Nissan readies potent petrol Patrol

The first examples of Nissan’s all-new seventh-generation Patrol 4x4 wagon will be delivered to Australian customers in early 2027, with pricing for the expanded six-grade range starting with the Patrol Ti at $98,990 plus on-road costs, a whisker under the $99,270 (MRLP) starting price of key rival the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series GX.

Pricing for the new lineup proceeds through six variants to the range-topping Ti-L Reserve at $145,990 (MRLP), which is also priced a strategic $10k below Toyota’s range-topping 300 Series GR Sport Hybrid ($155,990).

Nissan is also making much of the fact that the new entry-level Patrol Ti costs just $2,450 more than the old Y62 model, despite a big upgrade in standard equipment, a more powerful twin turbo V6 petrol engine, and a braked towing capacity increased from 3,500kg to 3,700kg.

By comparison, when Toyota launched the then new 300 Series in October 2021 it carried price increases of between $6,900 and $10,700 compared to the outgoing 200 Series.

The Patrol Ti is, however, the only variant in the newly expanded range priced so near to its predecessor, with the Ti-L asking $122,690 (MRLP) versus the old model’s $108,040, and the range-topping Ti-L Reserve overshooting its equivalent, the Patrol Warrior, by $34,390 with its $145,990 recommended retail price.

Nissan Patrol's towing advantage

Aside from its strategic pricing, generous specification and improved performance, an improved braked tow rating might just be the ace up the sleeve the big Nissan needs to wrest back market share from the dominant 300 Series which is rated to tow 3,500kg.

Currently, anyone looking to tow more than the benchmark 3,500kg needs to add costly GVM-upgrades or look elsewhere to the likes of the Toyota Tundra and its full-size US pickup rivals, which can tow up to 4,500kg but are also punishingly expensive, with the cheapest Tundra starting at $155,990.

The new Patrol lineup spans Ti, Ti+, Ti-L, Ti-L+ and Ti-L Reserve, plus a new off-road-focused PRO-4X variant, with every one of the six variants rated to tow 3,700kg.

More power, less fuel for Nissan Patrol

All Patrols are powered by Nissan’s new twin turbocharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 which replaces the outgoing Y62’s 5.6-litre petrol V8 and produces a muscular 317kW/700Nm, or 19kW/140Nm more than the old V8.

Importantly, given the long-simmering rivalry between the two Japanese 4x4 heavyweights, the Patrol’s engine punches out an extra 90kW over the LandCruiser 300 Series’ 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6, while matching it for torque. 

That power advantage holds true over all diesel-powered 300 Series variants, but not Toyota’s recently-released 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 ‘performance hybrid’, which musters an impressive 341kW/790Nm but is available exclusively on the upmarket Sahara ZX and GR Sport variants.

Nissan describes its new 4x4 wagon is the quietest, most luxurious and most technically advanced Patrol yet, with the engine putting its power to the ground via a nine-speed automatic transmission and a full-time all-wheel drive system, paired with a two-speed transfer case and a locking rear differential.

Despite the new engine’s extra oomph, the new Patrol is expected to deliver almost 24% better fuel efficiency than the V8’s 14.4L/100km combined cycle figure, meaning it should be good for a more acceptable 10.9L/100km.

Nissan Patrol bigger, roomer and more practical

Dimensionally, the new Patrol is 35mm longer and slightly wider than the current model, measuring 5,205mm long, 2,030mm wide and 1,955mm tall, riding on a 3075mm wheelbase. This compares with the LandCruiser 300 Series which is 4,890mm long, 1,980mm wide, and 1,950mm tall, while riding on a 2,850mm wheelbase.

Nissan claims the generously proportioned interior offers class-leading roominess, particularly in the second and third rows. There’s also a claimed 30% more cargo space than the outgoing model.

Nissan Patrol Ti $98,990 (MRLP)

The entry Patrol Ti features such standard equipment as dual 12.3-inch infotainment displays, 3D Intelligent Around View Monitor with invisible hood view, NissanConnect connected car services with Google built-in, eight different drive and terrain modes, electronic locking rear differential, tri-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather seats and leather-accented steering wheel, ProPilot ADAS system, and 18-inch gunmetal alloy wheels with a full-size spare.

Nissan Patrol Ti+ $109,480 (MRLP)

Stepping up to the Patrol Ti+ brings all the features of the Ti plus a tilt and slide power sunroof with panoramic glass roof, privacy glass for the second row and rear windows, power tailgate, roof rails, intelligent rear-view mirror and rain-sensing wipers.

Nissan Patrol Ti-L $122,690 (MRLP)

Next step on the brand ladder is the Patrol Ti-L, which adds to the above the Ti+ features with its dual 14.3-inch infotainment displays, premium 12-speaker Klipsch audio system, head-up display, Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper) suspension, 20-inch machined alloy wheels, and a 3D rotation Intelligent Around View Monitor with invisible hood view.

Nissan Patrol Ti-L+ $136,690 (MRLP)

Hitting your bank manager up for an extra $12,000 will get you into the even plusher Ti-L+ which adds leather-accented seat trim, heated and ventilated front seats, massage driver’s seat, heated steering wheel, centre console cool box, biometric cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filter, and multi-colour ambient interior illumination.

Nissan Patrol PRO-4X $137,590 (MRLP)

Somewhat confusingly, the next most expensive Patrol variant is not based on the Ti-L+ that sits immediately below it on the pricing rung, but on the less expensive Ti-L. The off-road focused PRO-4X gets all of the Ti-L’s kit plus Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper), 20-inch black-painted alloy wheels, all-terrain tyres, unique off-road front bumper fascia, centre console cool box, heated and ventilated front row seats, heated steering wheel, trailer docking support, electric trailer brake controller, and biometric cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filter.

Ti-L Reserve $145,990 (MRLP)

The final step on the Patrol brand walk is the opulently appointed Ti-L Reserve which includes all the Ti-L+ equipment plus Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent dynamic damping (e-Damper), 22-inch step-machined alloy wheels, trailer docking support, electric trailer brake controller, dual 12.8-inch second-row entertainment screens, and driver and front passenger massage seats.

A new chapter for Nissan's 4x4 icon

Australians have had to endure a long wait for this new Patrol with the outgoing Y62 first launching here in early 2013 and soldiering on for an impressive 13 years.

Despite its age and the presence of the much younger 300 Series the petrol V8-powered 4x4 has managed to maintain a loyal following with Australian consumers, even notching up record annual sales as recently as 2024.

But Nissan’s army of passionate 4x4 enthusiasts will be eager to get their hands on the new Y63 and to write the next chapter in the heavyweight rivalry with LandCruiser that dates back some 75 years.