NISSAN

TAKE THE KIDS TO SEE TREK Nissan offer an unashamedly back to basics approach with their beefy Patrol Trek. Andy Enright reports…

Want a family-sized 4x4? Then you’ve a choice to make. Some cars in the Land Rover Discovery class are dragging prices upwards, offering massively sophisticated drivetrains and interior fitments. At the same time though, there’s a growing rejection of these hi-tech SUVs in favour of vehicles that aren’t afraid to get up to their axles in mud. That’s where cars like the Nissan Patrol Trek can shine.

Each year we run an off-road driving review where we take the most prominent 4x4s and subject them to a couple of days solid flogging at a recognised off-road centre under the supervision of some of the best professionals in the business. While there are some cars that perform way beyond expectation and others that barely cope any better than an average estate car, one thing is depressingly clear. Take any of the high end vehicles on anything approaching serious terrain and you will incur damage. Low profile tyres, alloy wheels and rutted terrain just do not mix. Likewise, anything without a serious amount of ride height and axle articulation is going to be dragging its belly and clouting its suspension on the ground. That’s where vehicles like the Patrol Trek excel. Here is a vehicle with properly sized tyres. While the rubber looks unfashionably bulbous and may not cut a dash outside China White, its job is to grip in any condition while, at the same time, protecting the wheel rim and it does a fantastic job of it. The Patrol’s beefy ride height also means it’ll tackle deeper ruts and fords than most 4x4s and shrug off the sort of arduous clambering that is beyond most rivals. The best bit? You get all this capability at prices that start at £24,080.

"There’s no pretence about a Patrol, especially this one…"

Let’s put the value proposition into clear perspective. It’s possible to spend over £25,000 on a smaller class of 4x4 like Toyota’s RAV4 or Hyundai’s Santa Fe. A lot more than you’d need to put a Patrol Trek on your drive. Solely available in five seat trim, this Patrol isn’t meant to be one for the school run mums, instead offering the sort of cavernous load area in the back befitting a proper working vehicle. Like all the latest Patrols, this one has benefited from a revised nose with more chrome and a raised bonnet centre that apes the monster Titan pick up truck. The front bumper has been re-profiled yet despite this, it still maintains the acute approach angle that’s required for serious off road driving. The wheelarches have been re-profiled too and although the result is not what you’d call pretty, it looks the part, the Trek getting utilitarian black bumpers and a handy side step to facilitate entry. You’re a long way up in a Patrol. The Patrol’s interior has also been restyled in recent times to offer a look and feel that’s a little more contemporary. The dashboard is a good deal curvier than before, invoking the design of the 350Z and X-Trail fascias and the cabin features some revised materials. One thing that hasn’t been given the soft shoe treatment is the engine. Up from 158 to 160bhp, the ZD diesel unit’s torque figure has jumped from 354 to 380Nm courtesy of the latest revisions, making the Patrol a good deal more tractable when accelerating from a standstill, towing a trailer or when crawling through axle deep gloop. The standard equipment list isn’t going to give Lexus any sleepless nights but it contains much of what you need. Manual air conditioning and heated electric door mirrors keep the chill off on cold mornings while a CD stereo with four speakers is a welcome departure from the depressing maw of a tape deck which some manufacturers bizarrely see fit to include on their entry-level models. Driver and passenger airbags are also standard fit as is remote controlled keyless entry. When the specification list also includes a map light it’s safe to say that Nissan are reaching a little bit to stoke up interest. The Trek’s seats lack the leather trim of the more upmarket models but the fabric they’re trimmed in looks reasonably hardwearing and is a lot more pleasant to sit on when the temperatures are so low that ice has formed on the inside of the screen. Inclement conditions are meat and drink for the Patrol, the heavy-duty body construction and the three-tonne weight giving it some serious heft. Nor can we forget the outstanding wheel articulation - for traversing ditches of course - and, naturally, the obligatory low Range gearbox for when conditions get really sludgy. For those looking to really test it to its limits, the Patrol will wade to a depth of 700mm and climb gradients up to 39 degrees. As far as on-road abilities are concerned, Nissan makes much of the efforts it has made to improve refinement and handling. Alterations to the suspension geometry in recent times are supposed to have made for a more cosseting ride and better defined handling. If you tried an old-shape Patrol, you’ll certainly notice that transmission noise is reduced (down by 90 per cent no less - which gives everyone else some idea of what that car must have been like). Wind noise is down too, courtesy of a body with better aerodynamic efficiency. The result is a car that handles pretty well for its size – and performs much better thanks to that 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine. Nevertheless, performance is still hardly neck-snapping; rest to sixty in 15.4s in the Trek on the way to 99mph. The result is that you tend to drive with your foot to the floor absolutely everywhere. Despite this, diesel power means you should average 26.2 mpg. Sophistication only gets you so far. Sometimes there’s no substitute for brute force. Nissan’s Patrol Trek is that force.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Nissan Patrol Trek 3.0di PRICE: £24, 080 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13 CO2 EMISSIONS: 288g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 15.4s / Max Speed 99mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 26.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver & Passenger airbag, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4965/1840/1855mm

CITIZENS ON PATROL Nissan Haven’t Sold Out To The Luxury Set With Their Unashamedly Rugged Patrol 4x4. Andy Enright Reports…

Most big 4x4s have one thing in common – they’re trying to muscle in on the luxury market. Ever since BMW’s X5 showed that there was a lucrative market for those who cared more for a fancy badge, slick on road manners and a hefty complement of gadgetry, more and more manufacturers have hitched their wagons up to this trend. Nissan, however, aren’t one of them – at least not when it comes to their rugged Patrol.

