Nissan Patrol 2013: Launch Review

What we liked:
>> Strong, refined engine performance
>> Plenty of kit in the base model
>> Competent off-roader

Not so much:
>> Looks are not to everyone's taste
>> No diesel option
>> Off-road ability comes at the expense of on-road dynamics

OVERVIEW
>> Sophisticated new design lifts Patrol up-market
It has been a long wait for the new Patrol. The Y62 generation – known also for a long time as the P61G – was first driven nearly three years ago by motoring.com.au. Since then it was also sampled, in left-hand drive form, at Mount Cotton in Queensland, followed by another drive as recently as September last year.

Finally however, the Y62 in full Australian spec has arrived. Nissan had already announced pricing and specification for the new model from late last year, and now at the local media launch we have driven the same production cars local customers will be buying.

The new Patrol is effectively positioned in the market well clear of the Y61 generation Patrol it supersedes, but the Y62 model succeeds mostly in staying below the price of its principal competitor, the 200 Series Toyota LandCruiser. Despite the new model's near parity with the LC200, the Patrol delivers more kit than the Toyota does, including high-tech features aimed at keeping occupants safe and comfortable.

There's one drivetrain variant – a petrol V8 with seven-speed automatic – spread across three levels of trim, and as we first reported quite some time ago, there'll be no diesel variant for the foreseeable future. That's a major opportunity missed, when you consider that 94 per cent of Toyota's LandCruiser 200 Series are reportedly diesels.

On that point, Nissan's rationalising covers a lot of bases: The petrol-engined Patrol is more capable in sand than a diesel equivalent would be, due to the gentler power delivery; plus anyone in the market for a large SUV costing at least $80,000 can afford the cost of fuel, and finally the refinement and sophistication of the Patrol with its direct-injected V8 with variable valve timing and lift is its own drawcard – and something no current diesel can match.

But to keep faith with traditional Patrol buyers, Nissan is keeping alive the Y61 predecessor with its diesel engine.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

For all the added expense of the new model, there's a plethora of bibs and bobs to make up the difference. The Patrol ST-L is priced from $82,200, rising to $92,850 for the mid-range Patrol Ti and then $113,900 for the flagship Patrol Ti-L. All three come equipped as standard with keyless entry/start, eight-way power adjustable driver's seat, three-zone climate control with rear controls, cruise control, leather-bound steering wheel/gear knob, Bluetooth connectivity, audio controls on the steering wheel and auto up/down electric windows front and rear.

Additionally, all three feature sunglass holder, tilt-and-reach adjustment for the steering, two-way opening centre console bin, four 12V power outlets, exit lights for the front doors, electric folding/heated exterior mirrors, trip computer, front/rear parking sensors, side steps and chrome external door handles. The Patrol ST-L is the only grade trimmed in cloth upholstery; the Ti and Ti-L variants offering leather seat trim. Variable intermittent speed-sensing wipers and linear assistance power steering are fitted to the Patrol ST-L, but the higher-grade variants feature fully automatic rain-sensing wipers and speed-sensing variable assist power steering. A six-speaker CD/DVD audio system with MP3 compatibility and USB/iPod input is standard for the ST-L and Ti models, and comes with a 2.0-gig hard drive.

For the mid-range Patrol Ti, added equipment includes: six-way electrically-adjustable front passenger seat, electric sunroof, auto headlights, follow-me-home lights, front fog lights and privacy glass. Priced over $20,000 higher, the Patrol Ti-L has all the mid-range model's standard equipment, and: two-position memory for the driver's seat, electrically adjustable steering column, heated/cooled front seats, Intelligent Key memory for climate control system, satellite navigation, twin-screen entertainment system for middle-row seat occupants, 13-speaker Bose audio system with 9.3-gig hard drive and auto-levelling xenon headlights.

The Patrol Ti-L also gains headlight washers, electric mirrors linked to Intelligent Key, centre console cool box, electrochromatic mirror, power tailgate and puddle lights. Safety features also play a significant part in the grade differentiation of the three variants (see SAFETY below).

