Legends are always fascinating and interesting, right? Especially when they give you one of them for a test, for the weekend.
So, what can we say about one of the legendary SUVs with more than half a century of history - Nissan Patrol?
The very first car under this brand appeared back in 1951 and, despite many restylings and updates, the basis of the car still remains the same: a powerful frame, a continuous axle and a traction engine that is unpretentious in operation.
But let's start with the most interesting, perhaps slightly killing the intrigue: today the Nissan Patrol in the database costs 3,515,000 rubles. Its direct competitors in terms of price performance are Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (from 3,970,000) and Ford Explorer, the price of which starts at 2,599,000 rubles. 
Mission Possible?
What is good about the new Patrol is the optimal combination of power and comfort in the cabin. The driver feels like a king, sitting in a high chair (the view is simply amazing, of course). However, it will be difficult to get used to the dimensions of the new car right away: it is really huge! The SUV has a length of more than 5 meters - 5160 mm, a width of 1995 mm (and this is without side mirrors), a height of 1940 mm (again, if you do not take into account the roof rails). Therefore, the Nissan Patrol will not be very convenient in the city: it will be difficult for such a giant to turn around even in a standard parking lot in front of a shopping mall, and then what can we say about heavy traffic during rush hours! And the turning circle of the Patrol from curb to curb is too big because of its dimensions - 12.1 meters, which also does not allow it to be used on narrow city streets (well, or seriously makes it difficult to use).
However, the main purpose of the car is off-road. Here he, in my opinion, has no equal. A powerful 5.6-liter V8 gasoline engine with 405 horses all-wheel drive simply laughs at mud and snow drifts. A seven-speed automatic makes driving through the woods, fields or wetlands as efficient and stress-free as possible. However, the Japanese do not offer motorists several affordable powertrains to choose from, apparently believing that the volume of 5.6 liters is a sufficient reason for choosing this model. Other manufacturers have at least some choice: the same Explorer has two engines - for 249 and 340 horses, and the Land Cruiser 200 too - diesel for 249 and gasoline for 309 hp.
A plus for off-road qualities is a high ground clearance - 273 mm, which allows you to easily overcome any obstacles (by the way, the legendary Kruzak has only 225 mm).
What is hidden under the big body?
In the cabin, the impressions are ambiguous: on the one hand, the equipment is state-of-the-art and the design is clearly seasoned, albeit strict enough. On the other hand, somehow ... not luxurious, or something. Although it is convenient and comfortable, this cannot be taken away: the design of the dashboard is well thought out, so there are no difficulties with control. Already in the "base" - seat trim with natural leather, heated rear seats and heated + ventilated front. Climate control has three zones, which is especially important for our latitudes - this allows both drivers and rear passengers to feel comfortable while traveling at any time of the year. Well, and what I especially liked was starting the engine with a button.
In the “Top” version (by the way, the SUV has only three configurations - “Base”, “High” and “Top”), a wood-look steering wheel trim, a sunroof with a separate electric drive, opening the trunk with a drive, etc. become available.
A separate word on safety: all-round cameras work flawlessly, it is very convenient to alert if a car is approaching from the side. At the same time, the convenience of lowering the mirrors is ambiguous if there is a threat of a collision with the car: it seems to be yes, the dimensions are reduced, but on the other hand, there is no way to see what is happening on the sides and behind. Nissan Patrol, like any SUV in its class, has a descent and ascent control system (I must say, they work flawlessly!), A dynamic stabilization system, etc. In the luxury version (from 4,750,000 rubles) you get bonus systems distance control, lane driving, blind spot detection, emergency braking assistance, intelligent cruise control and a few more top-notch “gadgets”.
The new Patrol even provides an entertainment multimedia system for second-row passengers (in the TOP version). The headrests of the front seats have screens with headphones and a remote control, so passengers are unlikely to be bored even during the longest trip!
