Review: The Nissan Patrol Warrior Is An Armada On Off-Road Steroids

The Nissan Patrol, much like its North American counterpart, the Armada, is showing its age. Both vehicles have been around for quite some time. Introduced in early 2010, the Patrol has received a couple of facelifts over the years but remains largely unchanged. This begs the question: in a world of constantly evolving automotive technology and consumer preferences, why are we taking the time to review an aging SUV?

Well, as you can see from the photos, the Patrol you’re observing isn’t your run-of-the-mill model. This is the Patrol Warrior, a special edition conceived exclusively for the Australian market. It’s designed to enhance the Patrol’s already impressive off-road chops and brings with it a host of mechanical upgrades and visual tweaks.

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Like the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior that we drove a couple of years ago, the Patrol Warrior has not been modified by Nissan itself. It has been built by Premcar, an Australian engineering firm, and then delivered to Nissan dealerships.

What Premcar accomplished with the Navara was undeniably impressive, but it’s worth noting that the Navara is much newer than the Patrol, providing the company with a more contemporary foundation to work from. The question now is: has Premcar achieved a similarly feat with the Patrol Warrior? Let’s dive in and find out.

Quick Facts

Premcar’s upgrades start with the suspension. The ride height has been jacked up by 29 mm (1.1 inches) and the company has bolted on a set of distinctive 18-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama G015 295/70 All-Terrain tires. In addition, the Patrol includes a re-engineered Hydraulic Body Motion Control system, re-developed front springs, new multi-rate rear springs, progressive rate rear bump-stops, and rebuilt dampers.

It now sits 50 mm (1.9 inches) higher than a standard Patrol and has a 40-degree approach angle and a 23.3-degree departure angle.

The modifications don’t stop there. Premcar has also installed a new front bumper, a red bash plate, black fender flares, new recovery points, side steps, a black grille, and some Warrior decals. These changes have a huge impact on the vehicle’s road presence, making it stand out from not only lesser Patrol variants but also its rivals, like the Toyota Land Cruiser LC300.

One of the most distinctive features of the Patrol is its 5.6-liter naturally-aspirated V8 and with the Land Cruiser no longer available with eight-cylinders, this engine gives the Nissan a unique appeal. Premcar has set out to make the most of this 5.6-liter mill and developed a bi-modal exhaust for it with side-exit pipes. Rounding out the upgrades is some Alcantara trim across the dashboard.

A real show-stopper.

When approaching the Patrol Warrior for the first time, I was immediately struck by the sheer size of the thing. It is an absolute behemoth and is one of just a handful of vehicles sold in Australia with eight seats that isn’t a minivan. After clambering inside, I was confronted with one of the most outdated interiors of any new vehicle on sale.

While Nissan has facelifted the Patrol twice, its updates have focused almost exclusively on the exterior. In some markets, like the Middle East, the Patrol’s second facelift brought with it the updated dashboard and screen of the U.S.-spec Armada but such changes have not been made to the Australian model. Its cabin is almost identical to what it was 14 years ago.

The steering wheel is big and while it looks outdated, the buttons on it are easy to operate while on the move. The traditional gauge cluster also feels old compared to the digital panels that are common nowadays but again, it is functional and gives you all the information you need. The same cannot be said about the infotainment display.

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Found in the center of the dash is an 8.0-inch display. It is small by modern standards and runs ancient software that is basic and has aged poorly over the years. Sure, it comes with satellite navigation as standard but this system is laggy, unrefined, and low-quality. The Patrol Warrior is also the first car we have driven in recent years that does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Thankfully, the 2024 update includes both.

The rest of the dash also feels quite old, due primarily to the presence of a CD player and some rather ugly plastic buttons and knobs. The rest of the Patrol Warrior’s cabin is nice and offers lots of room.

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

As you would expect for a vehicle of this size, the second row is extremely spacious and the lack of an overly-intrusive transmission tunnel means sitting in the second-row middle seat isn’t a burden. The third row also has three seats and while they are small, they are large enough for children and teenagers. These seats can also fold flat while the second row can fold forward, giving the Patrol a massive 2,623 liters (92.6 cubic-feet) of cargo carrying capacity.

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A busy schedule during our week with the Patrol Warrior meant we were unable to test it in its natural environment: along off-road trails. As such, our driving impressions were limited to on-road use. We will endeavor to pick up the keys to a 2024 Patrol Warrior soon to take it off-roading.

A monster for the road.

The experience of driving the Patrol Warrior is dominated by the 5.6-liter naturally-aspirated V8. This engine delivers a considerable 298 kW (400 hp) at 5,800 rpm and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm. While that torque figure is down on the 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of the Land Cruiser LC300 with its 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged diesel V8, the Patrol has a full 71 kW (95 hp) of extra power. Coupled with this engine is a seven-speed torque-converter automatic transmission and a low-range transfer case.

This engine delivers an intoxicating soundtrack in the regular model and this has been amplified in the Warrior with the new exhaust. The valves to the side-exiting pipes only open up once you build the revs but when it fires into life, it delivers a thunderous soundtrack that will wake up your entire neighborhood. The thrill of a big-capacity V8 like this never gets old and with fewer vehicles sporting big engines, it gives the Patrol Warrior an appeal that its rivals can’t match.

Having a big engine driving a vehicle weighing 2,884 kg (6,358 lbs) has one big downside: fuel economy. Nissan says the Patrol Warrior drinks down 14.4 l/100 km (16.3 U.S. mpg) but during our time with it, we averaged 16.5 l/100 km (14.2 U.S. mpg) and that was doing primarily long highway stints when the engine should have been operating at its most efficient. Buyers should be prepared for some eye-watering fuel bills, then.

The seven-speed transmission is on the lazy side but we wouldn’t label it a slush box. It shifts slowly between gears but importantly, remains smooth at all times.

Photo Brad Anderson/Carscoops

Premcar has done a good job of ensuring the Warrior remains comfortable when driven on the road, even though it yearns to climb over rocks and speed through rivers. Sure, it can be a little floaty at high speeds, but it is extraordinarily comfortable and compliant during everyday driving duties, which is not something we were expecting.

As the Warrior is based on the Patrol Ti, it comes well-equipped from the factory. Key standard features include a six-speaker sound system, tri-zone climate control, leather upholstery, tire pressure monitoring, hill descent control, and a rear differential lock. There is also radar cruise control and a lane-keeping assist system that works well.

An update for 2024

The 2024 Nissan Patrol’s interior with the aftermarket infotainment system (Photos Nissan)

In the time between testing the Patrol Warrior and writing this review, Nissan Australia has launched tweaked versions of both the standard Patrol and the Warrior. All 2024MY examples now come equipped with an aftermarket headunit that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, fixing one of our complaints about the 4×4.

Verdict: A compelling option, despite its age.

While the Nissan Patrol is old, the upgrades that Premcar has made to it add to its appeal and it is a solid option for those looking for an eight-seater that can tow, thrill drivers, and conquer difficult off-road trails. If you can find an outgoing 2023 model on sale or can wait for the 2024 version to reach showrooms, it could be a good buy.

Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops