2012 Nissan Patrol Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the GQ, GU and Y62 Series Nissan Patrol from 1996,1997,1998,1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 as a used buy.

The wagon earnt its place as a staple for off-roaders and caravanners. New Some of today’s wagons look like four-wheel drives, some even pretend to be tough off-roaders but when it comes to the crunch few cut it in the rough going like the Nissan Patrol. The Patrol, a genuine go-anywhere four-wheel drive, made no

The growing popularity of SUVs has seen many of the breed dilute the off-road skill set to accommodate more civilised road manners -- but not this lot.Certainly less agricultural than their forebears, these three examples still have more than enough gumption to gallop down the Gunbarrel Highway or amble along the Oodnadatta Track.The phrase “King Off The Road'' has long been associated with the Toyota LandCruiser and there's nothing to suggest it's a royal fraud.The Japanese brand has built much of its reputation on the back of this beast -- wags will joke that if you want to get somewhere, take a Land Rover -- but if you want to get home again take a LandCruiser.The Toyota's debut was as a workhorse in the 1960s, covering rough ground around the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and its legend has grown from there. The throne is currently occupied by the 200 Series, updated in late 2009.The pricing was a reflection of the demand and Toyota was charging mid-$80,000 for the entry-level GXL wagon. But for towing a caravan, horse float or a boat, there wasn't much that could touch the Toyota's 3500kg braked towing capacity.New vehicle sales figures reflected that, with the LandCruiser regularly outselling Nissan's Patrol by two to one. The Patrol has a long heritage in Australia as well, stretching as far back as the LandCruiser.In 1962, geologist Reg Sprigg and family travelled across the Simpson Desert in a G60 Nissan Patrol, the first vehicle to complete the journey. The Patrol nameplate took hold in the 1980s and has been a part of the 4WD scene ever since.The brand just launched its new model -- with no sign of a diesel engine -- so we'd be inclined to look back to when it had a turbo diesel under its squared-off snout. A left-field choice in this segment is the Jeep Commander, a model that never took off in Australia but had seating for seven, turbo diesel power and the off-road cred that comes with a Jeep badge.There were petrol six- and eight-cylinder options but the 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, teamed with a five-speed auto, had ample torque and a reasonable thirst. Not a stellar sales performer for the US brand, it fell victim to belt-tightening brought on by the GFC, but if you're not interested in a Japanese giant it might fit the bill.HOT TIPSCheck for signs of water intrusion and rust, as serious off-road expeditions gone awry (as well as recent floods) can have rusty consequences.Diesels are generally more frugal and a lot easier to feed in the Outback, where PULP and ULP can be in short supply.Check the fine print on the towing details, as some 4WDs make big boasts but fall over in the capacity details.2010 Toyota Landcruiser GXLEngine: 4.5-litre V8 turbo dieselTransmission: 6-speed automaticThirst: 10.3L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYSThe 200 Series took Toyota's full-size diesel 4WD into the realm of the turbo diesel V8, which meant lots of torque, as well as genuine off-road ability and room for eight. Cloth trim, stability control, dual-zone climate control, six airbags and money-can't-buy heritage.2012 Nissan PatrolEngine: 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo dieselTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 11.8L/100CARSGUIDE SAYSLife in the shadows of more popular 4WDs has kept Patrol prices sharp. Three rows of seating, 17-inch alloys, cruise control, airconditioning and stability control are among the features in this full-size off-roader. It was much cheaper than the corresponding 'Cruiser when new and remains a cheaper proposition in the used market.2007 Jeep Commander XH WagonEngine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo dieselTransmission: 5-speed automaticThirst: 10.5L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYSThe brand has long been known for building off-roaders -- its heritage dates from WWII. Jeep is not as adept at ergonomic interiors as the Japanese but the brand's charisma tends to offset niggles. A genuine seven-seater that will get off the beaten track when asked.

