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Sunday / 16 February 2025
HomeNewsNew Nissan Patrol for South Africa – Dates and details

New Nissan Patrol for South Africa – Dates and details

Nissan has unveiled the long-awaited next generation of its flagship Patrol, boasting more advanced underpinnings, a new design, and powerful V6 engines.

The Patrol is going on sale in the Middle East Region in November 2024, though local customers will have to wait a while longer before they can get their hands on the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 rival.

The local arm of Nissan told TopAuto that the Patrol is, in fact, earmarked for a South African introduction, but only toward the middle of 2026.

“The all-new Nissan Patrol is under evaluation to be launched in South Africa FY26, in the second half,” the subsidiary confirmed.

It did not clarify the reasons for the delay, however, we can assume that it is assessing the sales potential of its pinnacle SUV in a market where affordability reigns supreme.

Nissan recently discontinued the once-popular Qashqai in the domestic market.

In its latest generation, the crossover made noticeable leaps in terms of build quality, technology, and design which inevitably contributed to a rather high asking price given the substantial import tariffs levied on vehicles sourced from overseas markets.

Its sales consequently dwindled with its highest monthly tally, in its year and a half on sale, recorded at 168 units.

Nissan thus “reassessed” its line-up and ultimately decided that the Qashqai was no longer worth importing to South Africa, and it pulled the plug on the crossover in June 2024.

Being aware that one of its most affordable vehicles struggled to draw in customers in the local market, Nissan may be mulling over whether it would warrant the investment to even bring the new Patrol to our roads at all.

Being an import, and an already premium one at that, the Patrol may just prove to be too pricey to make it work in South Africa. We do hope Nissan can pull it off, though. This SUV looks stunning.

The ultimate Nissan

The new Patrol wears a thoroughly revised skin that is a clear evolution from its predecessor.

Up front, it features Nissan’s signature V-motion grille, now wider and more integrated into the body than before, bookended by Double C-shaped LED headlights.

The rear layout echoes that of the nose with a full-width light bar and squared-off tailgate, and it is available with a revised selection of alloy wheels measuring up to a formidable 22 inches in diameter.

Another fresh addition is the auto-activating puddle lamp that shines a motif of Patrol’s silhouette and the text “Since 1951” on the ground upon your approach to and exit from the SUV.

“This feature is a nod to the Japanese principle of omotenashi, or thoughtful hospitality, ensuring that every interaction with the Patrol feels special and welcoming,” the automaker said.

The interior of the Patrol has arguably seen the biggest progression of any facet of the SUV in the areas of design and technology.

It comes with new quilted leather seats with detailing inspired by the traditional Japanese wood craft, Kumiko, and select models offer massaging as well as eight-way electric adjustability functions.

Moreover, a sizeable panoramic sunroof is equipped as standard alongside the “Monolith” display on the dash comprising two 14.3-inch screens – one for driving info and the other for navigation, entertainment, and in-car features.

As an option, buyers can also get dual 12.8-inch screens for the rear seats, supporting entertainment on the go via Miracast, HDMI, or USB inputs.

Other highlights of the premium Nissan encompass 64-colour ambient lighting, a 12-speaker Klipsch Premium stereo, EZ flex chairs that enhance cabin space and facilitate easier access to the backseats, and power-folding third-row seats.

The cabin also benefits from an all-new frame with improved dynamic torsional rigidity for decreased vehicle vibration, damping acoustic glass for noise isolation, as well as elevated materials contributing to a quieter, more serene driving experience.

A comprehensive suite of assistance systems is at the driver’s disposal in the new Patrol through Nissan’s ProPILOT package.

This includes adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance which leverage navigation data to adjust vehicle speed for curves and interchanges.

Numerous cameras around the SUV’s perimeter also facilitate a 3D around-view monitor, as well as a Panorama View function that offers ultra-wide view and invisible hood view settings.

Additional features include an intelligent rear-view mirror and rear zoom view that enhance rear visibility, intelligent emergency braking with pedestrian detection, intelligent forward-collision warning, and rear automatic emergency braking.

All-round safety is also assured with a safety package comprising seven airbags and, for the very first time, knee airbags specifically designed to enhance the driver’s safety.

Getting to the meat of the Patrol, the large SUV comes with one of two V6 powertrains with the V8 of the outgoing generation now consigned to the annals of history.

Buyers therefore have the option between a new 3.5-litre, twin-turbo powerplant with 313kW and 700Nm; or a 3.8-litre, naturally-aspirated unit with 232kW and 386Nm.

Both options mesh with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a permanent four-wheel-drive system (4WD) and offer six distinct modes comprising standard, sand, rock, mud/rut, eco, and sport.

It also introduces a 4WD transfer mode interlock system, a first for Nissan, allowing drivers to seamlessly switch between modes and tackle challenging landscapes with ease.

Adaptive air suspension is another standard addition to the Patrol, providing improved on-road and off-road performance in comparison to its predecessor as well as easier ingress and egress.


Nissan Patrol


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