Nissan Patrol Ti-L 2024 review

On 1 January, 2025, the Australian Government will introduce NVES, or the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. With Australia wanting to target net zero emissions by 2050, NVES’ new standards aim to encourage auto importers to offer low-emission vehicles, taking a lead from countries such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom with their emissions regulations.

But this ultimately means pressure to offset thirsty large-displacement vehicles such as the Nissan Patrol with leaner electrified models through emissions trading, lest the more archaic motoring breeds face the potent chopping block.

On sale in Australia since 2013, the current Y62 Nissan Patrol has played a significant role in the large SUV, towing/touring and off-roader scenes, battling it out with its biggest rival, the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series.

But in 2024, the Patrol is starting to fall behind the Land Cruiser in terms of sales, but it still has one trick up its sleeve that defines its character: a big, hunking 5.6-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine.

Traditionally, Australians love a V8 engine. They’ve done so early Holden and Ford rivalry, but the world’s relationship with the bent-eight, at least in a big-displacement and naturally aspirated format touted by Patrol, is drawing to a close.

With displacement downsizing, the era of much more efficient turbocharging and more sophisticated ‘smart’ engines, the V8 is becoming less of what it was in the past.

The evidence is widespread. Toyota is discontinuing its 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8, Mercedes-AMG has scaled back on some of its 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 deployment, and even Dodge will produce electric muscle cars rather than supercharged V8 examples.

But Nissan isn’t giving up on offering a V8 engine just yet. It’s most certainly one of the core reasons why some Australians shop a Patrol over its natural Land Cruiser nemesis.

But with a Y63 next-gen Patrol, with its twin-turbo V6 power, now locked in for future release, is the Y62 Patrol a decent buy? Or even a smart one at that? And is it worth consideration over the newer, yet more expensive Land Cruiser 300 Series?

We drove the 2024 Nissan Patrol Ti-L for a week to find out.

What are the Patrol Ti-L’s features and options for the price?

The earlier this year, the Nissan Patrol received its MY24 update, which saw a small price rise across the three-variant range that includes the Ti ($88,900) and our test subject, the Ti-L ($101,600). Meanwhile, the off-roader Warrior went up by $3100, to $105,160.

The Ti-L is roughy $110,100 driveway in New South Wales.

As standard, the entry Patrol Ti has a long features list that includes:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen
• Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Analogue gauge cluster with small screen
• 15W wireless phone charger
• Centre cooler box
• Seven seat configuration
• Dual-zone climate control
• 10-way powered driver’s seat
• Eight-way powered front passenger seat
• Leather accented upholstery
• Front and rear disc brakes
• Hydraulic body motion control suspension with coil springs
• Multiple four-wheel-drive modes
• Rear differential lock

Ti-L specific features include:

• Driver’s seat memory function
• Power tailgate
• Roof rails
• Powered sunroof
• Heated and cooled front seats
• Electrically-adjustable steering column
• Six-speaker premium sound system

What’s new? Well, the 10.1-inch media system, which brings wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and…not much else.

A blend of USB-A and -C ports, a 15-watt smartphone charging pocket and a front-row cooling box for the base Ti round out the changes for 2024.

Towing is 3500kg braked and payload is a decent enough 639kg, which is ample capacity for most owners’ getaway swag needs. The fitment of the underslung full-size spare wheel bolsters Patrols credentials as a fully fit towing and touring machine.

How does the Patrol Ti-L drive?

Climbing, rather than slipping, into the giant Nissan Patrol is quite the experience. Once behind the wheel, you feel like you’re sitting on the SUV, rather than in it. It’s a strange sensation, especially for someone who usually drives small cars around the city.

Press the starter button and the 5.6-litre V8 fires to life. It’s actually pretty quiet, I’m genuinely surprised. Knock the gear selector back to drive, release the strange foot-operated parking brake and off I went into inner Sydney, probably the worst place to be test driving a 5175mm long SUV.

Once on the move and around town, the Patrol is comfortable and easy to drive. It’s pretty softly sprung and handles the worst Sydney roads fairly well. It does seem to bob around a fair bit, almost like a ship at sea, but you get used to that pretty quick.

