Nissan unveils updated Patrol

The second update of the current generation Patrol (that dates back to 2013), the MY20 Patrol was presented in Dubai in late September and is already on sale in Middle Eastern markets, with Australian release expected either before the end of the year or early 2020.

The new Patrol carries some noticeable styling changes over the current version, while less noticeable changes include enhanced luxury features and the latest advanced Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies, according to Nissan.

On the styling changes, it’s the front end that’s been given the biggest makeover, with a deeper, bolder ‘V-motion’ grille, bolder, squared-off treatment of the front bumper and what Nissan call ‘boomerang headlights’. Tail lights get the same treatment, with sequential indicators added at the rear – a Nissan first – as well as a squarer bumper to match the front, a broad chrome strip connecting the tail lights and reshaped number plate housing.

Being an update, rather than an all-new model, the profile and glass area is the same as the current Patrol, with smaller features, like the door handles and the vents in the front guards unchanged, too.

Styling updates inside include a new centre console with two screens: the upper retaining the sat nav display; the lower for infotainment functions. Those functions now also include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Other cabin upgrades include a hand-stitched leather-trimmed steering wheel and diamond-stitched quilted leather seats with added padding and optional powered lumbar support on the front seats. Whether these features will be available on locally-delivered Patrols is unconfirmed.

The new cabin is said to also feature significant reductions in noise and vibration, as well as improved cooling and air flow systems.

New safety tech, as part of Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility technologies, includes Intelligent Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection and Intelligent Forward Collision Warning. The current Patrol gets a number of ‘Intelligent’ features, like Brake Assist, Cruise Control, Lane Intervention and Blind Spot Intervention, but these are limited to the top Ti-L grade.

Middle Eastern markets get the Patrol with a choice of 4.0-litre V6 or 5.6-litre V8 petrol engines, but Australian-delivered units are likely to stick with the 5.6 V8 currently available. The seven-speed auto transmission, while not mentioned in the September press release, is also likely to carry over unchanged for locally-delivered versions of the 2020 Patrol. Same goes for the All-Mode 4x4 system, which is labelled Intelligent 4x4 here and offers electronic 4WD selection and an electronic rear diff lock. The Hydraulic Motion Body Control, standard on locally-available Patrols, is also likely to carry over unchanged.

Driveaway pricing for the Patrol, currently at $80,168 for the Ti and $98,018 for the Ti-L, is almost certain to rise with the updated version. This may put the brakes on local sales, which have been steadily increasing in recent years, but Toyota’s announcement of the discontinuation of their petrol-engined 200 Series LandCruiser may lessen the impact this might have had.

Further details on the MY20 Nissan Patrol, including confirmation of local specs and pricing, is expected closer to Australian release.