Nissan Patrol Ti-L 2018 Review

It’s been almost 70 years since the first Nissan Patrol was introduced into Japanese dealerships, and 58 years since the second-generation 60 series Patrol landed Down Under. That narrow, mechanically simple four-wheel drive comfortably conquered parts of this country we’d never before driven through – including being the first to cross the Simpson Desert – and is barely recognisable when viewed against the sixth-generation Patrol tested here.

Launched in Australia in 2012, and updated late last year, the Y62-series Nissan Patrol now includes a new bumper and grille, 18-inch alloy wheels (265/70 series tyres) and a “more intuitive” multi-touch panel infotainment array. There are USB ports in the back seat, parking sensors front and rear, and a pair of 8.0-inch screens built in to the front seats’ head restraints.

But, it comes at a cost. The Patrol range is now $2000 more in standard form (Ti), now retailing from $71,990 (plus on-road costs). The Patrol Ti-L tested here also faces a $2000 price hike, the sticker price now $88,990 (plus ORCs). Compared to the top-shelf Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series the Nissan Patrol is something of a bargain, albeit one that competes without the option of a turbo-diesel engine.

It’s a conundrum that sees the Patrol fall well behind the sales numbers of its only segment competitor (SUV Upper Large <$100K). VFACTS figures show year-to-date sales of 801 for the Nissan Patrol against 8343 sales of the Toyota LandCrusier (which includes the 76/78/79 series) – a massive difference whichever way you choose to look at it.

Big on the outside, big on the inside, the Patrol is a behemoth of a vehicle that can offer up to eight passenger places in Ti spec, or seven seats in the more luxurious Ti-L tested here. The front row provides ample, arm-chair-like accommodation on eight-way electrically adjustable heated and cooled leather-clad pews with memory and an electronically adjustable steering column for that perfect driving position.

The second-row seats recline 20mm to increase what it has to be said is generous accommodation, and split 60:40 for passenger loading to the likewise 60:40 split third row. Fold down the second row’s centre armrest, flick on a DVD and dial-up the climate control and the experience borders on lavish. It’s a roomy place for full-size blokes and lanky teens alike, but the third row lacks the legroom required for adults.

<pic/caption: Third-row viewed from rear passenger door: The Patrol’s third-row seats are spacious, but getting in and out is a bit of an exercise.>

The Patrol offers 550 litres of cargo space behind the third row, which is more than most five-seat SUVs! In five-seat mode there’s a generous 1490 litres, while in two-seat mode the Patrol boasts up to 3170 litres (and 734kg payload capacity). Access is via a powered tailgate and a full-size matching spare wheel is slung beneath the cargo bay floor.

Oddment storage is likewise ample, with lidded cup-holders and storage cavities on the acreage that is the centre console. There’s a large, chilled console bin aft of the gearshift and a generous glovebox in the usual spot. Door bins are cavernous with a beverage holder large enough for a 750ml bottle of red, and room for your maps and keys as well.

We also appreciated the over-sized sunvisors with slide-out extender.

The Nissan Patrol Ti-L on test retails for $88,990 (plus on-road costs), or roughly the same price as a mid-spec petrol-powered Toyota LandCruiser GXL ($83,570 plus ORCs). It might seem expensive, but the Patrol is a whopping $24,910 cheaper than it was at its launch back in 2012, and a staggering $26,210 cheaper than a range-topping petrol-powered LandCruiser Sahara. Metallic paint attracts a $550 premium (fitted).

Nissan offers the Patrol with a three-year/100,000km warranty that includes roadside assistance, but does not offer capped-price servicing as such. For the Patrol, service intervals are set at six months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), which may be reduced even further if the vehicle is operated in ‘severe driving conditions’ including sand, mud and dirt or when used to ‘tow a trailer or caravan’. Check the terms and conditions on the Nissan website if this sounds like you.

Nissan’s myNissan Service Certainty program advises the maximum price for each of the Patrol’s standard scheduled services for the first six years or 120,000km. Depending on the interval, these range from as little as $375 to as much as $1240 for a total of $7429 over six years, including mandatory 40,000km brake fluid changes. A comparable petrol-powered LandCrusier will cost $4641 to service over the same period.

redbook.com.au says the Nissan Patrol will hold only 32.6 per cent of its value when traded after five years. By comparison, a similarly specified petrol-powered Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series is valued at 60.1 per cent of its new price for the same period.

The Patrol does not have an ANCAP safety rating, or a EuroNCAP rating. But it is equipped with the usual list of electronic chassis aids, six airbags, three-point (lap-sash) seatbelts in all seating positions and ISOFIX child-seat anchor points in the outboard seating positions of the second row.

The higher grade Patrol Ti-L on test also scores adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-departure and keeping technology, blind-spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking. Both Patrol grades receive a 360-degree reversing camera with moving object detection, tyre pressure monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and keyless entry and ignition.

