3 Reasons that make Nissan Patrol a segment leader

The Nissan Patrol doesn’t really need an introduction. There is no way that you can miss one on the road, firstly because of how massive it is and secondly, because there are so many of them. Seeing it barreling down from behind you in your rearview mirror – especially the mad NISMO version – is especially intimidating. Although it operates in a different niche from the Range Rovers and the Jeep Cherokee, it is funny to see it absolutely dwarf then on the road. Through its many iterations, in its many years on the road, it has solidified its position as a viable alternative and strong competitor to that other crowd favorite, the Toyota Land Cruiser.

There are three main reasons why it has become the segment leader in UAE:

1) Big on the outside

The Patrol’s size commands respect. The current model is 5165 mm in length and almost 2 meters wide. It very nearly takes up the entire lane. That gives this car an immense presence on the road. People are going to think twice before attempting to overtake it. However, for a car this big, it does not look ungainly in the slightest. Part of it is because of its proportions, which gets a lot of help from 20-inch wheels and fat tires. Combined with the high stance of the car, it actually makes its size look easy on the eyes. The rounded aesthetic of the current generation with well-proportioned headlights and trimmings somehow hide a lot of its bulk.

2) Big on the inside

The looks of the current Patrol, also hint at its ambitions of tapping the more upmarket customers. The interior follows the act flawlessly. The size of the car means that there is no shortage of space inside. However, because of the 9 different versions (and the NISMO) across the two engine options, the price of a Patrol can vary from AED 195000 for the 4.0-litre V6 Automatic to AED 336000  for the 5.6-litre V8 and AED 388500  for the NISMO. At every price level, however, it succeeds in giving a lot of car for the money. 5 out of 9 trim levels come with a 13 speaker Bose sound system, 8” rear entertainment systems and automatic back door. It can, therefore, seat 8 people in the best comfort at a wide price range.

3) A beast on the road and off it

The Patrol’s engines have the tough job of moving its nearly 3-tonne bulk at any sort of respectable speed. Moreover, it frequently needs to do it on no just tarmac but also sand. With the V8 delivering 400 hp at 5800 rpm and560 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm, however, this performance is delivered with ease. This mid-range grunt combined with the seven-speed gearbox makes overtaking maneuvers on highways an effortless task. The smaller V6 however, has to do with only 275 bhp at 5600 rpm and 40.2kg-m of torque at 4000 rpm. Where both the options succeed in putting that power into use without hesitation. The brakes are reassuring and the steering is light and responsive. The modern version comes with a whole suite of driver assist functions that reassures the driver to drive this huge vehicle at frankly hilarious speeds. It is also equipped with driving modes to tackle everything from rocks to sand to hills. Despite the tarmac largely becoming the home of most Patrols, its prowess in the desert is the stuff of legends.

Largely then, the Patrol is so popular in the UAE simply because of the fact that it is so well suited to the needs of the people living here. Yes, it is immense and driving it in narrow traffic or trying to maneuver it around tight corners is like being a bull in a crockery shop. For driving around a large family in comfort and safety without emptying your bank account in the purchase and running costs, however, very little comes close.