The Nissan Patrol has been extensively field-tested, and it has been found to be an exceptionally dependable, formidable, and cosy off-road people-mover. Its petrol-powered V8 has certainly got the power to keep going, earning it a solid reputation for decades for tackling the toughest of terrains. In addition to the luxurious interior featuring a wood-grain finish and plenty of leather, the car's all-around independent suspension ensures a smooth ride.
There is no need for Nissan to alter this, the gearbox, or any other mechanical component. This 2020 refresh is purely cosmetic, bringing Nissan's largest vehicle into the next decade with a new front and rear bumper. It does have lots of safety features, which is the bare minimum for a vehicle in this price range in the present day. Let's take a better look.
The Nissan Patrol Royale is a rugged vehicle that has been decked out to navigate urban environments while still retaining its off-road capabilities. What I don't understand about luxury SUVs is how something so sturdy, tough, and burly can be as refined as a flight in Qatar Airways' business class. I can attest that the 2019 Nissan Patrol Royale is massive in some regions and enormous in comparison to other vehicles. Let's dive right into the review, because I have a lot of material to cover.
A new month brings new driving adventures. Every event follows the same pattern: an early wake-up call, a breakfast briefing, an event shirt that is inevitably too small, and a convoy ride. However, there were two key distinctions about this particular auto show: Two things: 1) the shirt is a good fit, and 2) this might be the first media drive of a Nissan Patrol in the Philippines. Barely.
There is no need to introduce the Patrol. The Toyota Land Cruiser and this model established a premium Japanese SUV duopoly that has been uncontested since the 1990s. And even though there are more high-end 4x4 options now than there were 20 years ago, the prestige of the Patrol and the Land Cruiser remains untarnished. Furthermore, the impact of nostalgia cannot be discounted.
I think we need a history lesson
In fact, the 'latest' Patrol, known by its secret designation of Y62, has been in service since 2010. And despite its many posh features and gleaming faux-wood accents, it remains fundamentally an off-road vehicle.
Its ancestor, the original Patrol, was released in 1951 and sold exclusively in Japan, where it saw heavy military use. A second-generation Patrol is said to have been the first vehicle to drive across Australia's Simpson Desert a few years later.
This generation of the Patrol is more laid-back than its forebears. An SUV with off-road capabilities, as opposed to a dedicated 4x4. They were particularly bummed when sales of the Y61 were discontinued in Australia (although you can still buy one in the Middle East, where it is sold as the Patrol Super Safari). Few of those remain today.
Driveability
After all, a 5.6-liter V8 should produce a mountain of torque and a mountain of horsepower. The Patrol weighs almost 3 tonnes, so it's not exactly a sports car. However, with 298 horsepower and 560 Newton-meters of torque, you can pretty much ignore any roadblocks. The seven-speed automatic transmission smoothly regulates all of this power. You can put it in manual and give the engine a little more gas if you like. As the Patrol is normally quite quiet, this is also useful for those times when you want to hear the V8 growl just a little bit.
The engine and transmission never stall when you're accelerating from a stop or passing another vehicle on the highway. Even though it's a large vehicle, the vehicle is surprisingly easy to drive and manoeuvre in congested urban areas. It has responsive controls, but not the kind of excitement that makes driving a pleasure. It is not appropriate to disturb the Patrol while they are there to relax in peace.
There is no denying that the Patrol is unparalleled in its class off-road. It has an appearance befitting its rugged and tough nature, with a ground clearance of 273 mm, an approach angle of 34.4 degrees, a departure angle of 26.3 degrees, and a wading depth of 700 mm. Let it suffice to say that there will be absolutely no resistance to it. With a wide variety of off-road settings, your Patrol will automatically adapt to whatever you throw at it.
Liveability
It's not surprising that the Patrol's cabin provides plenty of room, given the vehicle's dimensions (over 5 metres in length, almost 2 metres in width, and 2 metres in height). Both the front and second-row seats are comfortable and spacious enough to accommodate three adults. The third row is a little cramped, but for a shorter trip, even a tall passenger won't mind. Still, you can fit nearly 468 litres of cargo in there in addition to the passengers. With the third row gone, there's an extra 1413 litres of storage space, and if the second row is folded down as well, there's a whopping 2632 litres of storage space. Almost like a ute in the cabin, but for the seats that don't fold completely flat.
