The first right-hand-drive examples of the all-new Nissan Patrol have come off the line in Japan, and Australian deliveries are due to start in the first quarter of 2027.
The wait for Nissan’s next-generation Patrol now has an end date. Right-hand-drive production has started in Japan, and the first vehicles bound for Australia have already left the line.
First customer deliveries are scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. Plenty of people who tow and tour with a Patrol will be marking that date.
Built in Kyushu, as before
Nissan builds the new Patrol at its Nissan Shatai Kyushu plant, which has a long history of making the model for Australia and other markets. This milestone marks the start of production for right-hand-drive markets.
The Patrol shares the factory with some upmarket stablemates. The plant also builds the INFINITI QX80 flagship SUV and the recently launched Elgrand premium minivan, which Nissan sells only in Japan.
A stiffer ladder frame
The Patrol keeps its ladder-frame construction, which is reassuring for anyone who plans to load it up or head off the tarmac. The chassis itself is all-new, though, and its frame side members are substantially larger than those on the outgoing Y62.
Nissan says those heavier rails increase torsional rigidity by 40 per cent. In practice, a stiffer frame flexes less over rough ground and under load. Nissan claims this also improves noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), as well as handling and ride comfort. These are the company’s own figures, so independent testing will be the real measure.
More towing, more high-strength steel
The new chassis also supports a maximum braked towing capacity of 3,700kg. As usual, there’s fine print. The figure assumes a Genuine Nissan towbar. Actual capacity also depends on laden mass, accessories, towball download limits and driving conditions.
The body structure has changed too. High-strength steel now makes up 27 per cent of it, a rise of 21 percentage points over the Y62. Nissan says this makes the body stronger and more rigid, which helps durability and occupant protection.
The company adds that the extra high-strength steel helps keep overall weight in check. However, this announcement doesn’t include a kerb weight, so we can’t yet say how much difference it makes.
What we still don’t know
The Patrol isn’t on sale yet. Nissan says its images and listed features come from a pre-production model, and the Australian production version may differ.
This announcement also leaves out pricing and the final local specification. Nissan says only that the Australian launch will come in the months ahead.
Where Nissan has focused
Most of the confirmed details are about the Patrol’s structure: a stiffer frame, a stronger body and a higher tow rating. On those details, the new Patrol is still built mainly to pull heavy loads over long distances, which has always been its main job in Australia.
