Nissan 4x4: We get dirty with the Nissan Patrol Y63
We drive Nissan’s new Patrol as among its fleet of 4x4s out on the road and off-road
When customers are looking for a capable 4x4 from Nissan, they're spoiled for choice. Those looking for a workhorse that can take on the road less travelled with ease can get the Navara, which is available with an automatic or manual gearbox. There’s also the Terra for those who want something comfier, which can seat seven people and can still cover uneven terrain.
But for those who aren’t looking to compromise and have deep pockets, there is only one: the Nissan Patrol Y63. With a twin-turbo V6, an intelligent 4WD system, and a long-standing pedigree for taking on whatever Mother Nature throws at it, there’s a reason the Nissan Patrol has continued to be a popular choice among enthusiasts.
In an age where electrified vehicles are slowly becoming the norm, Nissan is proud to say that it still has vehicles that it claims can walk the fine line between going on-road and off-road. But just how capable are they when put under real-world conditions, particularly the flagship Y63 Patrol? To find out, Nissan recently invited us on a ride-and-drive and found out what we liked (and didn’t like) with the all-new Patrol.
What We Like - Twin-Turbo V6, Handling, and Off-Road abilities
The Y63 Patrol may not have the 5.6L V8 of the Y62, but it does come with a powerful engine, a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 that cranks out 431 PS and 700 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to a 9-speed automatic transmission with an intelligent 4WD system with various drive & terrain modes.
From the moment you step on the accelerator and feel the brute force of the twin-turbo V6, the Patrol Y63 is no slouch. Despite weighing nearly 2.8 tons, the six-cylinder engine motivates the Patrol with ease, whether on the open road or along dirt trails. With 700 Nm of pulling power, overtaking slower cars along expressways and highways was a cinch. Heck, we reckon it can embarrass other sports cars on the road despite its hefty weight. Thanks to its top-notch Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) deadening, the Patrol felt quiet and comfortable even at triple-digit speeds.
Compared to the 2.5L turbo-diesel powered Navara and Terra, which we also got to drive, the twin-turbo Patrol trounces both vehicles when it comes to outright speed, dexterity, and refinement. But having the most powerful engine isn't everything, but we'll talk more about that later.
Another thing that we liked about the Y63 is its handling. Sure, the words handling and Patrol may not go hand-in-hand, but thanks to the adaptive dampers, the full-size SUV was able to make short work of twisty mountain roads and some gentle curves. It's by no means a sedan or a hatchback, but the Patrol was able to keep body roll to a minimum when taking on the twisties.
The Terra and Navara were also able to take on the corners with ease despite their size. However, body roll is quite evident when taking on the corners, so that's something drivers need to be mindful of.
Going off-road with the Patrol is as easy as can be when you know what you're doing. Luckily, the Y63 has the latest 4x4 system available from Nissan. Before taking on uneven terrain, one simply needs to set the transmission to Neutral (N), select the desired terrain mode (in our case, we used mud and sand), and set the drivetrain to either 4WD High (4H) or 4WD Low (4L). Once that's done, all we had to do was point the Patrol to where we wanted it to go and feather the accelerator.
Despite the powerful engine and sophisticated 4WD system, the Patrol has to contend with its weight and size when going off-road. Yes, it can easily tackle uneven terrain, but it sometimes has to overcome its weight to go over muddy hills or climb steep gradients. The 4WD system does help by transferring all available power to the wheels with the most traction, which is always useful on slippery or muddy terrain.
When we switched over to the Navara and Terra, they were also able to easily overcome the obstacles in the off-road course. Since both vehicles are relatively lighter and come with a turbo-diesel engine, torque comes in very early, and they were also able to go over the terrain faster. And instead of having buttons to set the 4WD system, both the Terra and Navara make use of mechanical switches, which are faster to use.
What We Didn't Like – Ride Comfort and Pedals
If there’s one aspect of the Y63 Patrol that immediately stood out like a sore thumb, it’s the ride quality. As mentioned earlier, the latest Patrol makes use of an adaptive air suspension system that should (in theory) result in a better ride quality. Having driven the previous generation Y62 Patrol, I was expecting the latest 4x4 SUV to deliver a softer ride.
Unfortunately, the air suspension appears not be doing a good job in absorbing the bumps. While it still has long travel suspension, the adaptive air suspension with e-damper technology appears to slightly sour the ride comfort.
We immediately noticed this when we drove it over some bumpy sections of EDSA and some pockmarked roads in Zambales and Bataan. It was more apparent when we went over uneven terrain, wherein the Patrol seemed to be “dribbling” all over the place. Add to that the quick rebound of the suspension, and there’s practically no time for either the front or rear axles to settle to better absorb the bumps on the road.
It’s a completely different story when we rode on the Navara and Terra. Despite only having coil springs and traditional dampers, both the pickup truck and the midsize SUV were able to deliver a comfier ride, with the Terra being the most comfortable of the three. Even the Navara’s ride quality was more bearable, which is surprising given that it’s a workhorse meant to carry cargo.
There was also the matter of the pedals, which I believe could have better modulation. The accelerator is quite sensitive, as it tends to kick up the revs easily, even with just a light tap. I had to modulate my right foot to learn how to better control the power delivery from the twin-turbo V6. The brake pedal on the Patrol was also not to my liking, as it felt spongy at times, which meant I wasn’t sure how much pedal pressure I needed to apply to slow down or to completely stop the vehicle. In fact, it took me several kilometers of driving to find out where its sweet spot is.
This was something I didn’t have an issue with in the Navara and Terra. Whether I needed to overtake and step on the accelerator pedal or needed to apply the brakes abruptly due to an animal suddenly crossing the road, I felt more confident behind the wheel. Perhaps it has something to do with the Patrol relying more on electronics than mechanical feel, which has resulted in the pedals feeling disconnected for the driver. I do hope Nissan looks into this since some owners do prefer to drive their Y63 Patrols.
Verdict
While some might say I’m being too critical of the Nissan Patrol Y63, you have to remember that this is a full-size three-row premium SUV that serves as the brand’s flagship offering. Combined with a price tag of PHP 5.385 million, those who plan on buying one are expecting the Patrol to come correct and meet their expectations. Yes, it has a powerful twin-turbo V6, a quiet and plush interior, a cabin that’s filled to the brim with amenities, and an intelligent 4WD system that can take drivers on any terrain.
But if it has a less-than-impressive ride quality and pedals that could do with better modulation, some owners who drive their Patrols daily on-road or off-road may expect more refinement from the 4x4 SUV. Granted, I was able to drive the previous Y62 Patrol and even compare the Y63 against the Navara and the Terra, all of which had a better ride quality than the all-new Y63.
With its storied history and 4x4 pedigree that enthusiasts swear by, the Nissan Patrol Y63 has big shoes to fill. So far, it’s proving to be quite popular with buyers since the Philippines is the second biggest market for the Y63, with an estimated 200 units arriving every month.
With a price tag of nearly PHP 5.4 million, the Nissan Patrol has to come correct, especially with the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 being equally popular in the country.
