THE UNDISPUTED TOWING kings in Australia, especially among Grey Nomads, have traditionally been the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol. Of course, there have been a number of recent arrivals keen to take the crown away, but it will be a tough challenge.
The new-look 2020 Nissan Patrol has been refreshed with a stylish new look and a range of Nissan Intelligent Mobility safety technologies added as standard equipment. It is on sale in Australia now.
The Nissan Patrol has been a mainstay of the Nissan range for almost 70 years, with 1.9 million global sales over six generations.
Redesigned, particularly at the front and rear, it now has improved ride comfort through changes to suspension tuning. There is also a revised colour palette and a range of added Nissan Intelligent Mobility safety technologies.
One of the pillars of Nissan Intelligent Mobility is Nissan Intelligent Driving which includes active safety technologies, helping take actions to avoid trouble.
Extensive front and rear alterations to both the Nissan Patrol Ti and the Patrol Ti-L have created a sleeker look to the vehicle, complementing its considerable size.
Distinguishing between the two grades, the Nissan Patrol Ti has a unique sporty front-end design, while the Patrol Ti-L front bumper wears a more premium look. Across both grades there have been changes to the bonnet and fender panels, front grille, LED front lamps and the front bumper.
The front and rear LED lamps are significantly improved, with 52 LEDs in the front headlight – plus the LED fog lamps – and a total of 44 LEDs in the rear.
The rear of the Patrol has also undergone a refresh with new boomerang-shaped LED taillights and a larger chrome nameplate. This update results in improved night-time visibility and a stronger road presence.
Like the front, the rear bumper is upright and angular. The 18-inch alloy wheels have also been updated.
Major technical changes to the 2020 Nissan Patrol have also increased safety. There is an increased suite of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) across the entire range and more Nissan Intelligent Mobility features.
Both grades now include the following updated technologies as standard equipment:
- Intelligent Emergency Braking
- Intelligent Forward Collision Warning
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
While the following are already standard on the Patrol Ti-L, the Patrol Ti now includes the following technologies:
- Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Intelligent Lane Intervention
- Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
- Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention
In addition to these technologies, both Patrol grades get outside power folding mirrors with auto-folding function.
While the Patrol Ti now has an auto anti-dazzle rear view mirror, the Ti-L continues to have the Intelligent Rear View Monitor. This enables the driver to see traffic conditions behind the car through the clear video imagery, as well as use the rear-view mirror to check on passengers and pets in the rear.
“The new-look Nissan Patrol is a head-turner with its refreshed design already driving buyer enquiries,” said Nissan Australia managing director Stephen Lester.
“We are excited to have the new Nissan Patrol on sale, it has made significant gains in its segment owing to its comfort, design, towing and driveability both on and off-road. Everyone who drives this spacious large SUV enjoys it.”
“We have seen a marked improvement in Patrol sales through our strong dealer sales performance, and we expect to see Patrol sales continue to rise”
Patrol owners will also enjoy a more comfortable drive thanks to a suspension retuning with improved dampers. The dampers have been enhanced to provide more dampening at a higher piston speed (frequency) zone. This gives better on-road ride comfort.
In addition to this, Patrol’s air conditioning system has been updated, providing improved airflow – particularly for rear seat passengers. Those seated in the front will notice improved climate control with increased air flow for faster cooling and a larger heating map built within the seat for better heating performance.
The 2020 Nissan Patrol is available in six contemporary colours including three new to the range: Moonlight White, Galaxy Gold & Hermosa Blue.
Nissan Patrol, regardless of grade, comes with a powerful 5.6 litre V8 petrol engine with 298kW of power and 560Nm of torque and a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC).
At home off the beaten track, Nissan Patrol features an electronic rear diff lock, Hill Descent Control (HDC) with on/off switch, Hill Start Assist (HAS) and an off-road monitor.
Patrol comes with an intelligent key with remote keyless entry, push button start, tri-zone climate air conditioning, cruise control, sat nav with 3D mapping, an 8-inch colour touch screen display, and heated door mirrors.
Nissan Patrol is covered by Nissan’s 5 year/unlimited kilometre warranty
2020 Nissan Patrol MSRP Pricing (plus on road costs)
Nissan Patrol Ti $75,990
Nissan Patrol Ti-L $91,990
Once we have tested and assessed the new Nissan Patrol, seniordriveraus will bring you a comprehensive review, including everything the over-50 driver needs to know.