Patrol has practically no equal
By the way, the Nissan Patrol is also not weak - you can squeeze 210 km / h out of it, and without much effort. The powerful engine accelerates to a speed of 100 km / h in 6.6 seconds - wow, right? For example, for the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 this figure is 8.6 seconds, while for the Ford Explorer it is almost the same - 6.4 seconds. The Explorer's acceleration rate is explained by the presence of the innovative Cyclone 3.5 engine - a V-shaped "six" for 249 horses, so in terms of speed it can compete with the Patrol.
The declared fuel consumption in the city at Nissan Patrol is clearly “slightly” underestimated - 20.6 liters (in fact, all 25 liters come out), outside the city it is half as much - 11 liters. This is a clear sign that the SUV is not designed for driving on city streets, which makes it very uneconomical to operate. A large tank of 100 liters will have to be replenished almost every day, and with today's gas prices, this equals a fairly large investment. However, the car is fully adapted to Russian conditions, and this becomes especially noticeable in winter: the battery and generator have been strengthened. The body has also undergone a number of changes, the suspension has become a little stiffer, but it will withstand any test.
Behind the wheel
Feeling of infinite comfort and quality - this is how you can express your feelings while driving a car. The Japanese SUV has been setting standards in the automotive industry for half a century, and even though it is a frame, long trips on it do not cause fatigue (although it still shocks on rough roads). This is facilitated by the installation of a hydraulic system for limiting body vibrations.
Who will love this car? Any driver, in principle, but ideally it will suit someone who needs a truly real SUV with real off-road qualities.
65 years ago, back in 1951, one of the most famous and legendary SUVs in the world, the Nissan Patrol, began its journey. Agree, such a date is an excellent occasion to remember his life path and get to know him better. Because, despite the venerable age, the hero of the day is not going to retire.
To fully appreciate the journey that the Nissan Patrol has made, we need to go back to 1950. Five years ago, the Soviet-Japanese War ended, in which Japan suffered a brutal defeat. The country has only just begun to recover from a crushing knockout, but is still effectively under external control, and any of the Japanese companies consider it lucky to receive an order from the authorities or the American occupation administration.
It is no wonder that Shijita Murayama, who worked as an adviser to the president of Datsun, was just in seventh heaven when he managed by hook or by crook to break through the state order for the company to create all-wheel drive vehicles for the police, forestry and utilities. The retired artilleryman owed his nickname “Lame success” to the Americans: the first part was provided by a shell fragment that crushed the kneecap, and the second was a large order for the repair of Willys MB and Ford GPW SUVs.
The limp did not prevent him from establishing close ties with the occupying authorities and understanding which way the wind was blowing. And it blew in the direction of the remilitarization of the country: frightened by the revolutionary storms in China and Korea, the American authorities seriously decided to bypass the 1947 constitution, which forbids Japan to have its own army and navy, and create some kind of power structures. What was done: in 1950, the 75,000th "Reserve Police Corps" was created, two years later it was transformed into the "Security Corps" and brought the number to 110 thousand people, and in 1954 the corps turned into the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Well, where the armed forces are, there are large orders, including for army vehicles ... So in 1951 an SUV was born under the factory index 4W60, from which our hero of the day traces his pedigree.
4W60
It was a classic utilitarian car: with an extremely simple body that looks like a Willys Jeep, a plug-in front axle and leaf spring suspension. And immediately declared itself as the most powerful light SUV in the world: the Murayama team used bridges, transmission and a 95-horsepower 3.7-liter in-line six-cylinder engine from one and a half ton trucks that were already on the Datsun conveyor. A certain number of such cars were ordered by the police, some by the forest guard, but when it came to a large order for the emerging Self-Defense Forces, the Japanese military preferred the licensed copy of the Jeep offered by Mitsubishi. The second loser was Toyota with its BJ model. Subsequently, she was destined to become the founder of the Land Cruiser line, which for decades has been the main rival of the Nissan Patrol of all generations ... But let's go back to the fifties.
In peace and in war
The failure did not discourage the company's management. The car developed, new modifications appeared. In 1956, the car received a new 105-horsepower N-series engine, and then versions with an all-metal station wagon body and an extended base went into the series. The breakthrough came in 1960, when the car was seriously re-faced, equipped with a 125-horsepower Nissan P inline-six, a lower stage was added to the transfer case (it was not there before), and the gearbox was equipped with synchronizers. In this form, it was already possible to try to enter foreign markets.
Nissan Patrol Soft Top (60)" 1960–80
We tried - and immediately received a lot of orders! The car quickly gained popularity in Australia, South Africa and Southeast Asia. Moreover, the Indian military insisted on buying a license for its production, called Jonga and made it the main command and reconnaissance vehicle! And it’s also enough to look at any image of the Patrol G60 to come to the conclusion that this car has become one of the sources of inspiration for the UAZ-469 designers.
UAZ-469B" 1972–85
But the next generations of the car, which were born in the early 80s and received indexes 160 and 260, turned out to be even more successful. Their general concept could be formulated as follows: a comfortable passenger body on an off-road truck chassis with spring suspension and powerful continuous axles. Their popularity turned out to be so wide that two plants for their production had to be launched at once, one in Spain, and the second in Iran. The car also won a number of "military victories": it was chosen by the armies of Ireland and a number of Middle Eastern countries. Patrol was transformed as the general idea of \u200b\u200bwhat kind of body deserves the definition of "comfortable" changed. Air conditioning, electric window lifters appeared in its equipment, and in 1988 the Patrol GR (Grand Raid) model with the factory index Y60 was released. Springs are a thing of the past: the new lever-spring suspension has significantly improved ride and handling.
Nissan Patrol GR 5-door (Y60)" 1987–97
GR was purchased in large quantities both by international organizations working in "hot spots" - UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, "Doctors Without Borders" and various "control missions", as well as by large oil and mining companies. Well, the next generation, the Y61, retained almost all the technical features of the GR, allowing Nissan to enter the elite club of luxury SUVs in 1998 and compete with the Toyota Land Cruiser 100 released in the same year. By that time, the main engines that were equipped with Patrol , there were in-line "sixes": atmospheric and turbocharged diesel engines RD28 (2.8 liters, 98-133 hp) and TD42 (4.2 liters, 123-157 hp), as well as gasoline 4.5- liter TB45 (200 hp) and 276-horsepower TB48 (4.8 liters). All was well, but in 2007 Toyota hit hard with the Land Cruiser 200, with a powerful V8, independent front suspension and rich equipment. I had to answer somehow...
Cutting without waiting for peritonitis
And then the designers of Nissan decided to do something radical: “cut without waiting for peritonitis!”. Dependent suspension does not allow you to achieve the desired ride and handling? Down with the bridges, the suspension will be completely independent! The Range Rover designers, by the way, at one time acted even more radically by integrating the frame into the body. And in order to surely finish off all the competitors, they used the company's favorite trick and put under the hood the VK56VD, the most powerful gasoline V8 in the class with a capacity of 405 horses. Naturally, they equipped the interior with all possible luxury and added a lot of electronic systems that can help the driver both on asphalt and on serious off-road. As a result, a completely new car was born called the Patrol Y62. Its world premiere took place in February 2010 at an exhibition in Abu Dhabi, and in September the car appeared in Nissan showrooms in Russia.1 / 4
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Nissan Patrol Y62 2010-2014
I must say that in the oil monarchies of the Middle East, the car immediately became a bestseller. Indeed, how can a passport consumption of 20 liters in urban mode scare residents of countries where a liter of gasoline is cheaper than a bottle of drinking water? But in Russia, everything turned out to be not so simple ... Not only Toyota cars (represented by Land Cruiser and luxurious Lexus LX) participated in the battle for the wallets of wealthy buyers. The Mercedes GL, Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne of the second generation did not stand aside from the fight ... And then the next generation of Range Rover arrived in time. And note - none of these brands, except for Lexus, did not disdain engines with compression ignition! As for the old fans of the model, who highly appreciated the unpretentiousness, endurance and cross-country ability of the Patrol, they wrinkled their noses (“fu, SUV!”) And began to scold the suspension, which, in their opinion, was clearly unable to endure contact with our potholes and potholes ( “Yes, look at the levers, it’s Tiida!”) And voracity (“yes, it’s scary to drive far from the gas station!”).
