DubiCars Car Spotlight — Nissan Patrol: All You Need To Know About The Nissan Patrol

In the UAE, there is no dearth of fancy cars or even fancier registration number plates. However, there is one SUV that is often found sharing garage space with several supercars and ultra-luxurious cars — an SUV that is a must-have for locals and UAE nationals. The Nissan Patrol is a true status symbol in the UAE and other GCC nations.

What makes the Nissan Patrol such a popular car in the Middle East? How capable is it? How many generations and variations of the Nissan Patrol exist? What is the history of the Nissan Patrol? In this edition of DubiCars Car Spotlight, we dig deep and throw some light on the Nissan Patrol.

World War II might have ended in 1945, but the after-effects of the same resulted in the development of some of the greatest automobiles ever. The Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol are two examples of iconic SUVs developed in the aftermath of World War II. 

The war had ended with devastating consequences for Japan and the island nation, like a few other countries, started relying on its automobile industry to resuscitate its economy. The Japanese government called on a few car manufacturers to produce 4WD SUVs and the Patrol was Nissan’s answer to this call.

Did you know that the very first generation of the Nissan Patrol was powered by an engine taken from a bus? After a few years of development post World War II, the Nissan Patrol went into production in 1951. In terms of the design, it was clearly inspired by the Jeep. It was a very rugged and utilitarian vehicle with almost nothing to count as a luxury.

The Nissan Patrol was initially powered by a NAK 3.7-litre inline-six-cylinder petrol engine taken from the Nissan 290 bus. Transmission duties were handled by a 4-speed manual gearbox and the Patrol also had part-time 4WD. Over the next nine years, it would receive several changes including updated engines and aesthetics. These updates were named 4W61, 4W65, and 4W66.

Nissan even created a 4W70 version of the Patrol which was a pickup truck based on the Dodge M37. There was even a fire truck based on this version of the Nissan Patrol.

It was after the launch of the second-generation Nissan Patrol that the SUV started to go international. This generation was sold in several international markets and was even produced in four countries. The Nissan Patrol was the very first Nissan vehicle to be sold in the US. It was also sold in Australia, the Philippines, South Africa, etc. 

The Patrol is also claimed to be the very first vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert in Australia. It was very capable indeed. Power came from a 4.0-litre P-Series inline-six-cylinder petrol engine. It was available in three-door wagon and two-door pickup configurations. Assembly of the Patrol began in the Philippines and South Africa as well.

The Nissan Jonga is a less-known but highly regarded version of the second-generation Patrol. The Indian armed forces required a capable and reliable 4WD vehicle and the Nissan Patrol was chosen for this requirement. However, as a part of the deal, it was to be produced in India by the Indian Army under license from Nissan.

The Nissan Patrol and the large 1-tonne Nissan 4W73 pickup were assembled at the Indian Army’s Jabalpur Vehicle Factory; it is said that this is what gave it the name Jonga (Jabalpur Ordnance N Gun carriage Assembly). These vehicles served with the Indian Army until the early 1990s and are now considered great collectibles.

With the introduction of the 160-generation Patrol, Nissan’s focus started to shift more toward luxurious and comfortable motoring. The 160 generation itself wasn’t the most luxurious, but it laid the foundations for future generations to head in that direction. The third-generation Patrol went into production in 1980 and was produced till 1989. 

Produced in Japan, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, and even Iran, the Nissan Patrol was gaining popularity all across the globe. Time and again, the Nissan Patrol proved to be rugged, dependable, and utterly reliable. 

The third generation brought along with it a few firsts for the Patrol. It was the first time a Patrol was available with a diesel engine and it was also the first to feature an automatic gearbox. Petrol engine options ranged from a 2.4-litre inline-four-cylinder to a 4.0-litre inline-six-cylinder while diesel engines ranged from a 2.7-litre inline-four-cylinder to a 3.2-litre turbocharged inline-six. It was available in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions.

This is a shape that most people in the UAE will be familiar with. The Y60 generation of the Nissan Patrol is hailed as the one for enthusiasts and purists. It is a tough-as-nails SUV with old-school looks to match. It is much-loved by Classic car enthusiasts too. Despite its age, it is among the more popular models of the Nissan Patrol. 

When it was launched in 1987, it was way ahead of its competitors. The hard leaf springs were gone and Nissan replaced them with coil springs which made the ride very comfortable indeed. It was also among the best-handling SUVs of its time. This version of the Patrol was so good, that Ford bought the rights to it and rebadged it as the Ford Maverick for the Australian market. 

Petrol engine options included 3.0-litre and 4.2-litre inline-six-cylinder options while diesel engine options included 2.8-litre and 4.2-litre inline-six-cylinder options. The aforementioned 4.2-litre petrol engine is still among the highest-rated engines by petrolheads. If you’ve come across a video of a Nissan Patrol in the desert, spinning its wheels and bouncing off the rev limiter, in all probability, it is this 4.2-litre behemoth under the bonnet. 

The Y61 is the most loved generation of the Nissan Patrol in several countries and this includes all of the Middle East. Often hailed as the king of the dunes, the Y61 Patrol is a hot favourite among enthusiasts. 

Production of the Y61 took place between 1997 and 2016. The 19-year production run is a testament to the popularity of this SUV. However after it was discontinued in 2016, Nissan realised that demand for the Y61 was still high, and buyers were eager to buy it. So, Nissan restarted production only for a select few markets and that includes the UAE. Yes, you can walk into a Nissan dealership and drive away in a brand new Nissan Patrol Y61 even today. 

Engine options included the venerable 4.2-litre inline-six-cylinder petrol unit. This engine was upgraded over time to 4.5-litre and then 4.8-litre capacities. Diesel engine options ranged from a 2.8-litre inline-six-cylinder to a 4.2-litre inline-six-cylinder. 

The most modern and most luxurious Patrol yet. In some markets, the SUV was sold as the Nissan Armada and in many more markets, it is sold as the Infiniti QX56 & QX80. It is one of the best SUVs in its segment and is the preferred choice for dune bashing. For the first time ever, a Nissan Patrol features 4WD modes.

The driver can switch between road, sand, rock, and snow, depending on the terrain being driven through. In the UAE and a few other GCC nations, the first two 4WD modes are used most often. One can choose between two petrol engine options — a 4.0-litre V6 and a 5.6-litre V8. It goes without saying, the latter is the most popular option in the UAE. The Y62 is also the first Nissan Patrol in a few decades to come without a diesel engine option. In fact, 

Nissan went full throttle on making the Y62 a high-performance SUV. In 2018, Nissan introduced the Patrol Nismo at a premier launch event in Dubai. It was introduced alongside the GT-R Nismo and 370Z Nismo. Nismo is an abbreviation for Nissan Motorsports, and needless to say, the Patrol became quite a SUV to contend with, after it received the Nismo treatment. The 5.6-litre V8 was tuned up to produce 428hp and the suspension was replaced by sporty Bilstein shocks. 

Going by sheer numbers, the most popular Patrol generation in the UAE is the Y62. However, car enthusiasts would disagree. The Y60 and Y61 are the models car enthusiasts would pick. Despite the differences in the generations one would pick, there is no doubt that the Nissan Patrol on the whole is an extremely popular SUV in the UAE, loved by the general population of motorists and petrolheads alike.

If you too are in awe of the Nissan Patrol, you can choose from hundreds of used Nissan Patrol SUVs for sale in the UAE and new Nissan Patrol SUVs for sale in the UAE.

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