Nissan recommends 95 RON PULP for the engine, which develops 298kW and 560Nm – 90 per cent of the torque available from engine speeds as low as 1600rpm. Nissan claims that the new engine and transmission combination – with a rated fuel consumption of 14.5L/100km in combined-cycle testing – is 15.6 per cent more efficient than the 4.8-litre six of the Y61 Patrol.

Drive runs through a seven-speed automatic transmission to what Nissan refers to as All-Mode 4x4 – basically an automatic transfer case with electronic shift on the fly capability. Torque between front and rear axles is split by means of a multi-plate clutch, rather than a centre differential. Three modes available are Auto, 4H and 4L, with selection of 4L yielding a low-range ratio of 2.79:1, versus direct drive for the high-range selection. Final drive to the rear is by a limited-slip differential that can be locked.

The Patrol rides on a full chassis and double-wishbone suspension front and rear, with the Ti and Ti-L variants offering the Hydraulic Body Motion Control system, which effectively combines a constantly level ride similar to that of Citroens fitted with hydro-pneumatic suspension, and variable roll resistance, similar to the capability of the LandCruiser 200 Series with its KDSS facility. Nissan has developed the system to work without need for an external power source. HBMC relies on linking hydraulic lines between the chambers in each damper to level the ride and nitrogen-charged accumulators.

Braking is by means of four-wheel discs comprising four-piston callipers acting on front rotors measuring 358mm diameter front, and single-piston callipers for the 350mm diameter rear discs. All three variants are fitted with the same design of 18-inch alloy wheel, shod with 265/70 R18 tyres – and a full-size alloy spare in the boot.

Measuring 5140mm in length, the new Patrol is 1995mm wide and 1940mm tall. The Patrol's wheelbase is 3075mm long and the track is 1705mm, front and rear, contributing to a turning circle of 12.5m. Ground clearance is 283mm and the approach and departure angles are 34.1 and 25.9 degrees, respectively.

Ranging between 2645kg (ST-L) and 2735kg (TI-L), the Patrol will tow 3500kg and is rated up to a gross vehicle mass of 3500kg. The towball download weights vary from 250kg minimum to 350kg if the vehicle weighs 130kg below the GVM.

PACKAGING

Seats were comfortable enough, but lacking support – particularly under the thighs. Legroom and headroom were excellent in the front and middle row seating – even with the sunroof fitted in the Ti and Ti-L models.

Seating in the rear remains suitable for kids only, although by kids, read: teenagers. Adults can squeeze in, but not for a journey of any great duration. Even for someone under 180cm tall there's little kneeroom in the very rear of the Patrol, and the headroom is marginal also. The third-row seat provides eight-seat capacity for the ST-L and Ti models, but seating for just seven in the range-topping Patrol Ti-L.

Another element of the Patrol's interior packaging that signalled the LHD focus during the car's development is the split fold configuration of the middle-row seat. The single-piece two-seat unit folds up on the left side (the kerb side) of the car. Typically, in RHD countries the narrower, single-seat unit is located on that side of the car, because it's easier to tip forward and allow access for one passenger from the safe side of the car – away from the road. In practice, parents can still load their kids into the rear-most seat from the footpath rather than the road. The larger section of the seat folds forward with one easy pull of the lever by the side. And being spring-loaded and counterweighted the seat folds forward against the rear of the front passenger seat with consummate ease. Restoring the seat to its upright position is similarly straightforward.

Heating and climate control vents are located above the cant rail over the outboard seating positions of both middle and third-row seats. There are separate controls in the rear of the centre console to run the HVAC for the rear section of the cabin.

There's good news and bad where the tailgate is concerned. Its maximum opening height basically leaves it positioned horizontally. That means it could conceivably open inside a garage without (necessarily) incurring panel damage. However, for taller people the tailgate is at exactly the right height for instant concussion.

Exterior paint options for the Y62 Patrol comprise: Brilliant Silver, Titanium, Alpine White, Black Obsidian, Deep Earth Brown, Precision Grey and Desert Dune.

Dynamic safety systems comprise stability control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and traction control. The Patrol Ti-L is equipped with high-tech driving aids including tyre pressure monitoring system, intelligent cruise control, forward collision warning, distance control assist, lane departure warning/prevention, blind spot warning and intervention, and brake assist.

