2013 Nissan Patrol Reviews

Toyota's LandCruiser 200-Series tends to steal the limelight as a second-hand, seven-seat, off-road SUV buy. But Nissan's V8-engined Y62 Patrol has a lot to offer.

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.

Nissan Patrol is one of the best-known and longest established nameplates on the Australian 4WD scene having been on sale here for almost 50 years.

We Aussies love our V8s. The history books say it, the Bathurst fans say it, and now there are more than 500 cash-paid deposits for the GTS from Holden Special Vehicles that prove it.The overwhelming support for the supercharged 6.2-litre Big Dog, and the rest of the HSV pack that's romping to a sellout V8 success of more than 3000 cars in 2013, shows there is still a place for old-school muscle in the modern world.But not at Nissan, where the all-new, petrol V8-powered Patrol is a disaster. Things are so bad that the geriatric superseded model is continuing alongside the newcomer and still finding plenty of friends.Nissan dealers have a backlog of unsold 5.6-litre V8 heavyweights and there is a growing backlash from long-term Patrol fans who cannot see the point in the company's new off-road flagship. It's nicely cushy, but it costs anywhere from $82,690 to $114,490 - a sharp jump from $53,890 to $57,390 for the old one - and there is no diesel engine.It's not just that, as the new Patrol also arrived in Australia more than 18 months late and - because development was focussed on wealthy Middle East buyers with no petrol paranoia - carrying the sort of specification that only works for a very limited number of people who are probably more interested in a Porsche Cayenne or Benz GL.Nissan has only sold 1600 of the new Y62-series Patrols this year and, to put that into perspective, more than 6000 people have driven away smiling in a new Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series in the same period.Nissan even resorted to a $1500 petrol voucher for a while to try and get things moving, but that's only 1000 litres - give or take, mostly take - in today's world, and the hulking Patrol can easily guzzle at 25 litres of unleaded for every 100 kilometres under the treads if you're towing something big or crawling off the blacktop.So it seems V8 engines have become a case of horsepower for courses. They are still fine for HSV fans who want something fun and fast, and also for Mercedes-AMG buyers who want flashy and fast, but not for family-focussed suburban work, or towing and off-roading.Even the latest Range Rover, the current Carsguide champion in the top-end SUV stakes, is most popular with a turbodiesel V8 despite prices that can balloon to $250,000. So, what makes the difference in the world of V8s? "I think there is a performance market still in Australia, and people want great cars," the head of HSV, Phil Harding, tells Carsguide. "I think there is still a passion in Australia for V8 performance, and sporting saloons that deliver excitement. We're fulfilling a need and a demand."

The challenge was how to shoehorn it into a shopping centre parking bay. Nissan's new Patrol V8 is a big machine, more than 5.1m in length and close on 2m wide and tall.