It a large rig that demands care around town, especially in the inner city and particularly when tackling multi-story parking garages. The retail parking spots seem to be getting every smaller is an increasing challenge for vehicles this vast.

Its manner in stop-start traffic are decent enough. It’s not the tightest-shifting or most alert automatic, but there’s plenty of general refinement for the Patrol’s considerable age.

The flip-side is that does feel like a big, rolling lounge room. There are far less leisurely places you could spend caught in the peak-hour grind in the middle of a storm, where you can admire the fuel gauge dropping at a fairly alarming pace. But more on that later…

Up at highway speeds, the Patrol feels right at home. It gets into a nice groove and the big V8 hums away quietly. This is definitely where the Patrol feels most comfortable and where it is best suited.

Australians love to tour our great lands, so the Patrol is most certainly a suitable open road cruiser. It just eats up the kilometres during long hours in the saddle.

But the Patrol also feels its 2800kg kerb weight. There is certainly a feel of a high centre-of-gravity, with the Patrol pitching and rolling through corners, which is a little unnerving at times. It’s this lack of confidence which reminds you that this is no lightweight.

The vague and lifeless steering and modest grip when you do push on through corners on sealed roads doesn’t exactly instil huge confidence. Vastly newer machines, such as the new Lexus GX, prove that you can have a big, heavy, all-terrain-friendly machine and still yield cooperative dynamics and road holding.

Off the beaten tracks, the Patrol’s engine and seven-speed automatic transmission is a solid pairing and is mated to a full-time four-wheel drive system. It’s not the specialist that the mud-kicking Warrior is, but as a genuine all-terrain prospect it’s a solid touring all-rounder.

Like its Land Cruiser nemesis, the Patrol has long since proven its all-terrain credentials over time, in the Nissan’s case well over a decade.

Given this MY24 changes nothing in its on- or off-road capabilities, there’s really no news to tell with either.

There are different drive modes for on-road, sand and mud, as well as 4H and 4L settings. A rear differential lock and rear limited-slip differential is also standard.

I found myself by accident using the on-road four automatic setting and I have to say, the Patrol walked through each and every obstacle I faced with confidence. I was very impressed. “So that’s why people buy these big tanks!” I remember thinking at the time.

All in all, the Patrol hits its mark based on what it was built for: off-roading, touring and exploring. It’s a hefty thing, but is dependable and very solidly built. And that V8 engine is a real peach.

What is the Patrol Ti-L’s interior and tech like?

Inside the Nissan Patrol is where things start to feel their age. This Y62 launched in Australia in 2013 and hasn’t really changed that much since.

Material choice and quality is certainly up to today’s standards (and should be for a $100K-plus vehicle), with plenty of soft touch materials, however I’m not the biggest fan of the gloss brown inserts across the cabin and by the centre console area.

This interior reminds me a lot of what Mercedes-Benz and Volvo were doing in the early 2000s. However, despite this, it’s still a premium and comfortable place to spend time.

For 2024, the Patrol has gained a larger, much modern 10.1-inch touchscreen thanks to a collaboration with Directed Technologies. It looks sort of like an aftermarket setup, but it seems to work okay.

It’s pretty quick to pair wirelessly with Apple CarPlay, but I didn’t have much luck pairing my Google Pixel with it, even with a wired connection. The infotainment within the Directed Technologies screen is okay, but it doesn’t have much functionality and won’t tell you about the vehicle or its systems, which is a bit of a shame.

For the driver, the Patrol offers a largely analogue cluster, with physical gauges for speed, engine revs, fuel readout, engine oil temperature and water temperature.

The big missing point here is a digital speedo, or a head-up display. In 2024, it would have been nice to see these features on the Patrol. You do get a tiny screen in the centre, but it only displays a few features, such as fuel economy and trip computer.

And while the new and vastly more modern Y63 Patrol is coming soon, Nissan could have smartened up the technologies more so in Y62 guise, especially at this price point.

If you look at the Patrol’s current US cousin, branded as the Armada, it gains a much nicer and more modern interior, including a partially digital cluster and a larger, wider touchscreen. Why did we never get this in Australia?