Passive safety aids fitted include dual front airbags, side-impact airbags (thorax and head/curtain) for front-seat occupants, three-point seatbelts for all rows of seating – with pretensioners in the case of the front seats – and active front-seat headrests.

COMPETITORS

For not much more than the Patrol Ti-L, buyers could opt for the Mercedes-Benz GL, which will accommodate seven, is available with a diesel and can go off-road also. Lexus has the LX 570 to rival the Y62 Patrol and there are affordable SUVs from prestige brands that can match or exceed the new Nissan's capabilities in certain distinct areas. Consider various offerings from Land Rover, for example, including the Discovery 4. Then there's the Audi Q7 too, and the Volvo XC90. You may pay more for the badge or get less sheet metal for your money, but resale, range, driveability and around-town practicality are also measures of worth.

And one wouldn't normally suggest this, but if towing is your thing, some behemoth imported from the USA and converted to RHD may not cost you much more than the top-spec Patrol – but would produce the required muscle to haul a 30-footer riding on tandem axles, without working up a sweat. And even the 'mericans buy them with diesel power.

The open-road driving, on mostly coarse-chip bitumen, provided an excellent example of the sound-quashing properties of the new Patrol. It's a very quiet car for the most part. There was some wind and road noise present, but the wind noise was forgivable, given the gusty cross winds during the drive program. Opening up the 5.6-litre V8 resulted in a creamy rich V8 sound from its torque peak (as low as 1600rpm) right through to the redline at 6000rpm. Acceleration is readily available from launch and the engine delivers linear torque right through the rev range.

Picking the transmission's change points is difficult, with the seamless sequential-shifting seven-speeder an ideal partner for the very refined V8's performance. Only on kick-down was the change apparent – and even then, as a firm push in the back rather than anything sharper.

On the first day the trip computer in one vehicle tested posted an average fuel consumption figure of 16.9L/100km, with mostly open-road driving, but also factoring in that low-speed run along the beach with the vehicle's transfer case switched to 4H.  The following day the fuel consumption in a different car finished up at 15.6L/100km. Owners can probably expect to see average fuel consumption figures of around 13 or 14L/100km while touring, but the figures around town or towing something or heading off-road will likely be significantly worse, naturally.

Cornering was acceptable for a vehicle of the Patrol's bulk and the models fitted with HBMC handled flatly through corners and steered more consistently, but even the ST-L, with its conventional suspension, delivered decent levels of grip, given the nature of the vehicle.

Turn-in is slow however, and it's our recollection from the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series launch back in 2007 that the Toyota felt more agile at speed than the Patrol did. The Patrol provides little feedback through the steering and the driver will be left correcting the Nissan's line mid-corner, particularly in the entry-level grade.

Ride quality was very good, even in the basic Patrol ST-L, but the HBMC-suspended vehicles shimmied and shook a little. There was no opportunity to take one of the HMBC Patrols off-road, so we can't comment on the fancy suspension system's ability to handle the sand and rocky stretches of the beach at Robe, but the ST-L acquitted itself perfectly well with the tyres deflated to 15 PSI. It wasn't actually a very demanding test for the big SUV.

Even after the tyres had been reinflated to 35 PSI the Patrol proved itself adept in the sand when we took a wrong turn and headed back to the beach. An oncoming HiLux forced us to brake heavily in the sand, with the final drive system in 'Auto' mode, rather than 4H. The Patrol pulled up well and was able to reverse up to let the Toyota through. We proceeded a further kilometre and found a firm place to make a three-point turn, to retrace our steps – all the time with the vehicle on fully inflated tyres, set to 'Auto' transfer and in the wrong mode ('on road'). There was never any doubt that the Patrol would cope.

Out in the bush or on a beach is not where the Patrol will struggle. We think it's the market that will prove most punishing for the new Nissan. There are already signs out there that buyers won't look beyond the lack of a diesel option in the new line-up. Add to that the sheer increase in price over the Y61 model and the new model's polarising style – and there are some serious obstacles to market acceptance of the Y62 Patrol.

Still, very similar sentiments were expressed when Toyota launched the LC200; maybe Nissan can beat the odds.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…