Bloglogo
Road Test: 2013 - 2014 Nissan Patrol
Car Reviews

Road Test: 2013 - 2014 Nissan Patrol

·
May 20,2013
·
6 min read

Tags:

 

2013 Patrol, is claimed by Nissan as the Hero of all Terrain! Is it really so? Well, we find out:

Style

The 2013 Patrol is the same as the 2012 Patrol except the new DRLs. It stands tall with the off-road bumpers and has one of the best approach, ramp-over and departure angles for a stock vehicle. The interior is well appointed and the dashboard and center console layout is quite user friendly and one of the easiest to use, especially the Navigation. The fit and finish is above average with no squeaks and rattles.

Like a few other SUV’s the Patrol also doesn’t have locking rear seat belts that can be used to restrain kids and their car seats. However it has anchor points for child seats but a majority of child car seats don’t come with a strap for the child seat anchor point.

Power and Transmission

The Patrol come in two options for the engine, both a 5.6-liter V8  but delivering 320 horsepower in the SE and a VVEL engine with a 400 horsepower in the LE trim, with most of the turning power available at as low as 1600 RPM. The transmission is seven-speed automatic and comes with 4A, 4H & 4L modes on the transfer case and selectable terrain response via switches allowing respective tire slippage. In simple words, it's built for off-roading!

The range starts with an SE option with a manual transmission at AED 184,000, and the LE starts at AED 284,000. The LE doesn’t come with a manual gearbox option. The seven speed auto gearbox is an unsung hero in the Patrol’s ‘Hero’ badge. The ratios are just perfect for our kind of off-roading (Read: Dune Smashing!).

In our on road testing we were able to do 0-100 kmph in just about 8 seconds and upto 140 kmph in 14 seconds (see videos below), fast for a full-size SUV and the maximum speed it allows to be driven is unknown to us as it did not cut off when we ran out of road at 220 kmph.

We were able to get an average fuel economy of 3.7kms/ Lt in city (with un-aggressive  driving) and about 9kms/ Lt on highway with average speeds of 90 kmph and an overall average of 4kms/Lt combined. As in most off road conditions the fuel consumption almost doubles but averages pretty nice. The Patrol was able to brake from 120-0 kmph in less than 4 seconds.

 

Drive Characteristics

The V8 doesn’t really have a deep growl but it kind of sings in a high pitch like a super car. It is fast and reaches the high notes quickly and urges you to rev it higher, but is quiet on cursing speeds. Overall the drive is pleasant but the steering is flat yet responsive with a less than acceptable feedback despite which one doesn’t feel the weight and size of the vehicle. The gear changes are fast and efficient and one doesn’t feel them at all.

One can however continuously feel a slight vibration in the steering and pedals when cursing. The ride on-road is not as smooth as we would expect at high speeds. 

Once one gets off the road the suspension works really well and one could almost not be worried about the clearances. Approach angle is really high and better than competition even with the stock off-road bumper. Also helping off road is the increased ground clearance due to an all-independent suspension (which allows the differentials to be mounted closer to the body).

The suspension in the top trims does not have shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. It has a system called ‘Hydraulic body Motion Control’ which is a closed loop self correcting hydraulic system and is pretty quiet. It is smooth and just absorbs the thuds and bumps if you go over speed breakers, potholes and bumps on and off the road. HBMC does not use a power source and hence there is no impact on fuel consumption and its effectiveness is felt as the Patrol glides over bumps, and is quite flat while cornering and there is virtually no transverse ‘shake’ (often noticeable in large SUVs). It adds to the Patrol’s off-road capability due to instant adjustment and longer travel – easing the ride, making for easier extrication from large holes and better traction over the crests of sand dunes and doesn’t let the driver feel the lack of anti-roll bars in the double wishbone suspension.

The traction control and stability control can be switched off completely via the provided switch and it has a locking rear differential which can be engage only in the 4L mode to get one out of a diagonal stuck.

The Patrol has almost no wind noise and tyre noise insulation is apparent. This makes the interiors a quite place to be in.

Interior Space & Comfort

The seats are comfortable and the leather used is pretty decent. There’s plenty of room all round, and the cabin width permits a cool box in the upper trims. It is large enough to swallow a 2 liter water bottle with a few small ones or about 12 cans of soda and chill it in a short time. It also has clever front and rear hinges for access by both front and second row occupants.

The front seats are quite broad but quite flat. Comfortable on a straight road but don’t really hold the occupants off-road and one needs to use their knees, and hand to stay put in speedy maneuvers. Second row seating is a great strength of the Patrol’s interior and makes for limousine-like rear legroom even with the front seats pushed back all the way. The third row can accommodate adults on short trips, while small legroom is balanced by reclining backrests. The cargo area that remains with the third row upright is just about ok and not so much compared to certain competition.

The A/C is a tri-zone blessing with ‘air curtain’ vents for the rear rows and the front cooling seats are a must have with the leather option. There is no Pedal adjustment even in the top most trim.

The sound system is nice and does not crackle even at high volume with a high bass. It comes with a speed sensitive automatic volume adjustment. The video can be played on the front center display when the vehicle is stationary only and on the dual headrest displays all the time. The AV system, on the higher models, is a tri-zone entertainment system with the capability of playing from three different sources on the three display screens and audio via supplied wireless headphones.

Verdict

Excellent off-roader and great on-road drive as well, though at high speeds not the best. Comfortable interior too with decent, quality equipment. 

Starting at the base price of AED.184,000 for the SE with Manual gearbox, the Patrol is not cheap. The other trims being the LE starting at AED. 284,000 up to AED 329,000

Images:

Got a comment? Post it below:


Do you want to sell your car for FREE?
We have everything that makes it easier for you to sell your car on our platform quickly
Sell your car 100% absolutely free on YallaMotor.
200+ Cars Sold Everyday.
115,000+ Satisfied Sellers.
500,000+ Monthly Buyers.
POPULAR TAGS

FROM THIS WEEK
Comprehensive Guide to Renew Your Driving License in Dubai
28 March 2024
|
Road Regulations
Infiniti QX80 2025: A Peek into the Future of Luxury SUVs
25 March 2024
|
New Launches
How to Sell Your Old Car Online in Dubai?
23 March 2024
|
Yallamotor Tips

Search more than 32,316 used cars in the UAE
Select Make
Select Model
Select Year

LOOKING FOR USED CARS INSTEAD?

OTHER USED CARS IN UAE