Nissan Patrol 2024 review: Warrior - off-road test

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 $101,160, 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.

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.

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 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.

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…

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.