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Nissan Patrol 2024 review: Warrior - off-road test

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Likes

  • Big SUV packaging
  • V8 performance
  • Impressive off-road capability

Dislikes

  • Thirsty
  • Dated
  • Feathery steering
Byron Mathioudakis
Contributing Journalist
5 Oct 2023
14 min read

Can you imagine General Motors somehow launching a special edition of the Commodore… today?

That’s what it feels like approaching yet another variation of Nissan’s sixth-generation Patrol, which was originally released the same month as the Holden back in early 2013.

Good thing, then, that the result is different enough to warrant much closer scrutiny, thanks to Victorian vehicle engineering specialists Premcar’s off-road modifications prowess.

The question is though: is the new Patrol Warrior better enough?

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

Let’s address the great big blingy elephant in the room. The Y62 Patrol is no spring Godzilla.

In fact, it was revealed internationally three whole years before 2013, meaning Nissan’s answer to the Toyota LandCruiser is about to turn 14.

And, back then, many traditional Australian Patrol fans were up in arms. Gone was the diesel, for a massive petrol V8; prices started well above where the previous Y61 flagship finished – and that’s north of $100K in today’s money. And there wasn’t even a manual.

The Patrol Warrior kicks off from 1,160, before on-road costs.
The Patrol Warrior kicks off from 1,160, before on-road costs.

The big Nissan 4WD wagon pretty much completely abandoned its working-class roots.

Minor updates since then tried to keep things fresh, notably a big facelift in 2019, but the 4x4 continued to be an upmarket proposition, ignoring the old rough-and-ready go-anywhere reputation fostered over the previous five generations.

Which is where the Warrior steps in.

The Patrol Warrior boats a 50mm ride-height lift and 40mm wider tracks.
The Patrol Warrior boats a 50mm ride-height lift and 40mm wider tracks.

Kicking off from $101,160, before on-road costs, this Patrol isn't exactly affordable, since it commands a hefty $16,260 premium over the entry-level Ti eight-seater it’s based on. Hang on, wasn’t Ti Nissan-speak for top-of-the-line? Confusing.

Anyway, the company reckons context is needed, since that price is substantially less than rival off-road focused three-row equivalents, like the $143K-plus LandCruiser GR-S and Land Rover Defender 130. The latter starts at nearly 50 per cent more than the Warrior.

And if it’s a seven-seater (or more) V8 petrol SUV you want, the next cheapest is the Audi SQ7 from $165K, or Defender 130 P500 from $240K…

The grille, bumpers and tow bar have all been modified.
The grille, bumpers and tow bar have all been modified.

Seen this way, that’s a decisive value win for the Nissan in our books.

So, what does the Warrior bring to the Patrol?

You’ll immediately spot the raised suspension, for starters, with a 50mm ride-height lift (29mm of that is suspension, the other 21mm due to different tyre package) and 40mm wider tracks, but there’s much more going on under there, like the retuned hydraulic body motion-control system, revised front and new multi-rate rear springs, upgraded rear bump stops, the addition of a stainless-steel bi-modal side exit exhaust, and an increase in total GVM.

The plastic wheel arch surrounds and 18-inch alloys on all-terrain tyres are new.
The plastic wheel arch surrounds and 18-inch alloys on all-terrain tyres are new.

The grille, bumpers and tow bar have all been modified, the plastic wheel arch surrounds and 18-inch alloys on all-terrain tyres are new, there’s a Warrior-branded bash plate, twin rather than single recovery points have been added, and there are some subtle badges telling the world what you’re driving.

Oh, and the dated old wood grain’s been binned for Alcantara door and dash inlays as well as some gloss black inserts.

Being Ti based means you’ll also find a rear helical limited slip differential, surround-view camera with off-road monitor, tri-zone climate control with second-row air-con controls, powered and heated front seat, leather, keyless entry/start, heated/powered/folding door mirrors and an embarrassingly outdated 8.0-inch central touchscreen offering sat-nav and access to a CD/DVD player, MP3, Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming.

Upfront is an 8.0-inch central touchscreen offering sat-nav.
Upfront is an 8.0-inch central touchscreen offering sat-nav.

Plus, there are a few driver-assist tech items like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. More on those in the Safety section below.

But if you want a phone charger, USB-C outlets, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a sunroof or powered tailgate in your Warrior, you’re out of luck.

This is a bush basher, not a glamper. Just look at it…

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?

Parked side-by-side with a regular version, the newcomer stands 50mm taller yet looks tougher with 40mm wider tracks altering the 4x4’s stance.

With that lifted front bumper and lipstick-red Warrior bash plate up front, you can be forgiven for thinking this is simply a Patrol with botox and lipstick. But both provide vital off-road functionality.

They also expose the uprated springs and dampers that result in longer wheel travel. Collectively they contribute 29mm to the added height.

