Nissan Patrol Size Does Matter

• Mark MusutuAfter World War II left Japan ravaged, the Japanese government looked to the auto industry to help it get its economy back on track. It asked the likes of Toyota and Nissan to build a utility vehicle in the same vein as Jeep.

In bidding for this government contract, Nissan came up with 4W60, but lost to Toyota.

Nissan, knowing very well that they had a winner, decided to export it to Russia and South America and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

The 4W60 has evolved or transformed into the Nissan Patrol.

Nissan Patrol has all along been a champion utilitarian, boasting a list of records and accomplishments up its sleeve and has had decades of bitter rivalry with the Toyota Land Cruiser, so much so that we can almost call it the opposite of the Land Cruiser or the perfect alternative.

If your existence dates back earlier than the 90s, you will remember the Nissan Patrol Super Roof, a car that was the ace of its time. I recall it being a government minister’s car, and that a few elite families had them.

But for some reason, the previous generations of Patrols that followed played second fiddle to Toyota’s Land Cruiser… Until recently.

When Nissan introduced the current generation Patrol in 2013, it refreshed the Patrol legacy due to the fact that the two previous generations were average and ‘just there’ vehicles. This current Patrol is nothing near average, most certainly above average, maybe even excellent.

The Patrol is a statement of size and beauty, sending a message to the auto industry and fellow SUVs that an SUV has to be this big, and has to look this good.

It certainly is the biggest in size in its segment – it’s about the size of a Cadillac Escalade – and has damn good looks. The current Patrol is loaded with a V8 mechanical volcano in its engine bay.

I must confess, I had never been much of a Nissan Patrol fan. For some reason I had some doubts about it until I saw other auto forums compare it to the best and mention it in rivalry against the likes of the Range Rover Vogue.

I as well considered the refinement of Nissan sedans such as the Teana, Altima, Cedric, and even older Nissans such as the Laurel and how refined they were. After this contemplation, I knew I had pre-judged it, forgetting that it carried a legacy of excellence. And after seeing one in white, I melted and it became a must-drive for me for months.

Lo and behold that fateful day came and I had a morning with it.

First impressions upon sitting in the driver’s seat: Nissan manners; refined indeed and in a spaced out way; no sense of heaviness as the leather is very fine; dials are simple and straight-forward with no fuss at all; the dash is neat with many buttons and controls in plain sight which is not so trendy today as it considered complicated.

Standard features for convenience and comfort include: Intelligent key and engine start/stop, programmable mirrors in line with sitting position, heating seats, sunroof, 12Vx4 sockets, rear power tailgate with auto close, centre console cool box, dual zone air-conditioning, DVD, MP3, USB, Bluetooth, and a premium Bose system with 13 speakers, for playing some Alicia Keys.

Pressing the start button gives life to the engine with signature sounds of refinement. I have noticed that car makers do try and make a car’s character match its sound, and the Patrol is one such a car.

I love sunroofs and I was quick to open it to enjoy the natural light beaming into the cabin.

Upon engaging into reverse, the mirrors tilt downwards to help reversing. This something I saw on the Cadillac Escalade and I was quick to connect that it was made with the American market in mind, mainly because of its size and that it’s a V8.

The Nissan Patrol has always been synonymous with power and has a potent 5,6l V8 guided by variable valve event and lift (VVEL) technology which improves efficiency, power and torque at low emissions, it’s a very smooth ride and a tame machine when rolling.

When I reached the highway, I immediately dared it by stepping deep onto the accelerator.

It responded with a grunt as it summoned its 400 horses and 560 Nm of displacement and rocketed past every car, giving a floating feeling.

I got instant backlash of pep as I dared it, thanks to a well-coordinating seven-speed gearbox.

At this point of my test drive, I could see why it’s a darling to the Middle East, Australia and the US – and a headache to its competition.

With massive presence and charismatic curves, the Patrol is a true head-turner. I could see onlookers visibly wish they were me, especially since there were two beautiful ladies (from the dealership) on board with me.

Your peace of mind is enhanced as you consider that Nissan Patrol has a safety concept called the safety shield, this encompasses comfortable driver seating, risk warnings, minimal damage in collision, high intensity discharge lighting, intelligent cruise control, bird’s eye view cameras, ABS, EBD, active head restraints, six airbags, crash sensitive door unlock and impact absorbing zone body construction.

Travelling the African terrain can be a challenge, especially beyond tar and concrete. Nissan has already done its homework concerning rugged terrain driving and has loaded the Patrol with technology that sets it apart in such a circumstances. This includes: Hydraulic body motion control (HBMC), helical limited slip differential (LSD), rear diff lock, active brake limited slip (ABLS), tire monitoring, hill start assist (HSA) as well as hill descent control (HDC).

If you are out to buy or drive an SUV and pass by a Patrol, you will be doing yourself an injustice as the it blends power, space, comfort, refinement, off-road ability, utility, good looks, safety, functionality, elegance, presence and affordability in a way that no other SUV can.