Car review: 2024 Nissan Patrol Warrior
Nissan built its four-wheel-drive reputation in Australia on the back of the rugged Patrol.
Although gas-guzzling four-wheel drives aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, for those needing a hardcore off-roader, the Patrol Warrior could be the car of choice.
From factory-built to off-roader
To help customers make dedicated off-road modifications to their Patrols, Nissan has partnered with Victoria-based PremCar – one of Australia’s best vehicle engineering and modification companies. This helps make modifications legal and valid under Nissan’s factory warranties. The Warrior starts life as a Patrol Ti, which normally retails for about $84,900. After PremCar weaves its engineering magic, the price climbs to $104,160. This is still vastly cheaper than the Warrior’s nearest rival, the Toyota Landcruiser 300 GR Sport.
Value and design
The Patrol is a decade-old platform and Nissan is trying to squeeze the last bit of value out of this model. The signature trim for the Warrior is a black Alcantara interior. The eight-seater is like most larger vehicles, with the two front rows comfortable for adults, but not so much for passengers in the backseat.
Nissan’s brief to PremCar was to expand the existing Patrol Ti’s capability without compromising comfort or convenience, and they’ve achieved that aim impressively. For example, PremCar has retained the full-size spare alloy wheel by redesigning the tow hitch and including two recovery points.
The Warrior is longer, wider and 50mm taller than the normal Ti model. But it doesn’t have roof rails, so PremCar could keep the roofline below two metres, allowing it to fit in undercover car parks. Despite this, the climb into the cabin is quite the gymnastic task, even with grab handles.
On-road and off-road
On country bitumen roads, the ride from the dynamic suspension is still comfortable and predictable, considering the Warrior lacks anti-roll bars because they limit suspension travel. Instead, body roll is controlled hydraulically, which does everything that sway bars normally do.
Of note is the Warrior’s exhaust noise. With its bi-modal exhaust, it sounds like any Patrol Ti under normal driving conditions. However, under full throttle or above 3500rpm, the V8 side pipes come into play and emit a NASCAR-type exhaust note.
Get off the bitumen and onto severely rutted roads and the Warrior comes into its own. It has the wheel travel, suspension control and the four-wheel traction to cover seriously rugged terrain, making it one of the most capable four-wheel drives in Australia.
Fuel economy
The flexibility of the 5.6-litre V8, from slow crawling the highway to overtaking, is excellent. The downside is that the Warrior is only available in the thirsty V8 model and needs the dearer 95 RON fuel; both factors are a slap to the wallet and environment.
The bottom line
The Warrior is for the select few who need leading-edge capability and towing capacity in a four-wheel drive. This Nissan isn’t cheap to buy or run and it’s not made for city driving but not many four-wheel drives on the market will outdo the Warrior.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | $104,160 |
| ANCAP safety rating | Not rated |
| Fuel consumption | 14.4L/100km (95 RON fuel) |
| Warranty | Five years with unlimited kilometres |
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