Never has so much occupied one suburban driveway. In an ocean of SUVs, the Nissan Patrol V8 is the volcanic island. Even the Land Cruiser 200-Series is dwarfed by 150mm in length, 25mm in width, 35mm in height and down 100kg.Do we need a 4WD this size? Why is there only a thirsty petrol V8 and no diesel option? And given all this, can loyal Patrol owners justify the entry-level $82,200 price tag? Here's the answers.It's called the Patrol V8 to separate it from the ongoing diesel-only Patrol Y61 that has been plugging along since 1997. Nissan has discontinued the ancient Y61 in all global markets - except Australia.So, if you want a new Patrol and you want a diesel, you are stuck with the old wagon. That old wagon, by the way, costs $27,810 less than the entry-level Patrol V8 that is $82,200 for the ST-L. Justifiable?Not for hard-core 4WD enthusiasts and caravan owners. It's also $92,850 for the Ti tested here and $113,900 for the sumptuous Ti-L that competes with the Land Cruiser Sahara and Lexus LX570.It's expensive and expansive and if the fuel bills don't cut deep - I averaged 18.5 L/100km - then the service costs will hit hard. It needs two services a year with a three-year total of $2889 compared with the Land Cruiser's $1260 bill for the same period.But the price of the Ti reflects its position and its competition. It gets sunroof, 10 airbags, three rows of seats for adults, leather, a premium audio and a sophisticated drivetrain and suspension system.Yes, it's a whopper. That's because it isn't actually made with Australia in mind, rather it's pointed at the Middle East and the US buyers where cabin room is king and petrol is plentiful and the liquid's price is irrelevant.Why is it so big? It's an extension - literally - of the US market wanting more room for family, friends and luggage. The three rows are lavish in room, very comfortable and with curtain airbags that stretch down the length of the wagon, safe.Acres of leather and strips of wood are appealing, though the neat-looking dash design is muddled by a complexity of switches. The centre dial for the monitor is effective but I was surprised that its surrounding buttons activate only minor functions - until I realised you have to get the top-line Ti-L model to get more meaningful switches. Though huge, the park sensors and reverse camera and the box-shape of the wagon make parking almost joyful. Almost.No diesel because the US and Middle East prefer petrol. Simple. There are thoughts that, at one day in the future, the big Patrol will get Renault's 170kW/550Nm 3-litre V6 turbo-diesel (it's in the Navara) but that's not confirmed.The 5.6-litre 298kW/560Nm V8 petrol is a long-standing Nissan product, offered in the US SUV and ute models and in 5-litre form for Infiniti and tweaked for the Altima V8 Supercar.It drives a seven-speed auto then a two-speed transfer case to all wheels. There's a four-mode terrain-assist system that dials up varying off-road conditions to maximise traction. The suspension is a derivative of the WA-designed and developed Kinetic system that Nissan call Hydraulic Body Motion Control.Toyota also bought the licence from Kinetic though its system relies more on a mechanical interplay of suspension arms. The Nissan is a hydraulic system that replaces traditional dampers and roll bars to automatically compensate for off-road conditions - where long-travel is required - and road surfaces where bodyroll is kept to a minimum. Traction is further improved by a mechanical limited-slip differential at the back, an electronic centre diff and electronic braking on individual wheels.It hasn't yet been crash tested. Doubtless its size will have a bearing on occupant protection, as will the 10 airbags, electronic stability and traction control, hill descent and hill-start assist, all-wheel drive, front and rear park sensors with a reverse camera, and full-size spare wheel.Ride comfort is outstanding. The quietness and the plush nature of the Patrol puts it almost into prestige-car league. I was so impressed - up to the point where I borrowed a Range Rover SDV8 for a spin and realised that the Japanese still have a couple of metres to go to catch the big Brit.And, yes, I know the Rangie is twice the price. I was expecting a lot of wallow but the Kinetic suspension keeps the wagon relatively flat through the corners and it's only the slippery seats and highly-geared steering ratio that makes things a bit unpleasant through fast bends.The steering is typically over-assisted and the numerous turns required interrupt the sensory nature of the drive and serve to enforce just how big this thing is. The engine is sweet.It tells you through the auto's torque converter wind-up that it's hauling about 3-tonnes but still manages to be responsive and deliver a delightful V8 burble, first as a murmur around 2000rpm and then upwards to a roar around 6000rpm.Fuel economy is the deflator. I averaged 18.5 L/100km but 20 L/100km showed up off the road. In the dirt the suspension compensates for the weight penalty.It stretches the wheels out to find traction where other 4WDs would fumble and the low gearing of the transfer case, switchable terrain-assist mode and gobs of low-end torque make it a very competent machine in difficult off-road conditions. All this while maintaining supple ride comfort.Comfortable, extremely roomy and a luxurious drive. It's as good on the road as off. But fuel economy and price detract from the cleverness. Needs a diesel.