Nissan Patrol "Desert Edition" (Y62) "2015
I have no reason to doubt the ability of Nissan managers to count money. And yet, it seems to me that leaving the niche of "utilitarian and quite comfortable", the company made a mistake. The niche has not gone away, but a holy place is never empty. No wonder the main competitors from Toyota immediately pulled out of the chest the seventieth series, which seemed to have finally gone into circulation, “shamanized”, equipped it with new powerful diesel engines and voila - all sorts of Doctors Without Borders and other UNESCO are now ordering this particular car ... And even militants of the banned "Islamic State", which, however, causes a lot of inconvenience to the Japanese company. But back to Patrol ... I constantly had a suspicion that our compatriots did not quite correctly evaluate the car. The "general voice", of course, is a great force, but it happens that it is based on some completely false premises ... So let's try to figure it out.
Who is guilty? Toyota!
Naturally, let's start with appearance. I have not yet met a single person who would call the look of the Nissan Patrol frankly unsuccessful. The car looks quite harmonious, while being solid, solid and rich. But... Some image turned out to be too homely. Smooth lines, soft curves of surfaces... Just a kind uncle. Perhaps only the original light fixtures with sharp, angular outlines do not fit into this softness.
Compare this image with the furious aggressiveness of the Cayenne, the brutal power of the Land Cruiser or the aristocratic stiffness of the Range Rover. At the same time, “and the name is such, the right word, fighting!”, As the song says. It does oblige. And what happens? Cognitive dissonance is obtained, that's what. Do you know the name of the person who caused this dissonance? You won't guess anything. Toyota! The chief designer of the Y62 project is Taiji Toyota. The interior of the seventh generation Patrol is described in detail and repeatedly. A lot of leather, polished wood with an interesting wavy texture, the abundance of which, however, is not perceived as kitsch or “antique chest of drawers”. All controls are in place, there are no complaints about ergonomics, everything that should be regulated is regulated, and at the same time, of course, with the help of electric drives. All the numerous buttons and keys are located and grouped quite logically.
The instruments on the panel are very beautiful and are perfectly readable both during the day and at night. The screen of the navigation and entertainment system may not be the largest, but it is quite high quality. The steering wheel... I don't really like steering wheels with wooden inserts, but in Patrol they are made in such a way that they look nice and my hands do not slip. Between the front seats there is a hefty box refrigerator, and it opens both forward and backward, which means that the inhabitants of not only the first, but the second row of seats can use it. However, the passengers of the rear sofa will be able to not only indulge in soft drinks on a long journey, but also watch a movie: entertainment system screens are mounted in the headrests of the front seats. In fact, even the most desperate critics of the new Patrol failed to find any serious flaws in the interior.
And no crescendo
However, it's time to start the engine... I was expecting this moment with some anticipation. Sin, love the V8 sound. I literally enjoy it when it hums sternly at idle, and you can make out the sound of a flash in each of the cylinders, muffled, like a distant shot of an artillery gun. And when you press the gas pedal and these explosions merge into a powerful, all-conquering crescendo of a symphony of unstoppable movement ... It is for this acoustic-emotional component that I am ready to forgive large American pickups and SUVs for all their shortcomings.
I press the Start button, and ... instead of a victorious growl, a barely perceptible cozy purr comes from under the hood. Looking ahead, I’ll say that the soundproofing in the Patrol’s cabin is so good that the roar of the engine does not press on your ears in any mode, even when you “press the iron to the floor” in kickdown mode. In general, Patrol behaves exceptionally friendly and intelligent on asphalt. To be honest, I started off with some apprehension: after all, 405 horses under the hood - this is not a beetle sneezed. But everything turned out to be very simple and familiar. Both the work of the seven-speed automatic and the sensitivity of the gas pedal are adjusted so that you simply do not feel the full power of this herd. Maneuvering in the cramped space of city parking lots, driving in heavy traffic with periodic bogging down in traffic jams - all this happens easily and naturally. You know, there are cars that just don't want to go slow. Behind them you need an eye and an eye, a little gape, and already a hundred on the speedometer, and in the mailbox - the inevitable "letter of happiness."
In the case of the Nissan Patrol, nothing of the kind is observed: the car travels exactly as much as you press the pedal. At the same time, the power reserve does not go to waste: when overtaking on the highway, if you press the gas well, you are pressed into the seat, like an astronaut in a lodgement. I didn’t have a chance to verify the validity of the declared acceleration time to hundreds, for this you still need a training ground and appropriate equipment, but subjectively you believe that it really does not exceed 6.6-6.8 seconds.
Think yourself
Both on asphalt and on the ground, the car shows excellent trajectory stability and absolutely predictable reactions to steering. Moreover - on the road, Patrol does not at all give the impression of a large and bulky car. It feels more like a sports sedan, and the fact that this is not at all the case is only evidenced by the height to which you are elevated above the road.
Patrol does not allow frightening rolls in tight corners and does not sway on a bumpy primer. The operation of the HBMC (Hydraulic Body Motion Control) system affects. Its hydraulic cylinders quickly, depending on the traffic situation, change the suspension travel of each of the wheels. True, it is worth recognizing that the smoothness of the ride on bad roads is still higher for competitors with air suspension, and there is no feeling that bumps are somehow separate, and you just float above them. Adds friendliness and a set of electronic assistants that will warn of a dangerous approach to the car in front or simply automatically maintain a safe distance when driving on cruise control, raise an alarm if there is some kind of obstacle in your blind spot or while reversing , will help you stay in your lane and not jump out into the oncoming lane ...
What about off-road? Alas, I did not have the opportunity to bring the car to the limit of its patency. I can say one thing: those who call Patrol "SUV" are absolutely wrong, because they sin against the truth. The owner has quite a solid off-road toolkit at his disposal. Let's start with the all-wheel drive system. It includes a two-stage transfer case and an electronically controlled clutch. The choice of operating mode is carried out using a "washer" on the transmission tunnel. The main mode is Auto. In this mode, with a quiet movement, all the torque goes to the rear axle, and the front wheels come into operation only when the slip starts. The scheme is quite common, it was first used by BorgWarner in the mid-90s of the last century.
At the same time, at any time you can switch it to 4H mode by blocking the clutch. In addition to this, the puck has four sector buttons, "Sand", "Snow", "Rocks" and "Asphalt". They affect the stiffness of the interaxle clutch, the operation of the ESP, which slows down the slipping wheels, and the sensitivity of the gas pedal. But I wouldn’t call them analogues of the Land Rover Terrain Responce modes: the British have an electronic mind that decides what and how to block, while the driver has to decide on the inclusion of a lower row and the optimal suspension height. In Patrol, you yourself turn on both the “downshift” and the rear differential lock, but the center clutch in 4L mode turns out to be blocked anyway. In addition, you have at your disposal a system to help you move up and down the mountain, as well as the ability to display a picture from the all-round cameras. Add to this 560 Nm of torque - and you will understand that the driver of the Nissan Patrol can move off the asphalt without much doubt.
The first Nissan Patrol appeared back in 1951, and over the past 60 years, the design principle of this SUV has remained unchanged. A powerful frame, solid axles, high-torque diesel engines, excellent cross-country ability and impressive reliability made the Patrol a real icon among off-road brothers. No wonder the Nissan Patrol is still used in difficult road conditions in different parts of the world by such a powerful international organization as the UN.