Premcar’s other mods further improve the Y62’s exterior aesthetics – which, to be fair, have aged well, since the basic, boxy and broad proportions were ahead of their time back 2010, while the facelift nine years later did usher in a more contemporary face still found on other (newer) Nissans today.

Anyway, ditching chrome for gloss black modernises the old timer, as do the plastic wheel arch mouldings and handsome series-specific 18-inch alloys wearing balloon-ish off-road tyres. Caked mud, not mud cake, is on the menu for this adventurous social climber.

Around the right side of the Warrior are twin bimodal exhaust outlets, which look good and sound epic.

The exposed uprated springs and dampers result in longer wheel travel.
The exposed uprated springs and dampers result in longer wheel travel.

You’ll also find some tasteful graphics that are redolent of ‘80s and ‘90s Japanese 4WD wagons. Like the rest of Premcar’s work, they look like they were factory-fitted.

Finally, the height and redesigned rear bumper means a revised towbar, while two rather than one tow hook has been incorporated back there. Handy.

Premcar has also taken a similar, subtle-yet-effective approach to updating the Warrior’s cabin. Less Dubai, more Dakar.

The twin bimodal exhaust outlets look good and sound epic.
The twin bimodal exhaust outlets look good and sound epic.

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?

Somebody at Nissan in Japan please commission Premcar to permanently decorate their flagship SUV interiors.

Out goes the 2010-era Y62’s dated old wood and chrome bits, and in comes smart Alcantara and glossy black trim inlays. They’re really only small nods to modernity, and cannot overcome the sheer age of this interior, but at least it’s more tasteful now.

Otherwise, this is run-of-the-mill Patrol.

The Patrol Warrior's interior is clad in Alcantara and glossy black trim inlays.
The Patrol Warrior's interior is clad in Alcantara and glossy black trim inlays.

The interior is vast, with plenty of height, width and length, for up to eight people, as well – two up front and three people in the second and third rows.

And even with all seats occupied, there’s still 467 litres of cargo capacity – ballooning to 1413L in five-seat mode.

Deep windows provide decent all-round vision, further enhancing a sense of occasion. It might be getting on, but the big Nissan 4WD wagon still lords it over most other traffic.

The interior is vast, with plenty of height, width and length, for up to eight people.
The interior is vast, with plenty of height, width and length, for up to eight people.

The material quality and fit-and-finish are on a par with luxury SUV expectations, aided by big comfy seats – which are powered and heated for the first-row occupants – ample ventilation from the tri-zone climate control system and lots of storage. Most controls are within reach, too. 

This is a far cry from your uncle’s 1985 MQ Patrol inside. Well, maybe the foot-operated park brake isn’t. And the small 8.0-inch touchscreen is from another era, as well.

In fact, there are several things that really are annoying about the Patrol, and none of them have to do with Premcar.

The Warrior misses out on a digital speedo.
The Warrior misses out on a digital speedo.

Top of the list is the dated dash, which would be familiar to anybody with a late-2000s Maxima or Murano (remember them?), and it really shows.

The layout is messy, with multiple buttons for items that just require a single one, while several are hidden, as well. And the driver-information screen is ugly and complicated, as an attempt to decipher trip-computer data reveals.

We’ve already mentioned the AWOL, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and smartphone charger, but having no digital speedo is a misstep. And be grateful that you at least get a USB-A outlet. The camera resolution isn’t brilliant, either.

The material quality and fit-and-finish are on a par with luxury SUV expectations.
The material quality and fit-and-finish are on a par with luxury SUV expectations.

Moving on to the second row, meanwhile, is a treat.

You feel cocooned perched up there in your luxury Nissan SUV. With enough width, three people can sit across each of the two rear rows, and the backrests recline a little for added comfort.

The usual, expected amenities are present. Air vents up in the ceiling, overhead lights as well, extra storage, a folding armrest with cupholders, those air-con controls.

However, it’s worth keeping in mind that the middle seat is set up for left-hand-drive and not right-hand-drive, as the smaller portion that should be on the Australian kerbside so only one and not two passengers have to get out to allow for fold-and-tumble third-row access is actually on the road side.

Almost everybody is guilty of this (including the Australian designed and engineered Ford Everest) except Toyota. Maybe that’s why it’s number one.

Anyway, access to the third row is a tug of a lever away, as the backrest folds onto the cushion and tumbles forward automatically, creating enough space for unencumbered passage.

The Warrior comes with a full-sized spare tyre.
The Warrior comes with a full-sized spare tyre.

Once sat, there’s sufficient space for a 178cm adult, along with more air vents, cupholders and grab handles. And getting out again is simple, too. Smart packaging, Nissan.

