DubiCompare — Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Vs Nissan Patrol: Clash Of The Japanese SUV Titans

On this week’s edition of DubiCompare, we are pitting the two most iconic Japanese SUVs against each other, the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 and the Nissan Patrol. This is a serious battle of titans of the SUV world and we are not messing around. This comparison article looks at the dimensions, design, features and mechanicals of the current-generation Land Cruiser and the Nissan Patrol. We will also look at some of the spin-off series that these two SUVs have spawned over the years.

But what this article will not be is a trip down memory lane. For that, we have two detailed articles discussing the history of the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Nissan Patrol features under the DubiCars Car Spotlight. Here are the links:

Enjoy the walk down the history lane, it is worth it. Now back to the ultimate face-off.

In terms of dimension, the Nissan Patrol is a clear winner with a longer wheelbase, taller ground clearance and a larger fuel tank. This means the Patrol is more practical and can go over larger boulders. However, the boot space on the LC is a bit bigger.

In terms of design, the Land Cruiser 300 and the Nissan Patrol are evenly matched. Both have subtle boxy styling. The straight-up stance provides an imposing road presence for both SUVs. However, Nissan and Toyota do offer a sporty version of both SUVs called the Patrol Nismo and Land Cruiser 300 GR-Sport.

Out of the two sporty versions, the Nismo is a better pick compared to the GR-Sport as Nissan has given it more power, bigger wheels and some striking-looking bumpers. While the GR-Sport gets smaller 18-inch wheels catering to off-road credentials. Now let’s see some exterior feature comparison.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – the Japanese have taken this theory a bit too seriously. The LC and the Patrol have subtle interiors with a good amount of tech. But given the real estate on the inside, both SUVs could do with a couple of more features. However, the biggest advantage of the Nissan Patrol is its eight-seat configuration over the seven-seat layout of the LC 300. Also, as we saw earlier, it has more room on the inside because of a longer wheelbase.

There is no denying the fact that the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 has a longer list of features catering to comfort and convenience than the Nissan Patrol.

Now this is where things get interesting. The Nissan Patrol is offered with two naturally-aspirated petrol engine options: a 4.0-litre V6 or a 5.6-litre V8. On the other hand, Toyota Land Cruiser 300 in the UAE is offered with either a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 or a 4.0-litre NA V6. We will compare the power figures of base-spec and top-spec powerplants.

The base-spec Nissan Patrol engine is marginally better than the LC. However, the top-spec engine will have to go to the LC because the power is delivered efficiently as compared to the large NA V8 on the Patrol. Soon, Nissan will be replacing the V8 engine with the twin-turbo V6 much like the LC.

To keep it fair, we have compared the top-spec trims of both SUVs to get the right idea of their off-road capabilities. The Nissan Patrol might have better off-road angles, but it is heavier and has a longer wheelbase than the Toyota Land Cruiser. So, we feel both are evenly matched when things go rough and hilly. However, the Patrol’s edge here is its NA V8 engine on the top-spec trim that delivers power without any lag. In terms of off-road hardware, the LC 300 and the Patrol come equipped with a limited-slip differential, locking diffs, a low-range gearbox and terrain modes. Both SUVs also have their own electronic suspension setup that keeps the car upright and stable.

The Land Cruiser 300 and the Patrol come with a host of active and passive safety features. However, as the LC is relatively new in the market as compared to the Patrol, it is slightly better equipped with active safety features as compared to the Nissan Patrol.

Nissan and Toyota recognised that off-road purists would want their cars to be about driving and not become a tech-fest. This encouraged both manufacturers to keep the rugged no non-sense versions of their SUVs. The Nissan Patrol has the Super Safari and the Land Cruiser has the 70-Series which are moderately equipped and are better off-roaders with a rugged styling.

Toyota has gone further by offering a mid-spec version of the Land Cruiser called the Prado or the LC 250. Also, Toyota has recently updated its Land Cruiser 300, Land Cruiser 250/Prado and the 70-Series SUVs. However, Nissan is lagging in updating its SUV range.

Toyota offers the Land Cruiser 300 in seven variants and six colour options depending on the variant.

On the other hand, the Nissan Patrol is offered in 9 variants and six colour options depending on the variant.

Both the base and the top-spec Patrol are more affordable than the Land Cruiser 300. If you are looking for a performance for an affordable price, the Nissan Patrol would be your pick. But as an overall package, the Land Cruiser 300 is a better choice because of its efficiency and interior features.

Looking to buy a Toyota Land Cruiser? Here is a list of used Land Cruiser for sale in the UAE and new Land Cruiser for sale in the UAE. 

We have a sweet collection of Nissan Patrol SUVs too. Check out used Patrol for sale in the UAE and new Patrol for sale in the UAE.