Nissan Australia has finally fully detailed its hotly-anticipated Patrol Warrior, the new flagship version of the company’s popular 4×4 which is targeted directly at hardcore off-roaders and created based off their real-world feedback.
Developed specifically for the Australian market by Premcar – the outfit previously behind Ford Performance Vehicles – and priced at $101,160 before on-road costs, the Patrol Warrior is based on the entry-level Ti variant but adds a long list of attractive upgrades to enhance its capability, presence, refinement, and soundtrack. Indeed, it was these four points which were the key pillars of Premcar’s work.
Capability has been enhanced with a drastic 50mm lift – 29mm from the suspension, and 21mm from its wheel and tyre package – along with a 40mm wider track. This has bumped its approach angle up to 40 degrees, although its departure angle is 23.3 degrees with a towbar fitted. Mind you, the towbar has been specially developed to include two recovery points and to accomodate a matching full-size spare wheel.
The suspension updates are particularly thorough to raise its on-road refinement as much as its ground clearance, with re-developed front springs, new multi-rate rear springs, and new progressive rate rear bump stops. The Patrol’s Hydraulic Body Motion Control suspension system has also been re-engineered and tuned by Premcar.
Additionally, the Patrol Warrior has been given a 120kg GVM upgrade, allowing it to carry 48kg more in the cabin while also maintaining the Patrol’s 3500kg braked towing capacity.
Visually, the Patrol Warrior is set apart with a red bash plate, black wheel arches, black mirror caps, a black grille, new rear bumper design, and special 18-inch alloy wheels shod in Yokohama G015 295/70 All-Terrain tyres, all of which boosts its presence.
With the Warrior retaining the regular Patrol’s 5.6-litre naturally aspirated V8, the soundtrack has also been amped up with a 409 stainless steel bi-modal exhaust system with side exit pipes. Power remains unchanged at 298kW/560Nm, and the Patrol’s seven-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive system also remain.
Inside, the cabin has been lifted with Alcantara inlays on the door cards and dashboard, the latter also featuring a Warrior-branded inlay. There’s also the use of piano black trim on the centre console in place of the regular Patrol’s somewhat dated wood trim.
Being based on the Ti variant, the Nissan Patrol Warrior features seating for eight, rather than seven like in the Ti-L. However, this does mean it misses out on features such as heated and ventilated seats, a Bose Audio system, and a sunroof.
The Patrol Warrior marks the fourth collaboration between Nissan Australia and Premcar following the 2020 Navara N-Trek Warrior, 2022 Navara PRO-4X Warrior, and 2022 Navara SL Warrior. All re-engineering of the Patrol to turn it into a Warrior takes place at Premcar’s facility in Victoria.
Between January and August 2023, the Nissan Patrol has held a 31.2 percent share of the Upper Large SUV segment it shares with the Toyota LandCruiser 300 and Land Rover Discovery, with 4374 units sold so far this year. That’s despite the Y62 Patrol dating back to 2010, while the 300 Series LandCruiser is much newer having only been around since 2021.
With its most comparable rival – the LandCruiser GR Sport – costing nearly $40k more and eschewing the 200 Series’ V8 diesel for a smaller V6, it would be fair to assume that the Patrol Warrior will be popular with the buyer set in this segment.
2024 Nissan Patrol Australian pricing
- Ti – $84,900
- Ti-L – $97,600
- Warrior – $101,160 (new)
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