Keep in mind, too, that, even with all rows occupied, there’s a reasonably capacious cargo area, with tall sides and a flat floor, offering enough space for shopping and that sort of thing. Good work, Nissan. No powered tailgate is a drag at this price point, though.

A full-sized spare lives underneath the floor, and is accessed below the Warrior.

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission?

Remember, that engine is a petrol, not a diesel, V8.

A real highlight of any Y62 Patrol if you’re not paying the fuel bills, the 5552cc 5.6-litre quad-cam V8 pumps out 298kW of power at a heady 5800rpm, and 560Nm of torque at 4000rpm

Premcar has made no modifications to this (VK56VD) unit, but says using 98 RON ultra-premium ups the kilowattage above 300kW.

As it stands, running on 95, it offers a power-to-weight ratio of 103kW/tonne – pretty good for a 2884kg luxury 4x4.

Under the Warrior's bonnet is a 5552cc 5.6-litre quad-cam V8.
Under the Warrior's bonnet is a 5552cc 5.6-litre quad-cam V8.

That kerb weight is up 72kg over the normal Ti.

Meanwhile, a seven-speed torque-converter automatic with a manual mode transmits drive to either the rear wheels or all four wheels via an electronic 4WD transfer case. 

There’s the usual '2WD', '4WD High' and '4WD Low' range choices, as well as a limited-slip differential, an electronic rear diff lock and hill descent control.

Towing capacity remains the same as regular Patrols, at 3500kg with a braked trailer and 750kg unbraked.

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range?

Like all Patrols, the Warrior prefers 95 RON premium unleaded – and please be aware it needs 140 litres of the stuff to fill the tank up.

Officially, Nissan says this car averages 14.4L/100km on the combined cycle – for a carbon dioxide emissions rating of an abysmal 334 grams/km.

The same as all Patrols (despite the Warrior’s extra heft, girth and lift), this means you could theoretically manage over 970km between refills. The other metrics are 11.0L/100km on the highway cycle and 20.2 around town.

However, our trip computer rarely fell into the teens, averaging 20.0L/100km – and that was after a post-off-road 4WD course reset. The best readout we witnessed was 19.6.

Officially, Nissan says the Warrior averages 14.4L/100km on the combined cycle.
Officially, Nissan says the Warrior averages 14.4L/100km on the combined cycle.

Driving – What's it like to drive?

One of the reasons you’d buy a Patrol is because it is one of the few remaining petrol-powered V8 SUVs left on the market, certainly at round $100K.

From a drivability point of view, that eight-pot screamer does not disappoint. It takes off smoothly and smartly, thanks to a nicely-calibrated auto shifting away seamlessly below you.

When you’re in pussyfooting mode, the Warrior possesses the same sense of premium refinement as the regular version.

And though, at nearly 2.9 tonnes, the Patrol is never going to be a drag star, there’s certainly enough muscle for strong step-off performance. All those cubic inches provide decent momentum for a proper turn of speed for something so big.

The Patrol is one of the few remaining petrol-powered V8 SUVs left on the market.
The Patrol is one of the few remaining petrol-powered V8 SUVs left on the market.

But here’s the thing. You don’t need to be going fast to savour that V8 soundtrack. Thanks to the Premcar bimodal exhaust, all you need do is tap down a ratio or two, and the resulting howl is thunderous… and really, quite intoxicating. It is a magnificent melodramatic musical symphony.

The aural experience stays with you long after you’ve parked up. Keep that in mind when you’re pouring hundreds of dollars into that petrol tank.

What you’re less likely to forget is how overly light and numb the rack and pinion steering feels. Great for low-speed parking, but a bit too nervous at speed, especially at the modest (still legal) velocities the Patrol punches so effortlessly to.

There’s not enough weight or feedback for the driver to relax when taking a fast corner. There’s quite a bit of body lean too, and that doesn’t help.

From a drivability point of view, the eight-pot screamer does not disappoint.
From a drivability point of view, the eight-pot screamer does not disappoint.

It’s such a shame, because this aspect detracts so much of the Warrior’s inherently sorted on-road driving characteristics.

As expected, the suspension upgrades work well on the highway, absorbing bumps without disturbing the occupants. And there isn’t the level of tyre or road noise intrusion you’d expect from a 4x4 with so much bandwidth off-road.

Speaking of which, what is the Warrior really like off-road?

Like every generation since the first Willys Jeep-based 4WD of 1951, the sixth-gen Patrol uses body-on-frame construction.

Unsurprisingly, the Nissan offers exceptional off-road capability.
Unsurprisingly, the Nissan offers exceptional off-road capability.

It features independent double-wishbones and coil spring suspension all round, and – as a Warrior – boasts 50mm more ground clearance, 40mm wider tracks, better approach and departure angles and 120kg greater Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM).

