9
POTENT PATROL
THANKS TO A HUGE PRICE CUT LAST YEAR, NISSAN’S UNLOVED V8 PATROL
NOW LOOKS LIKE GOOD SHOPPING.L
AST year Nissan slashed nearly $30K off
the top-spec Ti-L model in its Y62 Patrol
V8 range, which had been on sale for a few
years and not impacted the sales charts.
At the same time the base-spec ST-L
was dropped and the price of the mid-spec Ti,
effectively now the new base model, was cut
$24K to $69,990. That puts the Ti $23K cheaper
than a petrol 200 VX and $28K cheaper than
a diesel 200 VX (the VX being the closest 200
Series spec-level to the Patrol Ti).
Put another way, $69,990 for the Patrol Ti
makes it $3K to $4K cheaper than a petrol or
diesel Prado VX, which is astonishing given what
the Y62 offers.
First up, the Y62 is a big 4x4. Drive it back-to-
back with a 200 and the Y62 almost feels like a
bigger class of vehicle. The second-row seat is
especially generous compared to the 200 and its
luggage space is also notably larger.
The Y62 offers a 5.6-litre V8 that makes
the 4.6-litre (petrol) V8 in the 200 seem a bit
limp-wristed. The numbers tell part of the
story (298kW/560Nm versus 228kW/439Nm),
but the other part is that Nissan’s V8 comes
from an engine family with serious motorsport
credentials. This includes the V8 used by
Nissan in its local V8 Supercars and the V8 that
dominates the LMP2 class in international sports
car endurance racing (Le Mans 24 Hour, etc).The Y62’s 298kW makes it one very potent
4x4 on-road, and for those who like V8s it’s a
much more vocal engine than the 200’s rather
subdued 4.6.
To help keep all this performance and a
fair bit of weight (2800kg) in check, the Y62
has something very special in the suspension
department: Hydraulic Body Motion Control
(HBMC). HBMC is a far more sophisticated
suspension system than what’s under a 200, even
one with KDSS.
HBMC is a fully independent coil-spring system
with active dampers that limit on-road bodyroll
but also maximise off-road wheel travel, and
all without mechanical sway bars. The system
works brilliantly. The Y62 corners much flatter
than a 200 on-road yet can still keep up with a
200 off-road, even if it needs more under-engine
protection for very rocky going.
At $69,990 the Ti is very well-equipped, but
the big downside is that the Y62 is thirsty. The
always-conservative official ADR fuel number,
14.4L/100km in this case, probably tells you all
you need to know. On our last test we averaged
17.7L/100km. The time before that, with more
low-range work, it registered 21.3L/100km.
The upside is that there’s a 140-litre tank,
so the range is still okay. And with the $23K to
$28K saving over a 200 VX, that’s a lot of free
fuel before you hit price parity.PRICE $69,990 ENGINE 5.6-litre V8 petrol
NISSAN PATROL Y62 Ti
ENGINE: 5.6-litre V8 petrol
POWER: 298kW
TORQUE: 560Nm
GEARBOX: seven-speed automatic
4X4 SYSTEM: dual-range on-demand
FRONT SUSPENSION: independent/coil
springs
REAR SUSPENSION: independent/coil
springs
KERB WEIGHT: 2800kg
GVM: 3450kg
TOWING CAPACITY: 3500kg
FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 140 litres
ADR FUEL CLAIM: 14.4L/100km
588 http://www.4X4australia.com.auDRIVEN BEST BUYS