Nissan’s new Patrol V8 guns fo

Nissan’s new Patrol V8 guns for luxury SUV competition

Patrol is the only true rival to Toyota’s Land Cruiser.

Nissan’s new Patrol V8 guns fo

Nissan has introduced the latest version of its all-conquering Patrol luxury SUV to the local market.

In a market utterly dominated by Toyota’s Land Cruiser 200, the Patrol is a very much a niche presence, despite having broadly similar specification to its Japanese rival.

Unlike German and British luxury SUVs, this seven-seater Nissan is built on a very traditional steel ladder frame platform. In truth, the new Patrol’s architecture, has been with us since 2010 and prioritises strength and off-road ability, above dynamic feedback and high-speed stability.

For customers who need to venture into places where there is no support of mobile phone signal, but wish to do so in absolute luxury, the Patrol is ideal.

New Nissan Patrol boasts striking appearance

Although the mechanical package is unchanged, the new Patrol has a more striking appearance. Its bold grille features extensive chrome garnishing and split-level LED headlights.

Rolling in those huge wheelarches are 18-inch multispoke alloy wheels, shod with large volume 265/70R18 tyres.

Image: Supplied

Not for Sandton City’s parking garage

This most capable of all Nissan SUVs is a massive vehicle. It measures 5.16m bumper-to-bumper and stands 1.94m tall. The result is a huge cabin, capable of transporting a family and all their luggage in great luxury, across any terrain type.

Seating is sumptuously comfortable, thanks to generously padded leather seats with an ergonomically patterned stitching. Nissan has also not sacrificed the infotainment offering with its Cape-to-Cairo capable luxury SUV. The cabin includes a multi-screen DVD entertainment system, with wireless earphones, allowing individual passengers to enjoy their favourite media without disrupting the experience for others.

Powerful package

In terms of capability the Patrol has a seven-speed automatic transmission, excellent all-wheel drive traction and 272mm of ground clearance. It is powered by a large-capacity 5.6-litre V8 engine, one of the biggest petrol powerplants in production and available to South African customers.

Powering up to 298kW and 560Nm, this V8 engine moves the Patrol’s considerable bulk with aplomb. There is no hiding its fuel consumption penalty, with owners unlikely to see anything better than 15 litre/100km in real world use.

Compelling case for an expensive ride

Nissan is pricing the upgraded Patrol 4×4 SUV at R1 515 700, making it the near most expensive local Nissan, second only to the brand’s GT-R supercar.

It might be a strange blend of old-world ruggedness and some luxury features, but for customers who demand their SUVs to perform over inhospitable terrain, the Patrol does make a compelling case. Especially for those who value the swifter performance of a petrol engine, compared to the turbodiesel alternatives.

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