Nissan Patrol trumps Toyota Landcruiser

Has the impending arrival of the new-generation V6-only Y63 Nissan Patrol intensified demand for the current but soon-to-be axed V8-powered Y62 Patrol?

A year ago, in March 2024, the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series was the dominant force in the upper-large SUV segment, with a whopping 63 per cent market share to the Nissan Patrol’s 32 per cent.

Just 12 months later, the tables have turned – the Patrol now holds sway with a 62.5 per cent market share, compared to the LandCruiser’s 30.5 per cent.

The Patrol is the older of the two vehicles by a significant margin, a recent update to the Nissan’s infotainment system adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto a clear ploy to help keep it relevant.

And the allure of a V8 engine cannot be underestimated.

The new Y63 Nissan Patrol won’t arrive in Australia until late 2026 (largely due to intense demand in the Middle East and USA), but its impending arrival spells the end of the lusty 5.6-litre petrol V8 engine.

It will be replaced by a downsized but far brawnier – and more fuel efficient – 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine, which belts out an impressive 317kW and 700Nm.

Nissan’s new mill not only bests the outgoing V8 by 19kW and 140Nm but also matches the LC300 Series’ 3.3-litre twin-turbo-diesel V6 for torque and blitzes it for power (227kW/700Nm).

The new Nissan V6 also out-muscles the corresponding Lexus LX 600’s turbo-petrol V6 (305kW/650Nm).

Despite the arrival of what is shaping up to be a class-leading powertrain, the current Nissan Patrol is selling like hot cakes.

The Patrol has now been the top-selling SUV in its segment for four months running and when the sale figures for March 2025 are viewed in isolation, it accounted for just over 70 per cent of all sales, versus just under 20 per cent for the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.

According to Toyota Australia, the 300 Series’ recent sales slip is due to “production restrictions in the lead up to the arrival of the upgraded range” next quarter, though we’re not sure that’s entirely to blame.

Recent history has shown sales of the last V8 versions of a particular model – think LandCruiser 70 Series and 200 Series – spike in the lead-up to their demise as consumers scramble to snatch a slice of that burbly pie, and we’d be lying if we weren’t expecting a wave of inflated ‘used’ Y62 prices over the next 18 months or so.

The emergence of the Premcar-produced Patrol Warrior has also likely had an impact, though perhaps not to the greatest of extents – certainly not enough to mitigate the thinned 300 Series supply.

When the Y62 Patrol retires late next year, it will be the best part of 14 years old and mark the death of the last V8-powered 4x4 – excluding the huge Chevrolet Silverado – on the market, not to mention the second-last sub-$100,000 V8.

On the topic of old cars performing well, the Nissan Navara Warrior tough truck, also developed and produced by Premcar, will soon be sold in South Africa following a new deal involving Nissan’s South African arm.

But on a global scale, Nissan is facing headwinds as it seeks to restructure operations following the resignation of its former CEO Makota Uchida in the wake of the failed merger attempt with Honda.

However, closer to home, Nissan has experienced fairer weather, the Nissan X-Trail having a strong start to 2025. It is currently the third best-selling vehicle in the mid-size SUV segment – a segment which is the most populous and lucrative in Australia.

It trails only the evergreen Toyota RAV4 and its twin-under-the-skin, the Mitsubishi Outlander, in terms of segment sales.

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