Now that so many rivals have decamped to the Luxury 4x4 sector, there aren’t too many big 4x4s that offer the sort of no nonsense charms served up in such generous helpings as this tough, go-anywhere off roader. ‘Sticking to the knitting’ may well have been the smart ticket. While competitors have become ever more sophisticated and, consequently, expensive, the Patrol has stayed true to its roots, offering an awful lot of metal for your money. You’ll only need £24,080 to land a Trek specification Patrol which, these days, is the sort of money you’d pay for something like a Land Rover Freelander. Quantity is nothing without quality, and Nissan have upped the amount of standard equipment and have refined the Patrol’s interior in line with some of their more successful recent offerings. So it is that today’s Patrol features a revised nose with more chrome and a raised bonnet centre that apes the monster Titan pick up truck. The front bumper has been reprofiled and in Aventura form, it now houses big fog lamps. Despite this, it still maintains the acute approach angle that’s required for serious off road driving. The wheelarches have been reprofiled and the Aventura features revised 17-inch alloy wheels. This Range-topper also gets body-coloured wheelarch extensions, headlamp washers and a sunroof while all Patrols get large rear light clusters and integrated side sills. You’re a long way up in a Patrol.

"There’s no pretence about a Patrol"

The interior has been restyled to offer a look and feel that’s a little more contemporary. The dashboard is a good deal curvier than before, invoking the design of the 350Z and X-Trail fascias and the cabin features some revised materials. One thing that hasn’t been given the soft shoe treatment is the engine. Up from 158 to 160bhp, the ZD diesel unit’s torque figure jumps from 354 to 380Nm, making the Patrol a good deal more tractable when accelerating from a standstill, towing a trailer or when crawling through axle deep gloop. The Patrol Range is easy to get a handle on, starting with the £24,080 Trek version. Even this model features anti lock brakes, twin airbags, an alarm and electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors. With five doors and seating for five, the Trek isn’t in any way ‘bling’, the black wheel arches marking it out as a no nonsense affair. A sliding rear seat that gives you the option of changing the balance between rear seat legroom and luggage allowance is a neat touch though. If you want your workhorse fitted with a few more creature comforts, you’ll doubtless prefer the Aventura variant. Priced at £28,080 in manual form, Nissan have really gone to town with the standard equipment list. As well as the 17" alloy wheels and front fog lamps there’s Nissan’s innovative DVD-based ‘Birdview’ satellite navigation system which covers thirteen European countries. Also included are side airbags, an outside temperature gauge, compass, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, leather upholstery, electronic climate control, rear side privacy glass and headlight washers. Despite all this kit, the Patrol still feels true to its hardcore roots. Take, for instance, the heavy-duty body construction and the three-tonne weight. Powering your way through the jungle undergrowth should be easier than ever before. Nor can we forget the outstanding wheel articulation - for traversing ditches of course - and, naturally, the obligatory low Range gearbox for when conditions get really sludgy. For those looking to really test it to its limits, the Patrol will wade to a depth of 700mm and climb gradients up to 39 degrees. As far as on-road abilities are concerned, Nissan makes much of the efforts it has made to improve refinement and handling. Alterations to the suspension geometry in recent times are supposed to have made for a more cosseting ride and better defined handling. If you tried an old-shape Patrol, you’ll certainly notice that transmission noise is reduced (down by 90 per cent no less - which gives everyone else some idea what that car must have been like). Wind noise is down too, courtesy of a body with better aerodynamic efficiency. The result is a car that handles pretty well for its size – and performs much better thanks to that 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine. Nevertheless, performance is still hardly neck-snapping; rest to sixty in 15.4s in the 5-door on the way to 99mph. The result is that you tend to drive with your foot to the floor absolutely everywhere. Despite this, diesel power means you should average 26.2 mpg. So many rivals have chased the luxury money that they’ve pretty much left the way clear for Nissan’s Patrol to clean up amongst those who still need a serious 4x4 that can work for its living. Although the Aventura looks tempting, it’s the Trek version that really appeals, offering all the capability with less of the cost. Don’t be fooled by the restyle and makeover. This is still hardcore.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Nissan Patrol Range PRICES: £24,080-£28,080 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-15 CO2 EMISSIONS: 288g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 15.4s / Max Speed 99mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 26.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver & Passenger airbag, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4965/1840/1855mm

COMPETENT ON ANY CONTINENT Commemorating Nissan’s part in an epic off-road journey, the Patrol Long Way Down special edition has value on its side. Steve Walker reports.

