Unlike our long-terming Jeep Wrangler, the latest entrant in the wheels garage comes pre-modded straight out of the box. Ladies and gents, please give a warm welcome to the Nissan Patrol Nismo, set to be with the team for the next six weeks.
With the Dh360K Nismoed version, Nissan has also scored one over its rival Toyota, which only offers the Land Cruiser with cosmetic enhancements in TRD garb. So at least for now, this Patrol sits firmly in a class of one.
Mechanically, the changes aren’t earth shattering, however, they are substantial enough to mark this as a hopped-up version of the Patrol. It sits lower to the ground, with a more aggressive body kit, while the 5.6-litre V8 has been poked and prodded to deliver and extra 28 horsepower over the standard car’s output of 400bhp. Torque has also been bumped up from 560Nm to 590Nm and is now available over 70 per cent of the rev range. Cumulatively, this car feels faster than the stock version but make no mistake, the Nismo touch hasn’t exactly turned this Patrol into a Porsche Cayenne baiter.
It’s a big old thing, and you are constantly reminded of its not insubstantial dimensions and mass as you negotiate a corner of any description at speed. However, the newfound go does mean it’s keener during overtaking manoeuvres.
The postcode-straddling size does have some upsides though. The cabin is supremely spacious, which makes this Patrol one of the most comfortable and practical family cars on sale today. However, that’s something that can be said of the standard non-Nismo version, too. So does the Nismo variant justify its Dh26K premium? We fully intend to find out in the next month and a half.
Week 2 and 3: Nissan Patrol Nismo
There is something to be said about the presence of the Patrol on the roads, especially our Nismo’ed version
January 17, 2017Nissan Patrol Nismo review
There wasn’t a dire need for Nismo to give the Patrol a shot in the arm, but we’re glad it did. It may not come with the GT-R’s running gear, but this will still frighten quite a few SUVs...
July 22, 20162016 Nissan Patrol Nismo
First drive of the hulking and more potent SUV
July 18, 2016Nissan unveils Sentra Nismo
Japanese carmaker seeks to infuse some excitement into the mainstream saloon with a turbocharged engine, enhanced aerodynamics and re-tuned suspension
November 16, 2016Nissan Patrol V6 review
Every respectable carmaker is downsizing and that includes Nissan. But, will the decision to cut the Patrol’s V8 down by two cylinders hurt the UAE favourite?
October 22, 2016Review: Honda e electric car
This urban runabout is full of cutting-edge tech and an all-electric powertrain. We give it a go.
February 11, 2020