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NISSAN Patrol LWB Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 5
First production year: 1988
Engines: Gasoline, Diesel
Body style: SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)
NISSAN Patrol photo gallery

Nissan unveiled a facelift for the Patrol range in 2014, and it brought several updates for it, especially for its look.

On some markets, the sixth generation of the Patrol was the biggest Nissan on the offer. Due to stricter emission regulations and low market potential, the Japanese carmaker dropped it from the offer. The European customers were left behind in teary eyes for the big SUV, while the Australians were unhappy since there was no diesel option. Nevertheless, the Patrol was still one of the best off-road vehicles, and its main playground was the wide-open desert.

The design team tried their best to make the Patrol Y62 look smoother, but it was like trying to reshape a brick with a nail-polisher. Somehow, they succeeded in implementing a new bumper that was curved upward towards the headlights. It's new LED daytime running lights and the massive, three-parts chromed grille was imposing and resembled the previous Patrol models. The front fenders air-vents from the sides were elongated and still made some people wondering if they were used for something other than design. They could if the owner modified it.

Inside, it was the same large barge with room for up to eight people with impressive headroom, even for the versions fitted with a sunroof. The carmaker did the interior with luxurious trims such as heated and cooled leather seats, wood-trims, and an infotainment system carried over from the Infiniti squad.

Under the hood, Nissan installed only V8 gasoline engines. Their fuel-efficiency was down the drain, but their performances were remarkable, especially for the full-options version that featured a Mercedes-Benz 7-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox.

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NISSAN Patrol photo gallery

Nissan introduced a new generation, dubbed Y62, for its famous nameplate Patrol in 2010, and the most significant change brought to the lineup was ditching the three-door version.

The Japanese off-road contender was always the main rival for the Toyota Land Cruiser in terms of overland capabilities and features. This version was no different and tried to threaten the LC's supremacy in the SUV market. Another important news for this car is that it didn't focus on fuel-efficient, turbo-diesel versions anymore. That saddened the European, British, and Australian fans, who couldn't get the Y62 model with the mighty 3.0-liter oil-burner.

From the outside, the Patrol looked, and was, bigger than its predecessor. At the front, the grille sported the V-shaped chromed trims, and the headlights were swept back towards the fenders. The bulky front bumper was rounded to respect the regulations regarding pedestrian impact but also high enough not to mess up the ground clearance. The Patrol's profile revealed a more elaborate design than its predecessors. It was the first time when it created an up-kick in the design of the D-pillars, trying to create a more dynamic look for the bulky-looking SUV.

Inside, the three-row cabin offered enough room for up to seven seats. Since it was more of a luxury vehicle than a hard-core off-roader, it was packed with leather upholstery and wood trims. Due to the tall-mounted dashboard, the center stack was shaped in a sloped and vertical area where the carmaker could place all the buttons and equipment needed.

Under the hood, the Y62 Patrol packed a V6 and two V8 engines, depending on the market. A six-speed manual was offered for specific models but eventually was ditched later on, and all versions were fitted with automatic transmissions. Power went in all corners via a two-speed transfer case. But one particular technical detail remained the same as in its predecessors: the body-on-frame construction, which was highly praised by off-road enthusiasts.

REVIEW: NISSAN Patrol   full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Patrol LWB photo gallery

The fifth generation of the Nissan Patrol, known as Y61 by the enthusiasts, started its career in 1997 and had received an important update in 2004 both on the look and on the technical part.

Nissan Patrol was one of the most important products ever made by the Japanese company, and the first generation was launched in 1951. In the beginning, it wasn't named Patrol, but it had the Nissan name stamped on its grille. Its base was a carry-over from the Dodge M37 ¾ truck.

While the Patrol was designed and used mostly in the harshest environments on Earth, the manufacturer didn't forget to install comfortable suspensions and work on its styling. The rounded edges, big headlights, and in-bumper rear taillights were one of the features of the Patrol Y61.

Inside, there was seating for up to seven passengers for the five-door version, while the three doors featured only five. To improve the inside comfort, the rear suspensions were fitted with coil springs instead of leaf-springs as other off-road vehicles on the market. The Patrol featured amenities such as climate control, leather seats, in-car entertainment units, and sunroof.

Depending on the market, the Patrol featured various engines and transmissions. In Europe, the most common unit was the 3.0-liter turbodiesel mated to a 5-speed transmission fitted as standard. It replaced the previous 2.8-liter unit that was on the Patrol between 1997 and 2003. For the Middle-East versions, a 4.8-liter inline-six unit mated to a 5-speed automatic was available.

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NISSAN Patrol LWB photo gallery

Nissan replaced the fourth generation of the Patrol in 1997 as a 1998 model year and built it with a short or a long wheelbase.

The Patrol began its march on the off-road market in 1951 as the 4W60. It had an uninspired name, but it was based on the Willys CJ-3 Chassis. But that was just the beginning. The Japanese carmaker learned from that vehicle and, most importantly, learned how to design them and transformed the Patrol range into one of the most capable 4x4 vehicles globally.

Despite its size, the long-wheelbase Patrol tried to look civilized. The carmaker designed it with shaved edges and rounded body panels. Despite its new shape, it couldn't be subtle in the five-door version (actually six). It was still tall and long, hard to drive in town. Its four side doors made the ingress and egress easier for up to seven passengers. It featured two side-hinged, unequal-length doors, and the longer one sported the spare wheel.

The cabin offered room for five occupants, with an option for seven with two folding seats in the trunk area. At the front, Nissan spoiled the occupants with wide, comfortable seats divided by a tall center console where the carmaker added a storage compartment and a large ashtray. On the center stack, the carmaker installed a standard AC unit and a stereo-cassette player.

The most important part of the Patrol's success was under the body. Its curved, sturdy chassis provided an excellent platform for serious off-roading. In addition, Nissan used live axles both front and rear with coil springs and adjustable stabilizer bars, which increased the suspension travel.

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NISSAN Patrol LWB photo gallery

The fourth generation of the Nissan Patrol appeared on the market in 1988, and, besides the wider fenders, it clearly resembled the previous generation. But it was not the same car.

Nissan built the Y60 Patrol in a few versions, and one of the best-selling models was this: the long-wheelbase version. Last but not least, for selected markets, it was offered with the mighty RD28T engine, the same unit to be found in the mighty Skyline GT-R.

It looks like the design team didn't have a big job to do on the 1988 Patrol. And yet, even if they kept the round headlights and the flat, slatted grille at the front, they gave it a meaner look thanks to the wide front fenders. Moreover, they sported cladding around the wheel arches to protect the bodywork from dirt and mud thrown by the wheels. In the long-wheelbase configuration, the Y60 Patrol received a pair of doors in the rear. At the back, the big Japanese SUV received an outside-mounted spare wheel mounted at the back. There were two unequally-length doors to access the trunk.

Inside, depending on the options, the car sported up to seven seats, with side-mounted, inward-facing jump-seats in the trunk. The driver faced an angular-shaped instrument cluster with big dials for the speedometer and tachometer, flanked by four gauges. Between the front seats, the carmaker added the gear stick and the transfer-case lever. In the back, the folding bench could have enlarged the trunk.

The Y60 was a body-on-frame construction, with independent front suspension and a rear axle. Under the hood, Nissan installed either inline-six turbo-diesel powerplants or the famous 2.8-liter turbocharged gasoline engine for specific markets.

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diesel engines:

NISSAN Patrol LWB 2.8 TD