Just like it's done with the Navara ute, Nissan will continue to sell its older Patrol after the new model arrives in the new year. The main reason is that the new Y62 Patrol is not available with a diesel engine as yet and from all accounts may never be. The old one is in fact it's diesel only these days but it's 15 years old.Patrol has always played second fiddle to Toyota's Landcruiser. It's always been cheaper and more truck-like alternative, with part-time, instead of fulltime four wheel drive. But the new Patrol has been designed to take the fight right up to the ‘King', with a more luxurious offering that's larger and more powerful. In the ‘mine’s bigger than yours’ 4x4 world the new Patrol outguns its major rival in just about every department.Built in Japan, the new Patrol makes an appearance at the Sydney motor show next month but does not go on sale until January. There will be three grades: ST-L and Ti (both 8 seat) and Ti-L (7 seat). Prices have not been announced but we're told the ST-L will be less than $85,000, the Ti less than $95,000 and the Ti-L less than $115,000.This mirrors Landcruiser pricing, from $83,000 through to $113,000 for its petrol V8 (which incidentally accounts for just 6 per cent of Landcruiser sales).With fuel economy so important these days, it beggars belief there is still a market for a big, heavy 4x4 wagon with a thumping great 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine at least in this country. With 298kW of power and 560Nm of torque, the direct injection V8 is smooth and powerful and can tow a 3.5 tonne load without batting an eyelid but it's going to be expensive to run.The V8 is hooked up to a 7-speed auto with manual shift control and sits on a ladder chassis with on independent, double wishbone suspension front and back  18 inch wheels are standard. In comparison, Landcruisers 4.7-litre V8 delivers 202kW/410Nm and is paired with a five-speed tranny.Patrol is rated at 14.5 litres/100km, but that's on paper. In the real world, it's likely to be a lot thirstier, with a figure more like 16.5 depending on how you drive. It takes Premium 95 too. In fairness we should point out the Landcruiser 200 also consumes 14.5 litres/100km, but takes Unleaded 91. With a 140-litre fuel tank, this means it's going to cost in excess of $200 to fill, with a theoretical range of 965km  depending again on how you drive.Plenty of gadgets, especially in the top of the range Ti-L. Standard kit includes fulltime four wheel drive, a new dial-in All-mode 4x4 system and a 2Gb 6-speaker audio system. Front and rear parking sensors are standard along with a reversing camera. Also available are active cruise control along with early warning systems for collisions, blind spot awareness and lane departure.Ti and Ti-L get leather and a new hydraulic system to reduce body roll. Ti adds a twin rear DVD screens that can show different programs at the same time.This car has been on sale for the best part of two years overseas, primarily in the Middle East where the cost of fuel is not an issue. Wood trim is standard in the one ghastly shade of brown. The switch from left to right hand drive has left the transmission lever marooned on the wrong side of the cabin, furthest from the driver.Bluetooth is standard but you only get audio streaming with the Ti-L. Ti-L gets satellite navigation but it doesn't include SUNA traffic updates like other Nissans.We had a brief taste of the car both on and off road at the Mt Cotton driver training centre outside Brisbane this week. The off road stuff was a piece of cake and it rides nicely with remarkably little body roll on the bitumen, even without the fancy hydraulics. We liked what we saw and look forward to a longer drive.The lack of diesel is the deal breaker. They'll be queuing up to covert this one to LPG. Whether it's as good off road as the Landcruiser we'll leave to the 4WD boys. By the same token this one is likely to be an urban assault vehicle  a tower of boats and horse floats, with the occasional trip to the beach.

Nissan has given Australian motoring journalists their first drive of the new V8 Y62 Patrol in right-hand drive with two pre-production vehicles made available at Brisbane's Mount Cotton Driver Training Centre.Nissan has only given us ballpark pricing figures for the three new models at this stage: ST-L, Ti and Ti-L respectively under $85,000, $95,000 and $115,000. Current pricing for the LandCruiser 200 4.7-litre V8 petrol variants is $83,490 for the GXL, $94,490 for the VX and $113,490 for the Sahara. Historically Nissan pricing for the Patrol comes in under the LandCruiser’s bottom line and this is expected to be the same in the luxury version.Nissan has measured fuel consumption of 14.5 litres per 100 km using 95RON unleaded. There’s Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming, large format front DVD player, 2Gb music server with six speakers, iPod, steering wheel audio controls, intelligent key access and 8-way power assist to the driver’s seat, drive computer.The top of the range Ti-L gets memory function for the driver's seat, steering wheel and door mirrors, centre console cool box, hard drive navigation, Bose audio with 13 speakers, dual, but independent, 7-inch DVD screens in the rear of the front seat headrests, around view monitor, intelligent cruise control, xenon projector head lamps with auto levelling, power operated tailgate, tyre pressure monitor and vehicle alarm.The new Patrol is powered by a 5.6-litre petrol engine will sell alongside the current Y61 3.0-litre diesel models. It’s aimed squarely at the large luxury SUV market and in particular Toyota's LandCruiser 200 and Land Rover Discovery 4 petrol models. The current Patrol Y61 only comes in diesel form with the 4.6-litre petrol six-cylinder having been deleted from the line up two years ago.The new Patrol was developed primarily for the Middle East market – hence the luxury and V8 petrol power. The V8 engine is a real beast with 298 kW of power and 90 per cent of the 560 Nm of torque on tap from 2500 rpm. It's a high-tech-32 valve engine featuring direct injection and Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) as found in the Nissan 370Z engine.The ST-L and Ti both offer eight seats while the top of the line Ti-L is a seven-seater topped off with the most technology ever packed into a Nissan. The new Patrol is larger than the Y61 and also outsizes the LandCruiser 200 in every dimension. This means more leg and shoulder comfort for second row passengers as well as those who use the third row of seats.Inside is pure luxury with wood grain finishes and a classy dash layout. Nissan has used high quality finishes and in particular we like the cloth used in the ST-L seats that is better suited to warm climates. The inside feel is one of comfort and space. There’s leather upholstery, 4-way electric adjustment for the passenger seat, auto headlights, sunroof and rain sensing wipers.Unfortunately in the change from left-hand drive to right hook, Nissan has not moved the gear shifter over so it can be quite a reach to operate the transmission.Active and passive safety equipment includes six airbags with the side curtain airbag covering all three rows of seats, front and rear parking sensors and rear view camera.Drivers have four terrain options: sand, snow, rock and on-road at the touch of a button. All models have hill descent control and rear differential locks, also on tap with the push of a button.We had the opportunity to take the new Patrol off-road at Mount Cotton's steep and rutted bush tracks as well as on road on a typical bitumen highway and lastly on a skid pan to test braking, body roll, acceleration and handling. Our skid pan trial revealed a vehicle that is surprisingly agile for its not inconsiderable size.Patrol has plenty of wheel travel to overcome washouts all the while having the rear diff lock as a backup. Even over the rough terrain the body absorbs a lot of the rocking and rolling making for a comfortable passenger experience. On road we drove both variants, one with Hydraulic Body Motion Control and one without. We found the one without cornered fairly flat – for a vehicle that tips the scales close to three tonnes – and little seemed to change with the HBMC.When you put the boot into the big V8 it develops a growl that would bring a smile to any Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon V8 owner.