Nissan Patrol review, test drive

What is it like to drive?

The subject of the Patrol’s engine is a bit debatable. Debatable only because the Patrol doesn’t come with a diesel engine which is something that could limit its appeal in India. But let’s focus on the engine it does come with. The Patrol draws power from a massive 5.6-litre V8 that makes 400bhp and 56kgm of torque. And what an engine it is. It’s beautifully quiet and smooth at lazy speeds. But choose to press down on the accelerator and the soundtrack changes to a throaty V8 burble with a rapid build-up in pace. Nissan claims a 0-100kph time of just 6.6 seconds which, for an SUV that weighs 3.5 tonnes, is remarkable.

What also comes as a pleasant surprise is handling. Tall and heavy as a monument, the Patrol doesn’t feel all that wallowy. Body roll is pretty well-contained and a lot of that is down to what Nissan calls ‘Hydraulic Body Motion Control’. The system uses cross-linked hydraulic chambers integrated into each shock absorber to automatically control suspension travel. When cornering, roll stiffness is increased, reducing the amount of body lean over the outside wheels.

Even at low speeds, the Patrol is quite impressive in the sense it doesn’t drive as if it’s so heavy. The steering is light and makes the oversized SUV feel quite maneuverable. But maneuverability is just a pleasant add-on. What Patrols are best known for is their off-road ability and this one truly lives up to that reputation. In brief, the Patrol relies on all-independent suspension, full-time 4WD with selectable low range, Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist. There are also four- selectable off-road modes which function similar to Land Rover’s terrain response system. And, does the tech work. On the fairly challenging off-road course we let loose on, the Patrol was just plain and simply unstoppable. Little reason, the mighty Nissan is such a common sight on the dunes in the Middle East.