2024 Nissan Patrol interior upgrade the ‘biggest change’ since Y62’s release

The new locally-sourced infotainment upgrade for the 2024 Nissan Patrol range is being described as the most significant interior improvement since the Y62 launched in Australia more than a decade ago.

The update brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the Japanese car-maker’s flagship mud-plugger for the first time, as well as a number of other new features such as a larger 10.1-inch touch-screen, 15W wireless smartphone charger and Hema off-road mapping.

It’s a significant feature to add so late in the vehicle’s life cycle, with the new Y63 Nissan patrol due for unveil this year and scheduled to be on sale in Australia before the end of 2025.

But with Y62 Patrol sales hitting records, Nissan Australia decided the infotainment overhaul was worthwhile.

“This is the biggest change we have made to the interior of the Patrol since we launched it back in 2012,” said Nissan Australia product marketing manager Warwick Daly.

“The main feedback on the Y62 Patrol was on the interior, but more specifically customer feedback was about the infotainment system itself – wanting Apple CarPlay, wanting Android Auto.

“I think we all know today they are fundamentals in terms of what buyers are looking for and we needed to deliver that.”

The new infotainment system also includes DAB+ digital radio, iGO street navigation and USB-A and USB-C charging ports.

Both infotainment system firmware and apps such as iGO can be updated over the air.

However, it’s not all upside. For a start, the new system is the reason for a $3000 price increase across all three otherwise-unchanged Patrol variants.

The entry-level 2024 Nissan Patrol Ti is now priced at $87,900, the mid-range Ti-L at $100,600 and the Warrior flagship at $104,160 (all excluding on-road costs).

But while the Hema mapping comes with a 30-day free subscription, after that you will be up for $349 annually.

And the base Ti and the Premcar-fettled Warrior that is developed from it lose tri-zone climate control and the 360-degree camera linked with the old infotainment system.

In addition to that deleted equipment, the rear-seat entertainment screens have been removed from the luxury Ti-L and its 13-speaker audio system has been replaced by the six-speaker system found in the other two Patrol grades.

However, the Ti and Warrior do add an intelligent rear-view mirror and a coolbox between the front seats, while all three Patrols get a new high-definition, wide-angle reversing camera.

The loss of features was unavoidable because of the adoption of the local infotainment solution, which was developed and assembled by Melbourne-based Directed Technologies, which also covers its warranty.

Nissan Australia was forced down this path when a new infotainment system including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto revealed for the Japanese-built Patrol in 2021 was restricted to left-hand drive vehicles.

“We didn’t have anything available in right-hand drive for our market,” explained Daly.

“So that’s when we explored what was available in terms of local solutions.

“Directed Technologies… are very big in that audio space but not in passenger vehicles. So they have a lot of expertise in vehicle electronics including audio systems in other segments within Australia.”

New Y62 Patrols now arrive in Australia with a hole in the centre stack for the new infotainment unit to plug into.

The look and feel of the system is unique to the local Patrol. It includes physical controls for the audio system as well as touch-screen controls. Climate controls are unchanged.

Pre-delivery agent Prixcar adds the system, the wireless charger – which replaces the small lidded bin in the centre console – and the USB ports to Ti and Ti-L Patrols at their port of entry.

Warriors receive their infotainment systems, charger and USB ports on the Premcar assembly line at Epping in Melbourne.

The system mates with back-end hardware originally designed for the Middle East market’s left-hand drive Y62 Patrol. It is installed at the factory in Japan.

A lidded bin that sits at the top of the centre stack, replacing the old 8.0-inch touch-screen, is also fitted on the assembly line in Japan.

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