Model Update

If I were to cross Australia in a vehicle of my own choice, I would be choosing the latest Nissan Patrol to do the business. Totally dependable and extremely tough, for decades the Nissan Patrol has been the ultimate Outback machine.

First of all, you have so much room for occupants and luggage. Secondly, at 2.5 tonnes the Patrol is no feather weight– but with the efficiency of a fresh 3.0-litre, turbo-diesel option the Patrol is a sharp performer on and off the road. Of late, the 4.8-litre petrol version has been dropped from the line-up. So settling for the diesel is no hardship. There is plenty of grunt, and you definitely won’t be missing the bigger fuel bill, either.

Inside a Nissan Patrol Wagon, you can have as much luxury as you want. The Ti models are outstanding – I’m rather fond of the wooden inserts and the comfortable leather seats. Bluetooth communications keep you in touch with the outside world, and satellite navigation shows you where in the world you are.

Buy a new Nissan Patrol, and you’ve got legendary status in Australia – straight away. And by the way, if you love the Patrol blueprint but just need a ute, then do consider the latest Nissan Patrol Cab Chassis model. Don’t settle for a posy Holden or Falcon when you know you want the real 4X4 deal.

Built for harsh off-road use, the Nissan Patrol is a true 4X4 that can handle just about any terrain. With victories in numerous off-road rallies, the Nissan Patrol delivers the goods.

Under the bonnet, you’ll find a powerful 3.0 litre four-cylinder intercooled direct-injection turbo-diesel engine which pumps out a credible 118 kW between 3200 and 3400 rpm. Pulling power is superb, and so carting the boat to the water is no hard task with 380 Nm of torque available between 2000 and 2400 rpm.

You’ve got five gears with the manual Patrol, and a four-speed gearbox for the auto model. One of the highlights of the Nissan Patrol automatic is the smooth gear selection. There is, however a slightly less maximum amount of torque available for the automatic models – with the torque dropping down to 354 Nm at 2000 rpm. Efficient direct-injection technology means that the 3.0-litre TD engine produces more than enough grunt to pull a good size load without breaking a sweat.

A Nissan Patrol can handle towing anything up to 3500 kg with the manual transmission, or 2500 kg with the automatic. The Patrol’s rigid axles are designed for extreme off-road use, but they also provide a smooth ride on the motorway due to the multi-link coil suspension. With a flick of the wrist, you can engage the powerful 4-wheel drive system and negotiate those tough out-of-the way places. The massive coil spring suspension and strong axle design is likened to a very broad set of shoulders that can manage big loads effortlessly.

Over the long haul, you’ll find that the Nissan Patrol Wagon caters well for ride comfort. There are three models. Starting with the Nissan Patrol DX, you have comfy seating for five and features like front air-conditioning, cruise control, and Bluetooth communications – hands free, of course. If you are really going to rough it in the outdoors, then the Nissan Patrol DX has a vinyl covering for the luggage compartment to handle abrasive or mucky cargo. Safety-wise, the Patrol DX boasts SRS airbags in the front, a limited slip-differential system and four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. And mark my word, the brakes are superb.

Next is the Nissan Patrol ST. All the safety features mentioned for the DX are present but there are one or two extra doo-dads. The ABS braking system has a specially designed gravel sensing feature. Also, the big Nissan Patrol ST comes with 17-inch rims. A notable feature over the DX is that the ST Patrol can accommodate seven occupants – including the driver. Room is great for the back row, and there is no skimping here. Another handy feature for the Patrol ST model is auto-locking wheel hubs. In case you don’t know – the Patrols can flick between 2WD and 4WD, with 2WD being driven by the rear wheels.

Step up to the Ti model, and everything is truly laid on. Stylish leather seats which are powered in the front are beautifully comfortable. Elegant wood grain inserts complement the well crafted cabin. Safety features, again, go up a notch, with curtain SRS airbags being standard items. There is also a very handy reversing camera. An electric sunroof comes standard, so you an do your stargazing from the comfort of the leather appointed seats. Don’t worry about what the weather is doing outside because inside the Nissan Patrol Ti, the automatic climate control keeps the temperature throughout the cabin in comfortable harmony. Satellite Navigation, a central touch screen with SUNA GPS traffic updates, Bluetooth communications with audio linking, a surround-sound music system, MP3 compatibility and loads of handy storage compartments makes the Nissan Patrol Ti the Outback champion.

One of the features of the seven-seater Patrols is that the second and third row seating is comfortably roomy – and when not in use – these seats fold down, allowing for a colossal cargo carrying ability.

Drive the new Nissan Patrol, and you feel as safe as houses. The big 4X4 sits well poised on the road, and when off-road she is as solid as they come. You can go some seriously treacherous places in one of these machines. Nissan Patrols boast a switchable stabilizer system, ultrasonic and parametric alarm and selectable 4WD with a dual Low/High ratio gearbox.

For the ultimate off and on-road experience, you need to take a serious look at the awesome Nissan Patrol Wagon. And do keep in mind that if you are after a ute/truck version of the Patrol, there are the Nissan Patrol Cab Chassis models to choose from.

The current model series includes the:

• Patrol DX
• Patrol ST
• Patrol Ti

For any more information on the Nissan Patrol, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Nissan dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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