Nissan Adds V6 To Patrol, Drops Manual
Nissan Patrol Adds V6, drops manual
Imthishan Giado
Nissan’s popular Patrol SUV is taking a surprising direction for 2017, adding a 4.0-litre V6 to its lineup.
A 270bhp/290lb ft V6 engine replaces the existing ‘base’ engine, a 5.6-liter 320bhp V8, though the full-fat 400bhp V8 remains at the top of the range. Nissan claims the new motor – based on a familiar unit from the Xterra, but retuned to suit the heavier Patrol – will deliver 13% better fuel economy and draw cost-conscious buyers who might have been turned off by a thirsty V8.
While some may bemoan the lack of a V8, it’s obvious that Nissan is aiming to grab market even more market share from archrival Toyota, having outsold them last month. More than 60% of Land Cruisers are sold with a V6. Nissan expects sales to increase by 20% this year and V6 to make up the majority of Patrols sold going forward.
While the V6 was offered in Xterra with a 5-speed auto, for Patrol the seven-speed automatic is now standard across the range from V6 to 428bhp NISMO. The six-speed manual, introduced for the desert crowd on the base XE-S model, has been dropped due to low sales.
Prices for the V6 Patrol range from AED174k-255k and is available now.