The leather seats, climate control, and woodgrain accents are included for all passengers. Both the driver and front-seat passenger can access the vehicle's multimedia system and the plethora of other controls via the 8.0-inch touchscreen located in the centre stack. This may be a little dated in appearance (it hasn't been updated since 2010), but it continues to reliably perform its intended function. Even so, it maintains a fashionable appearance and comes equipped with modern conveniences like satellite radio and an audio system.
Cost
The choice of Patrol is simple: either the base model Ti or the Ti-L. The former begins at $85k, while the latter begins at $105k. The 5.6-liter V8 gasoline engine and seven-speed automatic transmission are standard equipment in both. These are some of the features that the Ti comes with:
- Front seats with electric seats and satellite navigation
- Emergency Braking, Intelligent Cruise Control, Blind Spot Warning, and an Around-View Monitor
- Smart Collision Warning Up Front
- Braked towing capacity of 3,500 kg
- Seat and steering wheel trimmed in leather
Additionally, the Ti-L provides you with:
- Screens for second-row seat entertainment with an intelligent rear view monitor
- Memory for the driver's seat, side mirrors, and steering column with two settings
- Sunroof & Roof rails with 13 Premium Bose® Speakers
- cooled-and-heated front seats
Regardless of which you pick, you can rely on its fuel efficiency of 14.4L/100km and its range of over 900km thanks to its 140-liter tank. Both come standard with the most recent safety technology such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), front and side-impact airbags for the driver and front passenger, and curtain airbags for all three rows, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, forwards collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The factory backs the Patrol with a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty.
I see. Let's start with the inside.
Although the seats are wide and comfortable and there is enough space for three adults in the back row, the dashboard is dated. The infotainment system and the vehicle as a whole look like they were lifted from a car from the early 2010s, despite the fact that all of the buttons work properly and will, without a doubt, continue to do so for decades to come. You can tell a Patrol was introduced in 2010 the moment you get inside one in 2018.
Is there anything interesting about its design?
I won't sugarcoat it: the Patrol is a massive vehicle. It's huge. But it knows how to carry itself well.
This heavy duty station waggon measures in at 5175mm in length (on a wheelbase of 3075mm) and 2812kg in mass. It's slightly shorter than the LandCruiser 200 Series, but it's longer, wider, and heavier (30mm, in fact).
In addition to taking up a lot of space when parked, it also makes quite an impression when rumbling down the road (in a good way) and looking like an armoured minibus.
What are the key stats for the engine and transmission?
The Patrol is powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine that generates 298 kW at 5800 rpm and 560 Nm at 4000 rpm.
The seven-speed automatic transmission has a manual mode and adaptive shift control (whatever that is), and it's a fantastic transmission to drive thanks to its superior intelligence.
How practical is the space inside?
Cargo capacity is advertised by Nissan to be 467.7 litres (with the second and third rows up), 1413.4 litres (with the third row folded flat), and 2623.2 litres (with all seats in the upright position) (with second and third rows folded flat). That's a lot of space, but keep in mind that the seats don't fold flat or completely out of the way, so you won't have as much usable storage as you might think.
Cargo hooks, a 12V power outlet, and tyre-changing equipment are all stored in the trunk. (A full-sized spare is stored under the vehicle's rear seat.)
One of the top tether anchors is located in the third row. This area is very cramped and the seats are flat and unsupportive.
The third row has some useful storage space, but there are no cup holders, and all three rows have air conditioning thanks to vents in the roof.
In the second row, each of the outer seats has an ISOFIX connection and a top tether anchor.
I had plenty of legroom even when I sat behind the wheel, which is saying something about the spacious interior.
The front armrest folds down to reveal cup holders, and the bin at the very front of the vehicle conceals climate control buttons.
The interior is luxurious and comfortable, with leather upholstery and other padded, soft, and hardwearing materials throughout the cabin.
Excellent attention to detail, and it even looks pretty good if your idea of "style" is your grandfather's pool room from the 1970s. Fortuitously, I agree that that is genuine fashion.
Like a plane's cockpit, the dashboard is a jumble of dials, knobs, and switches that can be difficult to decipher at first.
The eight-way power-adjustable seats, Bluetooth connectivity, and controls mounted on the steering wheel are just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of USB outlets for charging devices.
The cabin feels both luxurious and functional, with plenty of storage space (not surprising given the large amount of available room) and soft, inviting seating.
Is it old-fashioned to drive, too?
