Has Nissan aimed the new Patrol too squarely at LandCruiser?

Has Nissan focused the new V6-powered Y63 Patrol too heavily on its arch-rival the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, when more and more Chinese 4WD SUVs are on the way to Australia?

Nissan says no, citing the heritage built up through six previous generations of the Patrol 4WD SUV, including almost 260,000 Australian sales and national dealer network around 170 strong.

The 2027 Nissan Patrol range has been structured and priced to shadow the LandCruiser 300, expanding from three to six variants priced between $98,990 and $145,990 plus on-road costs.

Each Patrol grade closely matches a Toyota equivalent, from the Ti against the LandCruiser GX through to the off-road-focused PRO-4X versus the GR Sport and flagship Ti-L Reserve against the Sahara ZX.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is the powertrain – the Nissan Patrol runs a new 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, versus Toyota LC300’s twin-turbo diesel 3.3-litre V6.

Nissan Oceania head of communications Steve Coughlan conceded matching Toyota’s broader line-up played a role in expanding the Patrol range.

“I’m certain there was an element of that,” he told carsales.

But Coughlan insisted Nissan had considered the full competitive field, including the expanding group of heavily equipped Chinese electrified SUVs.

The more upmarket Patrol will also overlap the Lexus GX, Land Rover Defender and Ineos Grenadier.

“Customers will certainly cross-shop them, but we think where the Patrol sits with its various generations of heritage, the closest direct competitor is still, at the moment, the LandCruiser,” he said.

“But it’s not to say that we’re discounting those others in any way, shape or form. We recognise those most certainly, more so than ever and more so day by day.”

The most obvious immediate threat comes from BYD’s premium Denza brand.

Its five-seat B5 plug-in hybrid starts at $74,990 plus on-road costs, while the larger six- or seven-seat B8 opens at $91,000 and undercuts the entire Patrol range.

Both combine extensive standard equipment with powerful electrified drivetrains and serious off-road hardware.

More competition is approaching.

Geely-owned Zeekr has confirmed its large 8X and 9X plug-in hybrids for Australia, while the Geely Galaxy Cruiser is also being prepared for this market.

Chery-owned iCaur launches here in early 2027 with the V25 range-extender SUV, with larger models expected to follow.

The Chery-Jaguar Land Rover Freelander operation is also sending the electrified Freelander 8 to Australia.

Nissan insists it is relying on more than nostalgia to defend the Patrol’s position.

It has approximately 170 dealers providing sales, servicing, parts and roadside support across metropolitan and regional Australia – coverage newer brands will take time to replicate.

That could be particularly important to remote-area travellers and caravanners, who form a significant part of the Patrol customer base.

Nissan is also promoting the Y63’s 3700kg braked towing capacity, 200kg more than the LandCruiser 300 and most other large off-road SUVs.

“The engineering team knew that people will put a 3.7-tonne van on if they want, and they will tow it day in, day out in every condition,” Coughlan said.

However, Nissan has not released the Y63’s kerb weights, payloads, gross vehicle masses, gross combined mass or maximum towball download.

Those figures will determine whether owners can exploit the additional 200kg once passengers, luggage, accessories and towball weight are included.

Unlike its emerging Chinese competitors and the new LandCruiser 300 Performance Hybrid, the Y63 will initially be sold exclusively with a 317kW/700Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6.

Nissan has no electrified Patrol drivetrain planned for launch, although it has not ruled one out later in the Y63 lifecycle.

The company believes its reputation remains an important consideration for customers spending close to or beyond $100,000.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the one and only factor, but it certainly is a factor that comes to mind when you’re buying a vehicle,” Coughlan said.

“And that’s something Nissan can offer.”

The Y63 is also carrying broader expectations for Nissan Australia, whose sales fell 33.7 per cent year-on-year through the end of July.

Coughlan described the new Patrol’s potential impact as “huge” and said it would have a “rub-off effect” across the brand.

Nissan’s aspiration is for the six-grade Y63 range to outperform the Y62, which achieved record Australian sales in 2024.

The LandCruiser remains the Patrol’s most obvious direct rival, but the contest awaiting the Y63 will be much broader than the traditional Nissan-versus-Toyota battle.

Chinese brands are bringing powerful and lavishly equipped electrified SUVs to Australia at prices established Japanese manufacturers will struggle to match.

Nissan is betting the Patrol’s heritage, loyal following, dealer coverage and potentially superior towing ability can justify its premium.

It also needs the Y63 to sell better than its record-setting predecessor and generate some much-needed momentum for the wider Nissan brand.

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