Infotainment sees the top-spec Patrol fitted with an 8.0-inch touchscreen array with standard satellite navigation, CD and DVD player, AM/FM radio, 9GB hard drive and Bluetooth connectivity. Sound is via a premium 13-speaker BOSE audio system but there is no digital radio (DAB+), Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity.

Both grades of Patrol feature tri-zone climate control with second-row controls and ventilation to all three passenger rows, and a small electric tilt and slide sunroof. Rain-sensing wipers and dusk-sensing xenon headlights accompany front fog-lights and
LED tail-lights on the Ti-L variant. Strangely, in spite of the seemingly abundant levels of technology, the Patrol makes do with a clumsy foot-operated park brake on both variants.

The updated 2018 Nissan Patrol Ti-L continues to draw motivation from Nissan’s 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine making a claimed 298kW at 5800rpm and 560Nm at 4000rpm. Its creamy smooth and effortless power delivery offers more thrust than the figures would have you believe, and drives all four wheels constantly via a dual-range transfer case (2.679:1 in low range) and equally fluent seven-speed automatic transmission.

Of course without a diesel engine in the line-up the Patrol is rather thirsty. Start tapping into the power reserves and the claimed 14.4L/100km economy figure vanishes as quickly as traffic in the rear-view mirror. The direct-injected, quad-cam V8 requires 95 RON premium unleaded as a minimum, and as shown in our recent 3500kg tow test can double its claimed average consumption figure without batting an eyelid. On test we managed 17.1L/100km for a total range of 815km from the Patrol’s 140-litre tank (mostly six-up, highway travel).

Regardless of where you’re driving the Patrol, it always feels its size. Its boxy, upright proportions leave you in no doubt as to how wide a vehicle it really is and, in spite of good forward vision, thick pillars and large head-restraints mean lateral and rear vision is rather restrictive. The big mirrors help, but on narrow roads and inner-city streets it’s the kind of vehicle that requires more concentration to pilot than the average SUV. It’s not a car for the feint-hearted.

Get in the zone, however, and the comfort and quietness of the cabin is easily enjoyed. Time passes effortlessly on longer highway trips where the Patrol’s Hydraulic Body Motion Suspension (more in Innovation and Design) and hushed acoustics can be properly appreciated. The adaptive cruise control works reasonably well, the lane-keeping technology less so. The Patrol’s speedometer reads under by 8km/h at an indicated 110km/h (confirmed by GPS).

Nissan’s Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) suspension employs a pair of cross-linked hydraulic systems to support four-wheel independent dampers (on coil-sprung double wishbones all round). The system helps minimise porpoising and reduces corrugation harshness for a smoother ride, while also serving to reduce body roll in hard cornering.

It’s a clever system not entirely dissimilar to the original Mini’s hydrostatic arrangement. It uses a hydraulic accumulator (or reservoir) to ensure there’s no parasitic drag on the engine – as can be the case with similar pneumatic systems – and is electronically controlled to work in conjunction with the Patrol’s electronic stability control and the various modes of Nissan’s Intelligent 4WD system (Auto, 4H, 4L, On Road, Sand, Snow and Rock) to best balance driving performance, ride comfort and off-road capability.

The HBMC system is also similar to Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). However, as the Nissan arrangement uses independent active dampers in place of a stabiliser bar, there’s no need to disengage the sway bars in extreme off-road conditions, achieving similar levels of wheel travel without mechanical intervention.

The Patrol offers 272mm of ground clearance, a 34.3 degree approach angle, 26.2 degree departure angle and 24.1 degree break-over angle. Water wading is listed at 700mm, identical to that of the 200 Series LandCruiser. Again like the LandCruiser, the Patrol’s sheer size (5165mm long x1995mm wide x1940mm high), weight (2750kg tare) and large turning circle (12.5m) make it a burden to manoeuvre in tight situations, be they overgrown fire trails or the supermarket car park.

A comfortable and capable vehicle, the Nissan Patrol is a good fit for those requiring the mumbo needed to tow comfortably, or to regularly travel long distances with a big brood on board. It’s better value than before, and ticks most (but not all) of the safety and technology items expected for the price.

Compared to its nearest competitor, however, the Patrol is expensive – both to run and maintain – and without the option of a diesel engine may not appeal to those for whom towing is a priority. A recent tow test saw the Patrol use upwards of 20L/100km in a realm where even full-size but turbo-diesel-powered American trucks are now averaging 14L/100km when hauling a similar load.

Horses for courses? Of course. But when you’re towing horses to the course it’s a difference that readily becomes quite appreciable. The Patrol is a great alternative to the LandCruiser in many respects, but with so many options available right now, I’d be doing your sums carefully before signing on the dotted line.

How much is a 2018 Nissan Patrol Ti-L 4x4?
Price: $88,990 (plus ORCs), $89,540 (as tested)
Engine: 5.6-litre eight-cylinder petrol
Output: 298kW/560Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 14.4L/100km (ADR Combined), 17.1L/100km (average as tested)
CO2: 334g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A