The new Nissan Patrol retained the frame structure, but got rid of solid bridges and a rigid connection of the front end.
However, as time goes on, priorities change and the requirements for SUVs are increasingly leaning towards asphalt and handling. The Patrol has also changed. With the release of the new generation, the frame structure remained, but the dependent suspensions and the rigid Part-time connection of the front axle were replaced by mono-levers, as well as an advanced All Mode 4X4 electronic all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled clutch, a demultiplier and a rear differential lock.
The salon is unrecognizable. Entirely expensive finishing materials, wood and leather. There is no trace of the former practicality.
The dimensions are similar to the new Infiniti QX, from which the Nissan Patrol was “written”. The length of the SUV has grown to 5,140 mm (+95 mm), the wheelbase has increased to 3,075 mm (+105 mm). Appearance also matches: from the angular simple “Patrol” it has turned into a solid colossus, which differs from its luxury counterpart Infiniti only in the design of individual elements.
The design of the new Nissan Patrol largely overlaps with the new Infiniti QX, with which they share not only a common base, but also a lot of units.
With Alon has changed dramatically. Instead of chopped shapes and practical hard plastic, smooth lines, expensive leather and wood. The study was replaced by a luxurious office. All panels are made of soft-touch plastic, the floor is trimmed with beige pile, and the knobs and keys have received glamorous chrome lining. Rear row passengers will appreciate not only the mass of free space, but also a separate climate control unit.
There is space in the back row, there is a climate control unit. The sofa has an adjustable backrest.
On the third row, even adult passengers can comfortably accommodate, and if desired, three of us can sit here. Trunk volume with a raised gallery is 550 liters, and folding both rear rows of seats, you can get an impressive cargo compartment of 3,170 liters. In the best traditions of the premium class, the fifth door is equipped with an electric drive.
With three rows of seats raised, the trunk volume of the Nissan Patrol is 550 liters. If you fold the seats, you get an impressive cargo compartment with a volume of more than 3 cubic meters.
In parking lots, a surround view system that transmits a picture from four video cameras located around the perimeter of the car helps. You can pamper your ears with an excellent audio system with the ability to connect USB and iPod, and a multimedia system with two monitors in the front headrests will help brighten up the leisure of the rear passengers.
Now the Nissan Patrol is equipped with only a 5.6-liter petrol V8 with a capacity of 405 hp without alternative. The gearbox is also the same - a 7-speed automatic.
This time, the supply of Nissan Patrol electronics has not been exhausted. The new generation of the SUV is equipped with climate control with the so-called air curtain system. There are separate fans in the ceiling above each of the side windows, which create downward airflows. Thus, for example, in warm weather, cool air “walks” along the glazing plane, which contributes to more efficient operation of the climate control system and creates favorable conditions for passengers in hot weather. A useful feature, given that the main market for Patrol is the Middle East with its scorching sun and heat over thirty.
Considerable height and heavy weight do not prevent Patrol from feeling confident on the pavement. But even despite the proprietary Hydraulic Body Motion Control system with four hydraulic cylinders between the struts and the body, vibrations on bumps could not be avoided.
Under the hood of the Nissan Patrol is a 5.6-liter V8 petrol engine, which is paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The 405-horsepower monster gives the heavy SUV excellent dynamics. With passport 6.6 seconds to “hundreds”, Patrol will give odds to any competitor. Moreover, Patrol accelerates equally powerfully from a standstill and from 100 km / h. That's just this agility directly depends on the level of the fuel gauge, which inexorably falls with each press on the accelerator. Even in quiet mode, fuel consumption is difficult to lower below 20 liters per 100 kilometers, but if you drive with a breeze, then a 100-liter tank is barely enough for 400 kilometers.