Unsurprisingly, the Nissan offers exceptional off-road capability. A convoy clambered down and up part of the spectacular Climies 4WD Track in Tasmania, which is rated as very difficult, with no punctures or hold-ups.

The Warrior has the added clearances and suspension travel, in conjunction with the appropriate power, 4x4 gearing and differentials, to make amateurs look and feel like professionals.

It performed the task in comfort and with relative ease – with the assistance of experienced helpers!

The Warrior took on the Climies 4WD Track with no punctures or hold-ups.
The Warrior took on the Climies 4WD Track with no punctures or hold-ups.

And, speaking of experience, keep an eye out for our very own Marcus Craft’s definitive and comprehensive off-road review of the new Y62 Patrol Warrior, coming to CarsGuide.com.au as well as the CarsGuide YouTube channel very, very soon.

As it stands, then, Premcar’s second model line is extremely impressive off-road, whilst improving an ageing on-road driving experience.

We wish there was the budget for further upgrades to the steering feel, and the fuel consumption can be excessive as per all Y62s, but the Warrior is the most enjoyable and capable current-gen Patrol we’ve driven to date.

Even if it is such a dated proposition. Premcar has injected new life into an old bus.

The Warrior performed the task in comfort and with relative ease.
The Warrior performed the task in comfort and with relative ease.

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating?

Despite having about a dozen years to do so, no Y62 Patrol has been crash-tested by ANCAP, so we cannot give you a safety rating for Warrior.

Don’t worry, though. Being Ti-based, on paper you ought to be in good hands, with AEB, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning/intervention, blind-spot warning/intervention, adaptive cruise control and traffic pressure monitors, along with dual front airbags, front-side and curtain airbags for all three rows.

There is no specific data for the Patrol’s full range of AEB operating speeds, but Nissan says its ‘Forward Collision Warning’ systems commence at 5.0km/h, and that takes in AEB for vehicle-to-vehicle detection.

The Patrol Warrior is fitted with automatic LED headlights.
The Patrol Warrior is fitted with automatic LED headlights.

For the US-market Y62 Armada version, the AEB is functional for pedestrian detection between 10-60km/h.

Also fitted are electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, 'Electronic Brakeforce Distribution', traction control, 'Hill Start Assist', front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera with moving-object detection and off-road view, and automatic LED headlights.

Lastly, two ISOFIX latches and a pair of anchor points are incorporated into the middle seat.

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?

Like all Nissans, the Patrol comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, as well as five-years of roadside assistance.

Service intervals are at 12-months or 10,000km, with capped price service rates published on Nissan’s website.

Over six years the average price rounds out to $626 annually, totalling $3758 in that period.

And, rest assured. All of Premcar’s additional items are also covered by the same warranty as Nissan’s, and any issues will be handled at an authorised Nissan dealer across Australia.

The Patrol Warrior is covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
The Patrol Warrior is covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

Verdict

Yep, as with the Navara, the Warrior is the best version of the current Patrol you can buy.

It’s stronger off-road, maintains that on-road refinement as well as V8 performance, and now sounds monumental. And because Premcar banished all that extraneous chrome and wood grain bits, it no longer seems quite so dated.

Furthermore, given all that 4x4 capability, the Warrior seems like good value for money from around $105,000, when most rivals with equivalent specification start from a whole lot more.

But it’s getting old inside, it uses too much fuel, and let’s face it, there’s a new Y63 Patrol just around the corner. See past those things, though, and you’ve landed yourself a comparatively attainable go-anywhere off-roader eight-seater SUV – and at that price, you won’t do better.

Pricing Guides

$93,812
Price is based on the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the lowest priced Nissan Patrol 2024 variant.
LOWEST PRICE
$84,900
HIGHEST PRICE
$105,160
Byron Mathioudakis
Contributing Journalist
Byron started his motoring journalism career when he joined John Mellor in 1997 before becoming a freelance motoring writer two years later. He wrote for several motoring publications and was ABC Youth radio Triple J's "all things automotive" correspondent from 2001 to 2003. He rejoined John Mellor in early 2003 and has been with GoAutoMedia as a senior product and industry journalist ever since. With an eye for detail and a vast knowledge base of both new and used cars Byron lives and breathes motoring. His encyclopedic knowledge of cars was acquired from childhood by reading just about every issue of every car magazine ever to hit a newsstand in Australia. The child Byron was the consummate car spotter, devoured and collected anything written about cars that he could lay his hands on and by nine had driven more imaginary miles at the wheel of the family Ford Falcon in the driveway at home than many people drive in a lifetime. The teenage Byron filled in the agonising years leading up to getting his driver's license by reading the words of the leading motoring editors of the country and learning what they look for in a car and how to write it. In short, Byron loves cars and knows pretty much all there is to know about every vehicle released during his lifetime as well as most of the ones that were around before then.
About Author
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