Ride and Handling
The Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tyres look purposefully knobby, yet tyre noise remains well contained even at motorway speeds, helped by Damping Acoustic glass, which gives the Patrol a luxury-car level of quietness. The adaptive air suspension works with Nissan’s e-Damper technology to strike a convincing balance between a plush ride and body control.
High-speed stability is reassuringly good, while the adaptive cruise control is easy to operate and makes long motorway journeys relaxing. Around corners, some body roll is inevitable in something this large and tall, but the Patrol holds its line surprisingly well.
The PRO-4X gets a locking rear differential and six drive modes — Standard, Eco, Sport, Sand, Mud and Rock. The four-wheel-drive system also offers easy-to-reach 4AUTO, 4H and 4L settings, allowing the driver to tailor traction and gearing to the terrain.
Our test drive went beyond light trails into more serious off-roading, with the tyre pressures dropped to around 15 psi. There is plenty of power to plough through sandy slopes, and whenever it felt like it was beginning to bog down, opening the throttle usually helped it power through.
The PRO-4X offers 244 mm of minimum ground clearance, with the approach angle increasing from 31.5 degrees in Normal mode to 34 degrees in High, while the departure angle improves from 23 to 27.5 degrees. In practice, that meant I rarely had to worry about uneven terrain, debris or desert vegetation getting in the way, while the substantial bash plate provides added protection for the vital components underneath.
And once the fun is over, the optional on-board air compressor is particularly useful for restoring tyre pressures after dune driving.
