Iron Fist, Velvet Glove

Iron Fist, Velvet Glove

- Andrew Middleton

With a heritage dating back to the early 1950s, the Nissan Patrol has a long legacy, and a fervent fan base. Australian 4x4ers in particular are Patrol-obsessed, thanks to the vehicle’s heritage of an extremely strong ladder frame chassis, and bullet-proof diffs and gearboxes, making them perfect for serious, often competitive, off-road driving. Unlike the Y61 Patrol, the Y62 on show here favours luxury over outright capability, with plush independent suspension and a sumptuous interior. For those in need of more articulation and ruggedness, the Y61 is still available brand-new in SA.

This, the latest 6th gen Patrol, has in fact been on sale in its current shape since 2010, and the latest facelift changes only a couple of trim items – notably the grille, wheels and rather aftermarket-looking taillights. Unlike the more expensive and significantly uglier Infiniti QX 80, alongside which the Patrol has been badge-engineered, the Patrol maintains off-road credibility in being shipped with reasonably sensible 18-inch wheels, as opposed to the Infiniti’s 22’s.