Regardless of that point, the Patrol is well specced for the money and, in the front seat, has two cup holders, a wireless phone charger, heated and cooled electric seats, USB-C and USB-A charge outlets, a central cooler for drinks or food, a sunglasses holder and deep door bins for drink bottles.

Driving comfort is decent thanks to nicely upholstered leather seats, but they do lack some side to side bolstering and therefore I felt they were a little slippery on the move.

In the second row, it’s very spacious. Plenty of toe, knee and headroom make this space excellent for kids or adults.

The second row gains access to the cooler box between the front seats, two USB-A ports, rear ventilation, magazine pockets behind the front seats and a centre armrest with two cup holder slots built in.

As this Patrol is a seven-seater, the third row is a cramped place. It’s fine for kids, but too tight for adults, which is not surprising for this vehicle class. Rear air vents and four cupholders are standard for the third row.

In the boot, with all the seats up, luggage space is 467 litres, or up to 2623 litres with the second and third rows folded down.

Underneath the Patrol lies a full-size spare tyre, which is essential for this vehicle class and the type of touring many of its owners will be doing out in regional Australia.

All up, the Patrol is certainly feeling like retirement, but still brings plenty of charm thanks to a well-appointed interior, premium features and plenty of practicality and storage.

Is the Patrol Ti-L a safe car?

The 2024 Nissan Patrol is currently unrated with ANCAP, however, as standard, the model includes the following features:

• Front and side airbags for front passenger and driver
• Three rows of curtain airbags (no centre airbag fitted)
• Autonomous emergency braking system
• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Intelligent lane intervention
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 1080p reversing camera

In the real world, the Nissan won’t bug you by tugging at the wheel if you go off centre from your lane. It won’t jam the brakes on when you’re trying to park (thanks to rear AEB) and it won’t ping you if you go one kilometre over the speed limit by accident.

The reason for this is that it doesn’t have this tech to start with which makes for a much more peaceful and ‘in control’ daily driving experience.

It’s still safe enough in my books, but it would be nice to see the next Y63 Patrol be fitted with more active safety features, as well as a centre airbag.

What are the Patrol Ti-L’s ownership costs?

Nissan Australia has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty across its range of vehicles down under.

In terms of servicing, Nissan will charge $2717 for five years as part of its pre-paid service plan. Service intervals are every 10,000km, or 12 months, whichever occurs first.

In terms of fuel efficiency, Nissan states an official combined fuel claim of 14.4L/100km. During a big drive tackling 220km of mixed driving, we achieved 12.9L/100km. However, if you live in the city and commute in lower speed areas, be prepared to see 14L or 15L/100km.

If you’re going off-road, I saw as high as 18L/100km. And lastly, a lot of Aussies use the Patrol to tow caravans and boats.

On several forums, I researched that some people had previously claimed to get as high as 22L/100km economy when pulling something behind them.

And when you factor in that the Patrol requires 95 octane or higher to run, and has a 140-litre fuel tank, it could cost you close to, or more than $300 to fill up each and every time. Its thirst makes it expensive.

The honest verdict on the Patrol Ti-L

The 2024 Nissan Patrol remains a staple in Australia. It’s got a charming (and thirsty) V8 engine, it’s got an impressive, do-anything off-road attitude and it’s practical and spacious inside.

But the Nissan Patrol this late in its lifecycle is like that long-time veteran footballer that is too old but just won’t retire. The model is ageing inside and is just crying out for a new generation.

Sure, the Y63 has been unveiled recently, but as a tease of sorts the next generation isn’t due to arrive in Australia until 2026. And from first-hand experience, I can tell you that the next-generation is quantum leap in terms of modernising the Patrol breed.

Until then, the Y62 remains with all of its old-school charm and archaic foibles. And it will still satisfy a lot of Aussie buyers and touring and off-roading lovers as long as they can afford it.

Sure, you could go to Toyota and buy a Land Cruiser 300 Series, but the Land Cruiser is more expensive, at least in upfront pricing, and has a longer wait time.

I reached out to both Toyota and Nissan regarding wait times for the two vehicles, with the wait time for a Land Cruiser 300 Series being “under six months”. The wait time for a Patrol has traditionally been much shorter.