed in the future,” Nissan Australia’s head of public relations Peter Fadeyev says.However he says Nissan currently has no plans to release a diesel Y62 Patrol. Nissan has instead opted to continue selling the older generation (Y61) 3.0-litre turbodiesel Patrol alongside the 5.6-litre petrol V8-powered newer model. “The (Y61) Patrol continues to appeal to traditional off-road diesel enthusiasts in Australia,” Fadeyev said.Nissan head office has not confirmed any plans to fit the Cummins diesel to the Patrol. But with a diesel that suits the platform now available, the Patrol is in a good position to become the next recipient of the 5-litre turbodiesel. “There is a possibility that the engineering capability might be there,” Fadeyev says.In the meantime, Nissan has been aiming to convince buyers of the capability of the petrol unit. Most recently the Patrol set a new Guinness record for heaviest airplane hauled, by towing a 170-tonne Ilyushin II Russian cargo airplane in Shajah international airport in the United Arab Emirates.The Y62 Patrol, which was launched earlier this year in Australia, was largely developed for the Middle East – by far the Patrol’s biggest market, and one that has low petrol prices. This influenced the decision to not develop a diesel option. In the Middle East alone, where the Y62 launched in 2010, sales figures have soared 47% since last year. The petrol model has also proved popular in Russia and the US, where it’s sold with the Infiniti badge. Like the Middle East, those markets have an appetite for large petrol four wheel drives due largely to low petrol prices.However, in Australia diesel four wheel drive sales are booming. In 2012 sales were up by 35% for that segment. And the Patrol’s main rivals, the Toyota Landcruiser 200 series and Land Rover Discovery, are enjoying the benefits, posting strong results for their diesel models. Patrol fans have taken to Nissan’s facebook page, forums and other media sites calling for a diesel version of the Patrol. The just-released Cummins diesel in the Nissan Titan could well be the solution to that demand.The Titan shares not only the platform, but also the current 298kW 5.6-litre petrol V8 with the Y62 Patrol. The new V8 turbodiesel 223kW 5-litre unit packs a healthy 744Nm torque, compared to the petrol’s 560 Nm. Importantly for Nissan Australia, a V8 turbodiesel Patrol means the company could eclipse its arch-rival, the Landcruiser 200 series, which offers a 4.5-litre 195kW/650Nm V8 diesel.The benefits don’t stop there, with the new engine expected to better its petrol counterpart in fuel economy, range and towing capacity. Cummins vice-president Dave Crompton said at the Titan engine announcement the new power plant “will offer the right balance of power, performance and fuel economy while delivering the dependability that customers expect of a Cummins engine.” The Indiana-based manufacturer is renowned for its heavy duty truck power plants, supplying units worldwide including Kenworth and Mack Trucks of Australia. 

Just as Nissan redeems the Tiida/Pulsar faux pas, it makes another one by failing to offer the new generation Y62 Patrol 4x4 with a diesel engine.Nissan is covering its tail by continuing to offer the ancient Y61 diesel Patrol for the time being alongside Y62. Presumably that will be until there's so much pressure from Patrol buyers for a new diesel that Nissan finds one from somewhere. It's been 14 years since the previous model was introduced - a long time and the result has been two pronged - considerable pent-up demand for a new Patrol from existing owners and a sales haemorrhage to other makes.LUXURYBut the new (7-8 seat) model will have appeal in the luxury end of the market up against Toyota's formidable Landcruiser. New Patrol comes in three grades, ST-L, Ti and Ti-L priced at $82,200, $92,800 and $113,900 in ascending order.POWERTRAINAll share the same powertrain which consists of a 5.6-litre, V8 petrol engine (basis of the new Nissan V8 Supercar donk), a seven-speed conventional automatic transmission and Nissan's clever All-Mode 4x4 system with 4H and 4L incorporating Sand, Rock, Snow and On-road modes. There's a rear diff' lock and the vehicle scores hill start assist and hill descent control.Everything is selected from a dial on the dash. The engine is good for 298kW/560Nm thanks to direct fuel injection and variable valve timing and lift on the inlet side. It gives fuel economy benefits and a claimed 14.5-litres/100km on premium. That's much better than the earlier 4.8-litre petrol six in the Y61 model which drank prodigiously.SUSPENSIONSomething that will be liked or loathed by new Patrol owners is the all independent double wishbone suspension that replaces the 'old skool' live axles. Traditionally, the latter is preferred in arduous off-road driving because live axles lift the vehicle up out of a hole or over a rock whereas independent suspension sees the wheel disappear into the wheel well with the body hitting the dirt.On the two high grade Patrols, there's a clever new suspension featuring adaptive dampers that act to prevent body roll in cornering and also to maintain clearance off road. It's called Hydraulic Body Motion Control. Driver assist technologies are available on the higher spec' models such as Blind Spot Warning and Lane Assist among others. A body on chassis design is retained.STYLINGThe body (on chassis) is larger than before with styling that you either like or not. We fall into the latter category suggesting that the front looks too much like a Pathfinder and the overall look is bland and uninspiring. Inside are three seat rows with plenty of room for all passengers and an esky down the back with the third in place.The Y62 Patrol has been around for some time already in Arab countries and features a raft of goodies designed to cater for those looking to be pampered.GOODIESStandard kit includes Bluetooth phone, a DVD player (two in the higher range models), two gig music register, multiple steering wheel controls, intelligent key access, dual zone climate control, rear view camera, front and rear park assist, drive computer and an eight way power adjust driver's seat. Ti and Ti-L get more.New Patrol has a 140 litre fuel tank and can tow 3500kg braked. Some local development work went into the design effort which sees low levels of noise inside the cabin and a single lift up tailgate among other refinements.VERDICTWe'll take it into the bush before forming any conclusions. It would have been a better proposition from our point of view with a new, high-tech 3.0-litre turbodiesel six under the bonnet. There's one in the Pathfinder.