Nissan Patrol 2021 Review

The Nissan Patrol needs little introduction. It is an off-road icon and through its various generations has had a firm band of followers for decades.

In more recent years, some of those followers have been frustrated due to a lack of turbo-diesel powertrain options and what’s been seen as a trend towards ‘luxury SUV’ rather than ‘pukka 4x4’.

Some of that angst seems to have settled. As the Australian market has questioned its allegiance to diesel, so the V8 petrol-only Patrol has begun to again be seen as an alternative to the default Land Cruiser 200 Series for towing and other heavy-duty family duties. And a more affordable one at that…

Updated in 2020, the local Nissan Patrol range now comprises just two models: the eight-seat Ti and the seven-seat range-topping Ti-L tested here.

Nissan has teased us with the prospect of an off-road-focused Nissan Patrol Warrior but that remains a what-if for the time being.

The base-model Y62 Nissan Patrol Ti is priced at $78,910 plus on-road costs, while the flagship seven-seater Patrol Ti-L reviewed here is now $93,365 plus ORC.

Our tester added a dealer-fit tow bar ($1535) and was finished in a white pearlescent paint – an extra $595.

In comparison, the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series ranges from around $80K-130K.

Safety equipment was one of the boosts from the early 2020 update and both Nissan Patrol models get a range of Nissan’s Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Nissan Intelligent Mobility safety features.

Both feature autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning and rear cross traffic alert, all with moving object detection, but the Patrol Ti-L also features adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with dynamic lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring with Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention.

Given the size of the Patrol, there’s an incongruously small sunroof and the cabin features leather upholstery and (unfortunately) acres of shiny fake wood trim (yuck!).

The Patrol Ti-L’s driver and front passenger get seat heating and cooling while the driver’s seat has eight-way electric adjustment with lumbar support and memory function, the latter also incorporating the electric adjustment (tilt and reach) of the steering wheel.

The Patrol shows its age most pointedly in the infotainment suite. Although there’s USB connectivity, there’s no DAB+ radio, nor Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The rear entertainment system features twin screens mounted behind the front head restraints, plus wireless headsets and an infrared remote. It’ll keep the rear seaters entertained but the whole system is very clunky and hard to use.

Second row occupants also benefit from a big centre armrest with cup holders, device charging options and climate controls

The second row adopts a 60/40 split-fold arrangement, with the ‘40’ handed for left-hand drive markets.

Nissan nominates the luggage space as 550 litres behind the third row, increasing to 1490L and 3170L with third and second row seating folded. In other words, shedloads…

A power tailgate is also standard equipment on the Ti-L – but not the Ti.

As a heavy-duty family seven-seater and tow vehicle, the 2021 Nissan Patrol Ti-L takes some beating.

There’s room to burn in all three rows of seats although the layout could be made even more versatile with the addition of a sliding function to the fixed second row bench. Perhaps even captain’s chairs like the recently updated Mazda CX-9.

Most importantly, the third row is easily accessed and has space even for adults. If you’ve got tall teenagers or genuinely need to cart six or seven adults on road surfaces other than perfect bitumen, it’s hard to top the Patrol.

The strong, relatively economical and great-sounding 5.6-litre V8 is also one of the highlights of the Nissan Patrol Ti-L. The engine has got plenty of torque right from idle and it sounds like a proper V8. It’s matched well to the seven-speed auto to boot.

There’s decent range thanks to a combination of the 140-litre fuel tank and real-world economy that settles in the 15-16L/100km range. That’s without anything in tow, for the record.

Of course, turbo-diesel fans will talk up the extended range of vehicles such as the Toyota LandCruiser but the 900km (approx) the Nissan Patrol delivered per tank during our test period is enough for most applications.

There’s also a lot to be said for the lack of turbo lag and the general refinement delivered by the big petrol V8.

Travelling families, grey nomads, adventurers and people who just want a big and bold 4x4 will be drawn to the Nissan Patrol.

Like Holden and Ford divide, the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol each have staunch supporters and rarely do they cross camps. But in recent times, the value for money the significantly cheaper Patrol has offered in comparison to the Toyota has attracted an increasing number.

There’s still a big difference in sales volumes, but Nissan Australia is more than happy with the number of Patrols it’s been shifting.

And as the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series nears the end of its life and order banks build, Patrol too has become harder to access.

With the genuine ability to tow its 3500kg rated capacity, it’s a strong alternative for those with large caravans, big trailer boats and perhaps the horsey set.

The sheer size of the Nissan Patrol, however, makes it less attractive as a pure people-mover. Normal-sized car parks can be a challenge given the large turning circle and sheer width of the vehicle.

And forget about squeezing it into your normal underground apartment car space – I know from direct experience.

We grabbed the Nissan Patrol Ti-L for Christmas holiday duties. And while that didn’t include any heavy-duty towing, just about all the other normal Patrol use cases were ticked – even a bit of 4x4 action.

With the front two rows of seats in use, the Patrol still swallowed a massive amount of kit. My big esky disappeared into the load area and there was room for everything from booze to boogie boards.

Stacking gear high to the roof highlighted the absence of a luggage barrier (as supplied in the BMW X5 or the like) or similar, but on the open road the Patrol shrugged off the significant extra payload. Indeed, the somewhat sharp initial ride of the unladen Patrol was significantly settled by the extra load.

Of course, if you’re looking for a sports car you are very clearly heading in the wrong direction. What the petrol V8 delivers to the Patrol is decent linear acceleration and good overtaking performance.

The Patrol also delivers predictable, if slow, steering manners and stable open road performance.

Sight lines from the elevated driving position are excellent as are the large external mirrors. We relied on these heavily.

At its essence, the Nissan Patrol delivers what it says on its XXL tin... It’s a far better heavy-duty family 4x4 choice than any of the current crop of pick-ups – even those with US badges.

With a few infotainment and ergonomic tweaks it could be even better. A lot better...

How much does the 2021 Nissan Patrol Ti-L cost?
Price: $93,365 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 5.6-litre V8 petrol
Output: 298kW/560Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 14.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 334g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested