Cross Country in the Nissan Patrol V8 LE Premium

By Chad Lückhoff

Luxury is a language which is spoken all over the world but it's the dialect that is often very different. Depending on who you speak to, luxury can be defined by technological excellence and electronic whiz-bangery. Some will say it's walls of walnut burr and Nappa leather while others define it as sensory deprivation. No matter what your take is on it, motor manufacturers will try and cram as much “luxury” into their high-end vehicles as is humanly possible.

Unless you're Nissan.

The latest version of the ever-popular Nissan Patrol takes a considerably more utilitarian approach to the luxury theme. Fans of luxury SUVs that hail from the European and British shores will find the Patrol to be a little strange. In a way, the Patrol tries too hard to combine opulent trimmings and modern functionality into a package that its, for the lack of a better word, ostentatious.

The Patrol is big, no really, it is. Regular parking bays just won't do and you'll end up leaving either a wheel over a line or the backside of the sizeable seven-seater hanging in traffic. It has an unmissable presence but in and around town it could be considered too much for the mere mortal. That's not to say that traffic is difficult; the high seating position gives you a wonderful view out over the melee of hatchbacks commuting too and fro. You ride high, like a king in a sedan chair, riding on the shoulders of others. It's just the sheer dimensions that require careful thought before one executes a manoeuvre.

It's not the exterior that appears ostentatious though as the new Patrol carries it's traditional boxy and rugged good looks. It's squared off jawline and angular shoulders create the sense of purpose and while the rear taillights may seem a little mismatched with their chrome surrounds and LED illumination, the Patrol is well proportioned for a seven-seater, and this form-over-function approach is not without reason. There's also the question of the chrome fender vents, a discussion that brings much merriment.

While it may seem a little softer and designed more for the urban jungle rather than the Amazon jungle, the Patrol is a hugely capable machine with a rugged four-wheel drive system. Trotting around the highways and by-ways will see the Patrol in a rear-drive-only mode, reducing frictional losses and saving fuel. Let the going get a little rougher and the All-Mode 4-wheel drive system will send up to 50% of the power to the front wheels for a true all-wheel drive attitude. The system can be switched to a permanent 4WD setup and for the really hairy stuff, a low-range function is available, allow the behemoth to traverse rocky terrain at a crawling pace.

Providing the shove is a rather hefty 5.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol V8 that churns out a boggling 298kW (400hp) of power with an equally staggering 560Nm torque. The numbers read impressive but the truth is that the Patrol weighs over 2.7 tonnes and this stunts the performance, but not so that you would say that the 5.6-litre VK56VD engine is pointless. The Patrol will still gather speed at an alarming rate and combined with the exceptionally smooth 7-speed automatic gearbox, overtaking is a breeze. Powering past lesser peasants on the road, the Patrol is a long distance cruiser barre none; and this is where we tested it and revelled in its composure.

In town, the hearty V8 will swallow fuel at an alarming rate but on the open road, with the adaptive cruise control set at a respectable pace, the consumption figures tumble to a more palatable 11.8l/100km. This means that is you hit the long road in the Patrol, the 100 (+40) litre tank will carry you well over 1000km on a single tank – truly acceptable for a naturally aspirated petrol V8 of this size.

The road manners are just as impressive and the Patrol will track straight and true at nearly any speed. The generous suspension travel and healthy sidewalls provide ample articulation to provide a smooth and comfortable ride. It's complemented by the supportive seating, if only for your rear and doing little to counter lateral movement. Indeed, the seats are more bench-like with very little side support, but when you require a step ladder to alight, not having bolsters isn't a bad thing.

The interior is questionable and there is no doubt that the likes of Land Rover and Audi do interiors better, but when you take the utilitarian approach of the Patrol into account, the few trim and design shortcomings are almost justified. Some may prefer the opulence offered in the others but the Nissan Patrol is a burly, go-anywhere machine with proper seating for seven and a heart that never says die.

It's easy to see why the Patrol is a sales success in the vast wilderness of the Australian outback and in the sandy dunes of the Middle East. With the inclusion of Nissan's Intelligent mobility technology, the Patrol is now even more ready for the concrete wastelands. Intelligent mobility sees the Patrol fitted with a variety of safety systems that include Blind Spot Intervention, Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control, Driver Awareness analysis, Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Intervention, Ride Control to smooth out surface imperfections, Trace Control for improved cornering and Lane Departure Warning.

The Patrol isn't cheap, but if you're looking for the ultimate cross-country bruiser, you could do a lot worse than the almighty Nissan. The Patrol V8 LE Premium retails for R1 339 000 and ensures peace of mind with a 6-year / 150 000km warranty and comprehensive 3-year / 90 000km service plan.