The center console is made in the signature Nissan style. Already in the database there is navigation and an excellent audio system. In the top modification for 3,249,000 rubles, a multimedia system with two monitors in the headrests is offered for rear passengers.
With a seven-speed "automatic" works smoothly. The transition to a lower one occurs without visible delays and delays, but in the kick-down mode, jumping several steps down is accompanied by a slight jerk. For especially demanding automatic transmissions, there is a manual mode.
The Nissan Patrol runs like it's on rails. The chassis swallows small joints and bumps unnoticed by passengers. Large pits Patrol also passes with a sufficient margin of safety, but the engineers could not avoid body vibrations even with the help of the new proprietary Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) system. It consists of four hydraulic cylinders through which racks with shock absorbers are attached to the body. With the help of two hydraulic accumulators, not only the stiffness of the suspension is changed, but also the course of the unloaded wheel is regulated. In fact, Hydraulic Body Motion Control presses the wheels to the road.
Despite the fact that the new Patrol has acquired premium and glamour, its off-road qualities are still on top.
As a result, for an almost 3-ton tall SUV, the Nissan Patrol stands well on an arc and willingly refuels into a turn, while the smoothness of the ride remains virtually perfect, and the rolls are quite moderate. The main rival of the current Patrol, the Toyota Land Cruiser 200, is equipped with a similar system, with the only difference being that the Toyota’s adjustable stiffness of the lateral stabilizers is designed to increase suspension travel and improve cross-country ability, while the Nissan’s Hydraulic Body Motion Control has more helps when driving on asphalt.
The system of circular video review helps to navigate in tight parking lots. The chrome-plated washer ring of the all-wheel drive system is responsible for the forced connection of the all-wheel drive, and with the keys inside it you can select one of four modes: Snow, sand, road or stones. Depending on the selected mode, the sensitivity of the gas pedal changes, as well as the settings of the stabilization system, etc.
Despite the asphalt manners and a clear change of priorities, the new generation of Nissan Patrol is well prepared for off-road driving. The off-road vehicle equally confidently rushes both along the rolled primer and across the field. Reactions to steering actions occur with the expected delay, but vibrations on the steering wheel from bumpy terrain are minimal.
The price of Nissan Patrol in Russia starts at 3,085,000 rubles. For comparison, Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in a similar configuration will cost 3,100,000 rubles.
I'm driving into a muddy rut. I shift the washer of the proprietary All Mode 4 × 4 all-wheel drive system to 4H mode, press the rear cross-axle differential lock button, and the Patrol persistently crawls through the mud until the road tires are clogged with clay at the end. By the way, in addition to the standard modes Auto, 4H and reduced 4L in the "Patrol" you can choose the type of coverage, depending on which the response to the gas and the modes of operation of the transmission, stabilization systems, etc. change. For example, in the “Snow” mode, the responses to the gas become smoother in order to prevent unnecessary slippage, and by switching to the “Sand”, the accelerator, on the contrary, begins to react sharply even to the slightest pressing on the pedal.
With the release of the seventh generation, the Nissan Patrol began its development in a completely different direction, where the mega-popular Toyota Land Cruiser 200 became its main competitor. Russia.
The base price of the Nissan Patrol in Russia is 3,085,000 rubles. For a surcharge of 164,000 rubles, the SUV can be equipped with intelligent cruise control and a multimedia system for rear passengers. For comparison, the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 costs almost the same - 3,100,000 rubles. But Toyota has a diesel version that accounts for almost half of its sales, and the Patrol's main customers in the Middle East, with their cheap fuel prices, are quite happy with the voracious petrol V8. Therefore, the prospects for Patrol in Russia are vague, at least until a diesel engine appears in its arsenal.
