First drive: 2014 Nissan Patrol in the UAE
The “new” Nissan Patrol has been around for a while now, receiving its first facelift in 2014 since its launch in 2010. You may be familiar with the new look, having seen it up close on your rear-view mirror.
Changes include LEDs within the headlights, a new front bumper and new tube-style LED tails as well as new wheels. It’s not a huge difference, but oddly enough, shiny new lights were all that was needed to stimulate sales, as these new models are everywhere already.
It’s a big car, the Patrol. That affords it immense interior space, much more so than the Chevy Tahoe that’s actually a bit bigger. And it’s got a useable flat-folding third-row seat too.
In LE Platinum trim, it’s also trimmed very nicely, as it should be at its high price-point, with padded stitched-leatherette all over the dash and doors and tons of faux wood trim. It easily has the most premium interior in the segment.
It also remains well-equipped on the tech front, with that around-view parking camera setup and a multimedia screen that offers several forms of input, although the car’s age shows in LCD’s graphics as well as in its gauge-cluster info screen.
Still powered by the 400 hp 5.6-litre direct-injection V8 that debuted in 2010, it’s a potent motor that always has more than adequate power on tap, mated to a smooth-shifting and smart 7-speed automatic.
The Patrol also rides very well, with only the slightest jitter on occasion that hints at its body-on-frame construction. It is easily quieter and smoother than the Toyota Land Cruiser or even the new GMC Yukon Denali, and part of the credit can be taken by the “hydraulic body motion control” or some such suspension gimmick that Nissan loves to brag about.
However, it doesn’t do a whole lot for the handling, as the Patrol still feels wallowy on sudden lane-changes and leans significantly on sharp turns, though if you manage the deathly-light steering smoothly, it’s possible to hustle through the long curves quicker than you’d expect.
Due to other commitments, we did not get the time to take the Patrol offroad, but we’ve seen it in action, and while it may not take a beating as well as the old Patrol, it clearly has the ground clearance, the hardware and the power to manage dune-bashing to some degree, assuming you know what you’re doing and don’t try to jump it like you saw in the TV commercial. Generally, reported mishaps with the new Patrol always seem to involve someone choosing the wrong terrain-management setting, which also has a habit of resetting the default nannies every time you restart the car. So if you’re new to offroad electronics or big-wheelbase cars, you may want to take it easy until you learn how to handle them.
The Patrol is quite possibly the best in its class, even after five years in the market. About the only reason we didn’t pick one up ourselves is its immense size, which makes it impossible to fit in certain tight parking lots, although clever use of technology means it can be manoeuvred easily where it does fit. It took a facelift with shiny lights for people to start noticing it, when it should’ve become more common on the roads much earlier, your views on tailgating notwithstanding.
For UAE prices and GCC specs, visit the Nissan buyer guide.
Comments
Anil
What would you recommend from Patrol LE and the Durango R/T? Keeping aside off road capabilities.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Different segments.
Yousuf
Nissan Patrol anytime… Done 10K and its been awesome… Cheaper from Al Aweer..
Bazil
which one would u prefer? An lx570 or a nissan patrol. which one is value for money and reliable?
Matlama
What other cars would be in Nissan Patrol Segment?
(cars that can readily be bought in UAE dealers)
Toyota – Land Cruiser
Chevy/GMC – Tahoe/Yukon
Ford – Expedition
Would you add Lexus/Infiniti/Cadillac/Lincoln?
I’d like to know people’s thoughts
Hameed
Although prices are in the Lexus/Infiniti range in comparison, I think segment wise the Patrol is a tad lower. But having said that it’s a sight to behold on your rvm, especially with those drls now. My two cents.
Jonathan
Does the Patrol/QX80 still have better interior design and quality than the new Cadillac Escalade you drove recently?
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Cabin design is a personal preference, but we prefer the Patrol’s one.
Silent Killer
Eid Mubarak Drive Arabia Team and all the followers.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Thanks, you too.
Von
Isnt Infiniti QX80 similar to patrol or like copy version but a bit stronger,better, and bigger than patrol?
A bit more better at everything like interior etc
Mubarak
which one would u prefer? An lx570 or a nissan patrol. which one is value for money and reliable?
marc
in terms of reliability they re both in the same league pretty much
value for money is hard to say. you should compare the qx80 to the lx..
Saood
Lexus lx570 or Infiniti Qx80, which one is more comfortable and luxury?
Joseph
The resale for lx is better than qx and the price lx is expensive than qx.
khalid
Lexus 570 or Infiniti Qx80, which one is more comfortable and luxury?
ashraf
is nissan patrol se (317 hp) very bad fuel consumption or its just normal?for normal driving , not aggressive. If you can tell me full tank how many KM approximately , because big money different between se and le
Nawaf
On a Fill of 110 Liters am getting around 350 Km, mostly City Driven
slm
the XE version is it still available? what are the options it lacks ?
Nawaf
Hi,
Any issues of premature Break worn reported? Agency forcing to replacing break pads under 15K, and justifying as the vehicle is very heavy and powerfull 🙂 (Not in UAE)
A friends car, had a starting issue as the steering lock module malfunction, which was replaced under warranty.
Any of such cases reported?