Manufacturers of 4x4 vehicles don’t usually need any encouragement to wax lyrical about the off-road prowess of their wares. The prospect of putting those products and their reputations on the line in a harsh real-world examination, however, can render some of the big names a little less forthcoming. Not Nissan. When Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman needed support vehicles for their epic Long Way Down expedition through Africa, the Japanese manufacturer was happy to oblige. The Nissan Patrol took the 15,000-mile odyssey in its stride and now UK buyers can sample the goods with the Patrol Long Way Down special edition.

A pair of specially prepared Nissan Patrols tracked Ewan and Charley every mile of the way on their marathon trip from John o’Groats at Scotland’s most northerly tip to Cape Town at Africa’s most southerly. While the BMW motorcycles that carried the two main protagonists dominated the limelight, the pair of Nissans acted as the unsung heroes of the piece, transporting the film crew and all the equipment needed for a 66-day trek down through some of the African continent’s most arduous terrain. The Nissan Patrol Long Way Down special edition models have been created to commemorate the journey and tie-in with the popular TV series that chronicled it. Starting at £25,995, they offer a generous specification along with off-road ability proven in the wilds of Africa. Superficially, the Nissan Patrol Long Way Down that you can buy bears little resemblance to the modified Patrols that actually completed the Long Way Down expedition. In the production cars, the bull bars, night driving lamps and off-road tyres that proved invaluable for the slog through Sudan, Libya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Namibia give way to features better suited to motoring closer to home. All Long Way Down models feature 17" alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated and electric front seats, climate control air-conditioning, rear privacy glass, front fog lamps, DVD satellite navigation and cruise control. There’s also the addition of two foldaway seats in the rear, upping the Patrol’s capacity to seven passengers.

"The Patrol Long Way Down ups the equipment levels of the standard car and comes at an attractive price."

What survives the transition from uncompromising African off-roader to UK market family 4x4 are the Patrol’s tried and tested underpinnings. Whether you’re taking evasive action to avoid a herd of angry elephants in the Serengeti or driving up a grassy bank in Wiltshire, the Patrol’s selectable four-wheel-drive system will give you a fighting chance of success. With its low range gearbox, lockable rear differentials and detachable rear stabiliser bar, the Patrol has a serious arsenal of weapons to give it grip across the full gamut of off-road driving conditions. Power comes from a 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine that maintains a safe distance from the cutting edge of engine technology. Instead, it offers simple, no-nonsense pulling power and a reliability record that’s been forged over years spent hauling Patrols over seemingly impossible obstacles in far-flung corners of the world. There’s 160bhp on tap at 3,600rpm which doesn’t sound like much given the Patrol’s 3,200kg gross vehicle weight. A better barometer of the considerable muscle served up by this engine is its 380Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. The Patrol is no ball of fire but with a top speed of under 100mph and 0-60mph acceleration that’s better measured by calendar than stopwatch but it fills the role of big family off-roader in its own inimitable way. Refinement and handling both leave quite a bit to be desired but the Patrol is unapologetic and it’s refreshing in today’s market to find a proper, rugged 4x4 that does what it says on the tin. Inclement conditions are meat and drink for the Patrol, the heavy-duty body construction and the three-tonne weight giving it some serious heft. Nor can we forget the outstanding wheel articulation - for traversing ditches of course - and, naturally, the obligatory low range gearbox for when conditions get really sludgy. For those looking to really test it to its limits, the Patrol will wade to a depth of 700mm and climb gradients up to 39 degrees. When you’re perched in the driving seat of the Patrol Long Way Down special edition, the branding seems particularly apt. The high seating position gives a great view and places you above other road users. The interior is obviously built with more than a nod to ruggedness and durability and less emphasis placed on soft touch materials and gimmicky design than in rival products. For some this straightforward approach will be extremely welcome, others will feel short-changed but the Patrol is a vehicle that divides opinions. What you can’t argue about is the space inside. There’s loads of it and that makes the Patrol the ideal vehicle for big families that have the knack for wrecking vehicle interiors in seconds. It feels as though you could stage a Ethiopian cow jumping ceremony in the Patrol and have the interior back in serviceable condition after a cursory wash and brush-up. The two rear seats in the Long Way Down models provide additional berths for two small passengers and can be folded down to boost luggage space. The Long Way Down expedition proved a perfect showcase for the capabilities of the Nissan Patrol. In a family 4x4 sector that’s becoming increasingly congested, it’s still rare to find a vehicle that can really cut it in the toughest conditions but the Patrol is one. You do pay a penalty for all that off-road prowess in the shape of some rough and ready driving dynamics but the practicality and durability of Nissan’s offering makes it a great choice for active families. The Patrol Long Way Down ups the equipment levels of the standard car and comes at an attractive price. If you can’t quite extend your finances to afford one, there’s also a Long Way Down version of the Navara pick-up truck that’s similarly robust in its architecture. You’ll go a long way in any direction to find more capable family-friendly off-road vehicles than these.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Nissan Patrol Long Way Down PRICE: £25, 995 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13 CO2 EMISSIONS: 288g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 15.4s / Max Speed 99mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 26.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver & Passenger airbag, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4965/1840/1855mm