2014 Nissan Patrol Review

The Batrol (as they call it here) is big for us in the Middle East, and this year it got a makeover

By Shahzad Sheikh

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

The original naysayers need to go and eat their Land Cruisers or something right now. Whatever doubts may have existed at the launch of the all-new Nissan Patrol four years ago, have been well and truly quashed. It’s a record breaking hit – both for breaking records by pulling huge 170 ton aeroplanes etc, and for sales.

July sales alone this year in the Middle East were nearly 4000 cars which is 100% up on the same month last year. 1500 of those were sold here in the UAE alone with sales up 72%. Oman and Qatar formed the second and third biggest markets respectively.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

What’s new 2014?

For 2014, the 60-year old nameplate received a host of changes and updates including restyled front bumper, revised grille, new 20-inch alloys, LED headlamps and day-time running lights (with a pop-out headlamp washer) and new rear LED lights. There were also a new set of roof-rails.

Inside there’s an updated 3rd gen 360 degree camera viewing system – to make this big beast easy to wield in car parks and wadis – with parking assist display and back-up collision avoidance. It already had lane-keeping assist and active cruise control.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

It’s available with a six-speed manual transmission as well as the auto for the XE and SE-T1 trims. All models up to the SE City Platinum are available with a five-speed auto. For the four higher spec LE trim models (including the range-topper you see in these pictures) you get a seven-speed automatic. The engine on these is unchanged – it remains a mighty 5.6-litre V8 petrol unit putting out 400bhp and, more importantly, over 410lb ft of torque.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

How is the 2014 Patrol?

Three rows of seats, plus decent luggage space still behind the third row (itself just about suitable for two average adults, but best left to children), in a plush luxury-lined and gadget-laden interior, make this a wonderful cabin for a family to ride in.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

There’s a USB charging point, you can Bluetooth your phone and your tunes, there’s a DVD player for the back. And it’s all very tightly built and well laid-out up front. If there could be a criticism, you could say that the instrument panel with its old-style central display looks a bit dated compared to other luxury products – that’ll probably get sorted in the next update though.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

The ride is great, although those large wheels do make it a little knobbly, but the Bridgestone Duellers are good enough to make easy work of the city, the motorway or the rough stuff. Inside there is a terrain-selector system and you can choose between road, or sand, snow and rock – ok you probably won’t be choosing snow until the ice-age hits. You can also either leave the four-wheel drive in auto, or select 4-High, 4-Low and lock the rear diff.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

The performance is pretty solid, what’s more (and better) is the evocative V8 rumble it makes at over 3000rpm, which makes up for the lower speed drone you get. No performance figures are available, but with the 400bhp grunt and the 7-speed auto I would expect it to do the 0-100kph dash in about 8 seconds with a top speed probably around 200kph. Certainly feels a quick beast.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

Verdict

It may not be the utilitarian workhorse or supremely tune-able desert-trasher that the previous Patrol was (still actually available) but it’s soundly taken on the new persona of a luxury off-roader that is good in town and out in the wilds. It’s good enough to be a viable alternative to Range Rover, and it certainly renders academic its even more premium level cousin, the Infiniti Q… er… the big Infiniti version of this.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review Middle East

The price range is extensive, starting from as little as AED165k ($45k) for a base XE with less power (317bhp) and a five-speed auto (or six-speed manual for the lowest two trims), rising to AED257k ($70k) for the full option variant. Then the 400bhp with the seven-speed auto version starts at AED235k ($64k) for the LE-T1 rising up to AED305k ($83k) for LE Platinum City. These are the ones to get depending on the spec you want. The Nissan Patrol remains a compelling proposition and its sales success are proof of its popularity.

2014 Nissan Patrol Review – The Specs

Price:
LE – T1: AED235k ($64k)
LE – T2: AED264k ($72k)
LE – Platinum: AED287k ($78k)
LE – Platinum City: AED305k (83k)
Engine: 5.6-litre V8, 400bhp, 410lb ft
Transmission: 7-speed automatic, Four-wheel drive
Fuel Economy: 15L/100km (est)
Performance: 0-100kph 8.0 seconds, Top speed 200kph (est)
Weight: 2795kg

Batrol is best? Which big SUV would you opt for? Tell us below

 

5 responses to “2014 Nissan Patrol Review”

  1. Essa says:

    The new Y62 Patrol is a great SUV. Speaking about naysayers, they did criticise its sheer size and the shift from live front and rear axles to independents on all four corners. They believed that it would be difficult to live with around town and its axles wont be as rugged as the previous Y61 Patrol. However, Nissan proved them wrong and as you mentioned and the sales figures is the perfect indicator.

    I used to have a 2010 LE Patrol and used it for about 18 months and then traded it for the 2012 face lifted LX570. Although it’s interior feels more up scale then the Nissan yet, when it comes to drivetrain, technology, safety systems, passenger comfort and fuel consumption, then its a huge downgrade.

    Thanks for the review and specially those pics. The surroundings gives that colour an amazing effect.

  2. Ayaz S says:

    How much of a difference does the HBMCS make on driving.

    is the LE T2 worth an upgrade over LE T1. predominantly city driving.
    Cheers

  3. Wael says:

    Please send praise least Sent from my

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