Nissan Patrol Legend Edition 2017 Review

What’s it all about?
‘Real’ four-wheel drives are a dying breed. In Australia, you could count on one hand the number of live-axle, coil-sprung, turbo-diesel, low-range, ladder-chassis-equipped ‘fourbies’; a description that certainly applies to Nissan’s long-serving – and soon to be retired – Y61-series Patrol.

To be discontinued this year (when stocks run out), the two-decade-old Patrol will be farewelled by the appropriately named Legend Edition. Just 300 of the Australian-specific Patrols will be made, a fitting tribute to the nearly 105,000 examples of the series that has been sold here since 1997.

How much will it cost?
The Patrol Legend Edition retails from $57,990 in five-speed manual format, the four-speed automatic selling from $60,990 (plus on-road costs). That figure represents a $600 increase over the Patrol ST derivative, but importantly includes a substantial list of off-road focussed extras Nissan says is valued at $10,000.

The limited-edition model is fitted with an airbag-compatible heavy-duty steel bull bar with electric winch, tow bar, sat-nav, reversing camera, roof rack, snorkel, and soft spare wheel cover, perfect for trips off the beaten track.

The Patrol’s tried and tested underpinnings give the Legend Edition indisputable off-road cred. However, the aging ZD30-series direct-injected 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine – the last turbo-diesel engine to be offered in the Patrol range – is somewhat underwhelming on-road, ditto the choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions.

Braked towing capacity also falls behind its key competitor at 3200kg for the manual and 2500kg for the automatic. The 70-series Toyota LandCruiser wagon hauls 3500kg, as does the newer Y62-series Patrol.

Just like the LandCruiser, however, the Patrol Legend Edition lacks many of the creature comforts, and safety and driver-assistance technologies buyers have come to expect. It receives only a three-star ANCAP safety rating.

On the plus side, the Patrol offers a theoretical cruising range of almost 1300km, courtesy of a 95-litre main and 30-litre sub fuel tank; its long list of off-road equipment (see above) another strong consideration for buyers looking to take that cross-country trip.

Being a limited-edition, the Patrol Legend Edition will be available until stocks run out. Nissan says the model is in strong demand, and expects stock to dry-up within the coming weeks. Three quarters of the 300 units available already have homes!

Limited stock of the remainder of the Y61-series is still available, although choosing exactly the model you want may be tricky. There’s only a limited number of variants remaining, the newer Y62-series Patrol now the flagship of Nissan’s off-road-ready stable.

Who will it appeal to?
Grey nomads or adventure-seeking family buyers are front-and-centre in Nissan’s sales sights. The value proposition of the Legend Edition alone is sufficient for long queues at the dealership door, as is the diesel-powered model’s efficiency when viewed against its gas-guzzling 5.6-litre V8-petrol-powered successor.

There are also a fair number of weekend four-wheel drivers we reckon would be keen to get their hands on the last of the Y61-series Patrols. It’s a model with a solid off-road reputation, and one that with so much additional off-road equipment is a bargain in relative terms.

Full-size four-wheel drives like the Patrol compete in the SUV Upper Large under $100K market category locally, a division limited to wagon versions of the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser exclusively.

That sees the Y61-series Patrol compete on a level footing with the 70-series LandCruiser WorkMate five-door wagon (from $60,990 plus ORCs), but also running against the newer Y62-series Patrol and 200-series LandCrusier.

Though with the aforementioned off-road extras included in the price, we still reckon the Legend Edition is something of a bargain. A shame, then, its engine can’t match the grunt of the Toyota 70-series’ 151kW/430Nm turbo-diesel V8.

Last year (2016), Nissan sold just 2003 examples of Y61 and Y62-series Patrol wagons against 11,813 70 and 200-series LandCruiser wagons; and 270 Patrol utility models against 7031 LandCruiser utes.

The Y61-series Patrol has had its day. The deletion of the TD42-series 4.2-litre diesel engine range almost a decade ago meant it managed solely with the comparatively underpowered 3.0-litre unit, which itself now fails to meet muster – and Euro5 emissions regulations – when viewed against rivals both within Nissan and elsewhere.

Add to its lacklustre performance a comparative lack of technology, lesser ergonomics and a leaden safety score and it is obvious time has marched on.

The saving grace in all this is that the Patrol Legend Edition continues to offer the off-road ability that made its reputation; while the fact the additional equipment offered in conjunction with this final series is genuinely hard to ignore. Two points certain to mean there soon won’t be any left.

2017 Nissan Patrol Legend Edition (manual) pricing and specifications:
Price: $57,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 118kW/380Nm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel: 10.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 288g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Three-star ANCAP

2017 Nissan Patrol Legend Edition (automatic) pricing and specifications:
Price: $60,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 118kW/345Nm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.8L/100km (ADR Combined) / 12.4L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 313g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Three-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Toyota LandCruiser 70-series wagon (from $60,990 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
>> Nissan Patrol Legend Edition product news