The latest Nissan Patrol was slated mainly for the Arab Emirates and the USA, but with the addition of right-hand drive, has made its way to Australia as well. Aimed at those looking for a luxurious people mover, but who may take it off-road from time to time it’s available only with a petrol engine - the preferred powerplant in the aforementioned countries due to the low cost of petrol there.While this new Patrol is mechanically able to do serious bush bashing, who would want to subject the most luxurious and advanced Nissan 4WD to that sort of treatment? Its role is more likely to be towing the horse float, luxury caravan or big boat - anything up to 3.5 tonnes braked.For those who do want to get down and dirty in the bush, Nissan Australia still sells its workhorse Y61 Patrol, including a turbo-diesel model with old-style live axles, alongside the new upmarket generation Y62. Able to take up to eight occupants, the all-new Y62 series Nissan Patrol V8 showcases big improvements in fuel efficiency, comfort, luxury, quality and technology, for a top-class drive on and off-road.The new V8 engine delivers 298 kW of power and 560 Nm of torque, with 90 per cent of the latter on call from just 1600 rpm. Power is put to ground through an advanced seven-speed automatic transmission and a sophisticated, electronically controlled, all-mode 4X4 system.Features across the new Patrol range include Bluetooth hands-free phone, large format front DVD player, 2GB music server with six speakers, iPod connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, intelligent key access, eight-way power assisted driver’s seat, a full complement of active and passive safety systems, drive computer, dual zone climate control, front, side and curtain airbags, active front headrests, and front and rear parking sensors with rear view camera.The top-of-the-range Patrol Ti-L adds memory function for the driver’s seat, steering wheel and door mirrors; a deep centre-console cool box; a hard drive navigation system; premium Bose audio with 13 speakers, dual 7-inch DVD screens in the rear of the front seat headrests, Around View Monitor, intelligent cruise control, xenon projector headlamps with auto levelling and washers, puddle lamps and a power operated tailgate. A tyre pressure monitoring system is also added.Nissan’s Hydraulic Body Motion Control on the suspensions of Ti and Ti-L models is aimed at reducing body roll on sealed surfaces, while maximising suspension travel in extreme off-road conditions.Suspension is independent all round.  While its default is to the on-road program, a wheel on the centre console enables the driver to dial up driving modes to suit tougher going – sand, rocks or snow.Unfortunately, there is no knob to twiddle to make parking easy. At more than five metres long and close to two metres wide (all dimensions significantly eclipse its nearest rival), the Patrol is an unwelcome visitor to the average shopping centre parking space.The reversing camera, all-round parking alarms and around-view monitor go some way to easing entry, but once there, getting in and out of limited door openings can be a pain. There’s also the stress of not chipping the paintwork of the vehicle in the neighbouring car while opening the wide door.At the press of a button on the key fob the electrically operated rear cargo door opens high and wide for fuss-free loading.Even with the third row of seats occupied there is enough space (550 litres) to stow a full-size cooler in the load bay. The luggage space can be substantially increased by folding the back row seat backs by the single tug on a strap.A positively cavernous 3100 litres is available by flicking a switch which rolls up the middle row of seats to fit snugly against the backs of the front seats, leaving an almost flat floor.The maker tells us to expect fuel consumption in the combined city / highway cycle to be around 14.5 litres per 100 kilometres. The best we managed patrolling the urban jungle was on the high side of 16 litres per hundred kilometres.Stuffed with expensive equipment, this huge Nissan Patrol Ti-L will set you back $113,900, plus on roads. Expensive for a Nissan, but a bargain compared with upwards of $170,000 for the lowest cost Range Rover Vogue we recently tested.The all encompassing impression of driving a Nissan Patrol on the road is that of size. It’s a bulky vehicle and sits high -- the latter aspect making for excellent visibility, which is just as well because it seems to fill the traffic lanes.Ride comfort is very good with bumps and dips well-damped even on rather rough and ready roads - which doesn’t necessarily mean those in the outback, as suburban streets seem to be getting worse by the day.Handling is of secondary importance to comfort in the Nissan Patrol. While it’s competent at holding onto the road in bends, and there isn’t too much body roll, it’s obvious the big 4WD would rather travel in straight lines than around tight corners.In a previous test we were able to do some serious off-road driving of the Patrol at the Mount Cotton driver training centre outside Brisbane. It’s impressive in the way its sheer bulk can tackle slippery surfaces, rocky outcrops and badly rutted tracks.

Nissan Patrol V8 Ti-L and Lexus LX570 go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Nissan Patrol ST-L V8 and Toyota Landcruiser 200GXL go head-to-head in this comparative review.