V8 awesomeness, supreme comfort
By Mark Baker
Long ago, Nissan’s patrol attained legendary status among offroaders for its unstoppable toughness. It won hearts and minds in the city for its ability to swallow humans and gear in huge number and quantity. The Patrol in 2022 form is going to continue that status.
Available in Ti and Ti-L spec levels, this is one of the better ways to get a fix of V8 awesomeness in a modern SUV. These days, the Patrol has all-wheel independent electronically managed suspension. Couple that with one of the finest permanent four-wheel-drive systems on the planet and there’s a lot to like about the Patrol.
So, which Patrol should go on the shopping list? The 5.6-litre V8 Ti, or the 5.6-litre V8 Ti-L?
The 2022 range begins with the Ti, itself a well-equipped executive or family transport. It starts at $102,650 with a respectable standard spec and tech list including discreet but effective blind spot warning, Nissan’s excellent around-view proximity monitor system and automatic emergency braking.
Like most large SUVs, the Patrol will tow up to 3,500 kg braked; 750kg unbraked. The towbar does add $2,200 to the price, but it’s pretty much a given for the lifestyles of most buyers and the uses the big SUV will be put to.
But ignoring for the moment the effect of the Clean Car tax/rebate, if the buyer’s desire is for a relaxed and cossetting drive in a high-spec big four-wheel-drive then the Ti-L, starting at just $5,000 more, is the weapon of choice.
It offers the same silken 5.6-litre multiple cam VVT-equipped V8 driving through the same seven speed automatic transmission to Nissan’s sublime full-time four-wheel-drive system (Intelligent 4x4 with electronic 4WD mode selection). It has the same 272mm ground clearance. The same massive brakes.
The Ti-L just has more. More of everything.
To the Ti’s already lengthy specification, add items such as a sunroof, roof rails, intelligent rear-view monitor, second seat row seat entertainment screens, heated and cooled front seats and driver’s seat memory with two pre-sets that also set side mirrors and steering column.
The electric front seats have leather accents that carry over for the driver onto the steering wheel. The driver’s seat adjustment is extensive – eight-way, enough to meet the preferences of the small to tall.
There’s navigation on board which is accessed through the expected 8-inch infotainment screen in the dash centre. Strange thing – in such an expanse of dash it seems a tad small.
The central console is a capacious chiller box with a front-and-back double-access lid that gives second-row passengers easy access to cool snacks and drinks on a longer journey.
Nissan rates this SUV a seven-seater, though the second and third rows could make it an eight-seater provided the inhabitants of the third row are under ten years of age. The second-row denizens are well-favoured, with aircon and entertainment screens – headphones are provided in a bag.
There is old-school delight for the front seat occupants: for those who aren’t Android or Apple or Spotify devotees, the Patrol also has a CD player. In the Ti-L there are no less than 13 Bose speakers with which to fill the interior with grown-up music.
Safety: a massive array of airbags includes side curtain bags for all three rows of seats.
The Patrol’s VK56DE engine is a 32-valve, DOHC, direct fuel injection aluminium-alloy V8 featuring Nissan’s ‘Variable Valve Event and Lift’ valve technology and producing 298kW. Maximum torque is 560Nm of torque.
Direct fuel injection system provides crisp wide-open throttle performance and improves fuel economy and emissions performance by reducing engine knock, improving combustion stability and controlling fuel delivery more precisely. The Patrol runs on 95-octane fuel.
Expect fuel economy figures in the 14l/100km range – 14.4 l/100km officially. On the open road a gentle right foot could draw that figure down into the mid-12s.
Verdict: for anyone in the market for a family or executive-level 4WD with on-road presence and off-road capability, the Patrol in either Ti or Ti-L spec is hard to fault. For towing, for lifestyle weekend fun, for weekday duties the Y62 is simply impressive. For its sophisticated take on the V8 symphony, it has few peers.
