Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Nissan Patrol 2010 Review


The all-new 2010 Nissan Patrol was launched on February 13th, at a VIP event in Abu Dhabi. While we didn’t go, information is already trickling down on the net about the redesigned Patrol.
The 2010 Nissan Patrol is powered by a 400 hp 5.6-litre V8 with 560 Nm, with features such as “VVEL” variable-valve timing and “DIG” direct injection, and mated to a 7-speed automatic. A variable 4×4 Mode package allows switching between four drive modes: sand, on-road, rock and snow, with the flick of a switch. And a “Hydraulic Body Motion Control” system is available, seemingly a fancy term for four-wheel independent air suspension. Also available are an electronic locking rear differential, hill start and hill descent control, as well as lane-departure warning, automatic braking and stability control.
While there is no written mention of a lower engine option anywhere, one presentation even spoke of a base 317 hp 5.6-litre V8 with 521 Nm of torque, a possible carryover engine from the outgoing Armada. We also found out that there are two minor exterior variants, with the lower models getting a simpler offroad-friendly front bumper and the top model getting a fancier-moulded “city” front bumper.
The 2010 Patrol is can be outfitted as a full luxury SUV, with climate-controlled leather seats, Arabic-supported HDD navigation, wide WVGA 8-inch touchscreen, multi-screen DVD entertainment system, 9.3GB Music Box hard drive, Bluetooth, power rear liftgate, keyless start, adaptive cruise control, around-view cameras, and a centre console cool-box that can be opened from both 1st & 2nd-row seats. A Nissan first is the Off-road Monitor that provides real-time information such as tyre conditions involving steer angle, slip and pressure.

After more than a decade with minimal changes, the Nissan Patrol has been redesigned from the ground up, aiming to regain some of the market-share lost to its rivals. The all-new Patrol can be optioned up with enough features to classify it as a full-fledged luxury vehicle, with some class-leading features and new technology. Engine options include a base 5.6-litre V8 with 5-speed automatic carried over from the outgoing Armada, known as the Patrol SE, as well as a brand-new 5.6-litre V8 with more power, direct injection and a 7-speed automatic, known as the Patrol LE. Depending on trim level, the 7-seater Patrol can be had with standard or optional features such as all-wheel-drive with low-range gearing, hydraulic independent air suspension, computerised terrain response system, climate-controlled leather seats, Arabic-supported HDD navigation, wide WVGA 8-inch touchscreen, multi-screen DVD entertainment system, 9.3GB Music Box hard drive, Bluetooth, power rear liftgate, keyless start, adaptive cruise control, 20-inch alloy wheels, power-folding 3rd-row seat, around-view cameras, and a centre console cool-box that can be opened from both 1st & 2nd-row seats. Also available is an Off-road Monitor that provides real-time information such as tyre conditions involving steer angle, slip and pressure, as well as hill start, hill descent, and an electronically-locking rear difference.
 Most models get a regular offroad-ready front bumper, while the top trims get a slightly-lower 'city' bumper. Safety features include two front airbags and numerous side-curtain airbags, stability control and ABS, as well as optional lane-departure warning, tyre-pressure monitor and auto-braking systems. The previous version of the Patrol continued to be on sale alongside this new model during 2010, as a basic offroader. However, the new model is so popular that buyers put down hefty deposits before performance specs were even released

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