R uslan Galimov
Once with this car it all started. It was he - big, hardy and all-passable - fifteen years ago who opened the world of foreign SUVs for the inhabitants of the disintegrating Soviet Union. Opened - and immediately ascended to the peak of steepness, causing fashion on the verge of hysteria. A stream of Pajero, Grand Cherokee, Tahoe and others like them poured into Russia. However, the Nissan Patrol failed to maintain leadership: the recruits turned out to be larger, more pompous and, most importantly, more expensive than him. In our opinion, more prestigious. Completely different cars gained popularity, and the pioneer gradually faded into the shadows. Official statistics says: in 2004, 581 Patrols were sold by dealers against 1830 Pajeros, 1908 Tuareg, 3667 Prado and 4964 "hundredths" of Land Cruisers.
Patrol simply did not have enough show-offs - leather, wood, chrome and a V8 under the hood - to be in good demand. It turned out to be overly professional, focused more on the Defender than on the Expedition. To be honest, that's what I like about him. Behind the wheel of Patrol you rarely see a person with a hungry Ego, who will always be "not enough". Such machines, as a rule, are purchased for real, male work, so there are a lot of them in the eastern regions of the country. They are especially loved by oil and gas workers. Last August, at the SUV show in Val de Isère, France, Nissan introduced the updated Patrol GR, which is now simply called Patrol. The changes were not large-scale: the nose and rear were redesigned, the plastic of the sidewalls was corrected, the turbodiesel was modernized. At the same time, the interior has been improved and the list of standard equipment has been expanded. And shortly before this event, the range of engines was replenished with a 245-horsepower in-line "six" with a volume of 4.8 liters, which put the car on a par with initially more powerful competitors.
Patrol inspires respect, trust and a sense of security. The spar frame, axles and dependent suspensions, the "screw-nut" steering mechanism - this "cargo" arsenal is indestructible, but the sensations from the car are appropriate. If worthy bumps appear on the way, then the suspension reacts to them with undisguised rigidity. A large base determines an appropriate turning radius. Patrol is good on a straight line, but reluctantly, with a delay in steering commands, changes the direction of its movement, and the level of feedback is not always sufficient.
At the same time, rolls in corners are moderate, and diagonal buildup is not characteristic of the car at all. A three-liter turbodiesel paired with an "automatic" provide the car with acceptable dynamics, nothing more. To confidently stay in the stream, the box is best left in the "power" and "o / d off" modes. And get used to the brakes, the effectiveness of which increases dramatically literally at the last millimeters of the pedal travel.
However, Patrol belongs to the breed of cars that can't wait until the end of the asphalt. When, finally, you need a transfer lever, "diff lock on / off" toggle switches (locking the rear cross-axle differential, "stabi on / off" (turning off the rear anti-roll bar) and locking the "machine" in the lower steps. He is waiting for you have the courage to check the truth of the figures "watering depth - 700 mm", "safe side slope angle - 48 degrees" and "height of the obstacle to be overcome - 215 mm". at idle, and the accelerator drive is able to precisely change the number of revolutions of the engine.Permeability is limited by two factors: the type of tires - because inappropriate rubber can negate all the benefits of "iron" - and geometry.Obviously, a long-wheelbase five-door car will have a hard time when driving sharp breaks in the relief.And three-doors are not supplied to us.
One of the key advantages of Patrol is a huge interior. There is plenty of space here - both at the feet and above the heads. The second row of seats is comfortable for three adults, and a couple of extra rear seats are quite hospitable. Of course, you can’t put anything significant in the trunk, but if necessary, Patrol will be able to cope with the role of a representative minivan, which further expands its scope. As for the aesthetic side of the matter, the interior of the modernized car, even in the performance of Elegance, has not yet reached the luxury of the best representatives of this class, but got rid of the old condoness.
The conservative Patrol, designed to work on remote frontiers and rare visits to the service, remains aloof from the off-road "mainstream". But from its design, it seems, the maximum possible is squeezed out. The question is, which way will Nissan go further: will they transfer the Patrol to an independent suspension or keep it in its original form? Perhaps the role of a more "civilized" SUV will be assigned to the Pathfinder model, which will go on sale in the near future. We'll find out soon.
