Nissan Patrol 2023 Review

The flagship 2023 Nissan Patrol Ti-L now costs $97,600 plus on-road costs, owing to a recent price hike, but that still seems remarkably good value when the same model listed at $114,490 plus ORCs when it launched a decade ago – almost $150,000 in today’s money!

The flagship is a hefty $12,700 more than the base Patrol Ti but you do get plenty of extra kit for your money, which we’ll come to in a moment.

Obvious competitors are the Toyota LandCruiser and Prado, but other possible adventure/tow candidates at a similar price point are the Ford Everest, INEOS Grenadier, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Defender and even the Volkswagen Touareg.

Before we get to the features of the 2023 Nissan Patrol, it’s worth a quick word on its size. At 5175mm long, 1995mm wide (excluding mirrors) and 1955mm tall, it’s a massive unit and worth considering if you haven’t much space at home or need to frequent tight supermarket car parks etc.

The Patrol Ti-L’s equipment list is equally large, starting with auto LED headlights, keyless entry/start, eight-way power-adjust front seats with heating and ventilation, triple-zone climate control, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, sunroof, power tailgate, electrically-adjustable steering column and sizeable fridge in the centre console.

Nissan offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years’ complimentary roadside assistance with servicing required every 12 months or 10,000km.

Capped price servicing equates to $3758 for the first six visits, so Nissan’s pre-paid maintenance plans of $1433 (three years), $2257 (four years) and $2715 (five years) do offer some savings, though a brake fluid replacement will also cost another $75 every two years.

Despite its advanced age, the Nissan Patrol received a hefty update in 2017 which not only gave it new front and rear styling and some suspension tweaks but, crucially, a swathe of safety equipment that wasn’t really on the radar (pardon the pun) when Nissan first unveiled its big beast in early 2010.

Forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure and blind spot warning, lane keep and blind spot assist are all standard, along with parking sensors front and rear and an ‘Around-View’ monitor which, while not quite a 360-degree camera, performs a very similar role.

There’s no easy way to say this: in terms of car technology, the 2023 Nissan Patrol is rubbing two rocks together in an attempt to make fire.

It has an 8.0-inch colour touch-screen with AM/FM radio, Bluetooth audio streaming, USB connectivity and satellite navigation with traffic monitoring, but it’s an incredibly dated system.

The most obvious reminder of its vintage is the fact that when you plug your phone in you don’t select USB but iPod, and don’t expect smartphone mirroring because there isn’t any. Full stop.

There is, however, another 8.0-inch screen in the rear that folds out of the roof with DVD/USB/HDMI inputs as well as headphones for each side and remote control. It’s perhaps a bit outdated in the era when everyone has iPads to keep the kids amused, but then again these screens can’t be dropped or run out of battery!

The 2023 Nissan Patrol’s 5.6-litre petrol V8 was quite contentious when the Y62 generation first appeared, but it’s now one of the key parts of its appeal.

Its specs are more muscle car than off-roader, with 298kW at 5800rpm and 560Nm at 4000rpm, with permanent all-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

It won’t shock you to learn that a powerful petrol V8 in a 2861kg three-row SUV isn’t a recipe for fuel efficiency.

The official combined-cycle claim for the 2023 Nissan Patrol is 14.4L/100km, but high-teens will be typical and you’ll soar into the 20s under heavy use.

On the plus side, the enormous 140-litre fuel tank means even at 20L/100km you’ve got 700km of range which is handy if you’re off-road or towing.

Then again, while it’s not actually any more expensive than having a small tank – fuel usage is fuel usage – seeing your credit card drained at $300 a time is quite demoralising.

For such a big bus, the 2023 Nissan Patrol is remarkably painless to drive around town.

While its size requires consideration, the steering is light and easy, the ride is comfortable and vision is good, so while it certainly wouldn’t be our first choice as an urban warrior, nor is it out of its depth.

On the open road it truly comes into its own, though. It may have caused an outcry at launch but the V8 is truly wonderful. Thirsty, yes, but smooth, powerful and with a great soundtrack.

The suspension is also worthy of mention. The Patrol uses hydraulically interlinked dampers that allow for plenty of comfort but increase resistance as cornering forces build to prevent too much body roll. Similar systems are found in the McLaren 720S and Audi RS6 Avant and it works very well.

Venture off the beaten track and the 2023 Nissan Patrol is absolutely in its element, though while the standard road-spec tyres work reasonably well on unsealed surfaces they quickly run out of ideas and are an absolute liability in the mud.

Still, with a more appropriate set of rubber the Patrol has go-anywhere capability thanks to 273mm of ground clearance, low-range gearing, hill descent control, a number of drive modes and an electronic rear diff lock.

Approach and departure angles are also reasonable, though the Ti-L’s front spoiler limits its approach angle to 28.0 degrees rather than the Ti’s 34.4.

If you want to tow heavy things then you’ve come to the right place. The 3500kg maximum tow rating of the 2023 Nissan Patrol might not be any greater than myriad dual-cabs, but it’s going to be more comfortable with almost three tonnes doing the towing.

Maximum payload is 639kg, which is probably sufficient if it’s just the family and gear in tow, but if there’s a decent weight (and associated down ball load) attached on the back you might run short quite quickly depending on the sort of activities you’re into.

For a more in-depth look check out our Nissan Patrol tow test.

Chances are you’re buying a car the size of the 2023 Nissan Patrol because you need plenty of space – and this SUV won’t disappoint.

Up front the driving position is very high set, though you do become somewhat accustomed to it, and while there isn’t a heap of storage options you’ve gotta love having a fridge at hand.

In the second row there’s enough room for a game of soccer and plenty of features like those rear screens, separate temperature controls, three USB-A ports for charging and you can also access the double-hinged fridge from the rear.

The second row also tumbles out of the way so access to the third row isn’t too difficult, but it’s not the most comfortable space, especially in terms of legroom. A sliding second row would make this a lot more usable.

The Ti-L also only has two seats across the back rather than the Ti’s three, but piling eight into a Patrol would be recommended for short trips only.

Style is obviously subjective but the Patrol’s interior combination of fake plastic wood and ruched leather will certainly be an acquired taste. Both the Middle East and US (where it’s known as an Armada) Patrols have far nicer updated interiors and it’s a shame neither have got the green light for right-hand drive.

At the very rear there’s still a reasonable boot with all three rows in place for sports equipment or some soft bags, but in five-seat mode there is a cavernous space ready for everything a family holiday can throw at it.

Recent sales figures of the 2023 Nissan Patrol suggest that this isn’t a question many people are struggling with.

It’s extremely thirsty, way off the pace technologically and isn’t exactly sized for suburbia, and yet it’s easy to see why so many are opting for the Patrol.

It’s comfortable to drive, capable off-road, happy to tow, can swallow the kids and all their friends/detritus and has a decent dose of character thanks to that big V8, too.

It might have taken Aussies quite a long time to fall for the Patrol, but success is success!

2023 Nissan Patrol Ti-L at a glance:
Price: $97,600 (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

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au