Yeah. As such, we hereby retract our previous statements. There are no sports involved, nor is this a sport utility vehicle. The 5.6-liter non-turbo V8 provides adequate acceleration and good but muted noise, and the vehicle is pleasant enough to drive, but don't mistake it for a modern unibody SUV. We can attest to the Patrol's off-road prowess thanks to the truck-like separate chassis, but we found it to be clumsy and ungainly in urban environments. The best way to get where you're going is to sink into the throne-like driver's seat, forget about the glassy steering, and just waft there.
I think I still want one
The Armada sold in the United States is functionally identical, albeit lacking some of the more extreme off-road features. To that end, if you're dead set on getting one, go for it. However, in Europe To put your mind at ease, you are not missing out on anything. Our modern SUVs are superior in all these ways and more, including being easier to drive, more comfortable, and faster than the Patrol. especially Range Rovers with the highly intelligent Terrain Response system. Weirdly appealing and perfectly suited to the markets in which it is sold, the Patrol isn't, however, our cup of tea. Sorry.
In terms of the motoring beat calendar, the Nissan Patrol driving event may not stand out, but it was definitely a ride I won't soon forget. It enlightened me to the distinction between cheap SUVs and high-end 4x4s. In today's society, if you can afford a diesel SUV, you've made it. Whenever a Patrol is spotted, people instantly take notice.
The 2020 Nissan Patrol is the best off-road people-hauler you can buy. It's well-known for being dependable and will get you where you need to go in style and ease. You'll be able to whiz along in style and ease, with all the power you could possibly need at your feet. Visit us at Motorama Nissan to take a spin in the brand new Patrol.
Conclusion
Nissan's Patrol Royale is a tough SUV that can handle city streets while still being ready for the great outdoors. Powered by a potent V8 gasoline engine, it has proven time and time again that it can handle the roughest terrain. The Patrol differs from a true 4x4 in that it is an SUV with off-road capabilities. In the face of obstacles, you can easily disregard the 298 horsepower and 560 Nm of torque. Despite its size, the vehicle is surprisingly simple to drive and manoeuvre in crowded city centres.
Plenty of room can be found inside the Patrol for both passengers and cargo. Seats in the first and second rows are roomy and supportive enough to accommodate three adults. A tall passenger might feel uncomfortable in the third row on a long trip, but for a shorter trip, it's fine. Although it is a large vehicle, the Patrol handles itself with confidence on the road. The control panel and multimedia system could have stepped right out of a vehicle produced in the 2010s.
It outmeasures the LandCruiser 200 Series in length, width, and height by a significant margin (30 mm). Nissan states that there is 467.7 litres of cargo space (with the second and third rows up), 1413.4 litres with the third row folded flat, and 2623.2 litres with all seats in the upright position. Having plenty of storage space and comfortable seating, the cabin exudes an air of refined practicality. The 5.6-liter V8 engine is not turbocharged, but it has sufficient power and quiet operation. Strangely endearing, and just what the markets need. It has a stellar reputation for dependability and will take you to your destination in comfort and style.
Content Summary
- This 2020 refresh is purely cosmetic, bringing Nissan's largest vehicle into the next decade with a new front and rear bumper.
- It does have lots of safety features, which is the bare minimum for a vehicle in this price range in the present day.
- The Nissan Patrol Royale is a rugged vehicle that has been decked out to navigate urban environments while still retaining its off-road capabilities.
- I can attest that the 2019 Nissan Patrol Royale is massive in some regions and enormous in comparison to other vehicles.
- An SUV with off-road capabilities, as opposed to a dedicated 4x4.
- DriveabilityAfter all, a 5.6-liter V8 should produce a mountain of torque and a mountain of horsepower.
- It's not surprising that the Patrol's cabin provides plenty of room, given the vehicle's dimensions (over 5 metres in length, almost 2 metres in width, and 2 metres in height).
- Both the front and second-row seats are comfortable and spacious enough to accommodate three adults.
- Still, you can fit nearly 468 litres of cargo in there in addition to the passengers.
- With the third row gone, there's an extra 1413 litres of storage space, and if the second row is folded down as well, there's a whopping 2632 litres of storage space.
- CostThe choice of Patrol is simple: either the base model Ti or the Ti-L. The former begins at $85k, while the latter begins at $105k.
- The interior is luxurious and comfortable, with leather upholstery and other padded, soft, and hardwearing materials throughout the cabin.
- The cabin feels both luxurious and functional, with plenty of storage space (not surprising given the large amount of available room) and soft, inviting seating.
- The 2020 Nissan Patrol is the best off-road people-hauler you can buy.