Is the Nissan Patrol's 71-year Legacy Enough to Topple the Toyota Land Cruiser's Reign?

Throughout its 71 years, the Nissan Patrol has always been on top regarding sophistication, comfort, and performance. But the spotlight isn't always on the Patrol; as its closest rival in the market, the Toyota Land Cruiser has also been drawing a legacy in the automotive field since 1951. Since they share the same goals in persuading customers that each of them is better, they were always compared to gauge which stands out each production year.

Over the exterior profile, car buyers in its category are keener to know the powertrain properties and overall driving aspects of each vehicle. In this case, the 2022 Nissan Patrol is dominant on paper because of its 5.6-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine against Toyota Land Cruiser's 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. However, if you try them both, the Land Cruiser is more refined and capable on the drive. Its 10-speed automatic transmission helps push the load forward even on arduous terrains and steep slopes.

On the other hand, the seven-speed automatic transmission of the Patrol is also robust; it knows which gear to put you at the right time. However, when determining which is more significant, it's the Land Cruiser. It has much more refined and polished off-road capabilities than the Patrol. But when it comes to suspension, hands-down to the Nissan Patrol. Its double-wishbone coil springs with a hydraulic suspension system tailor the ride depending on road conditions, which gives a lot of comfort for the driver and his passengers. But it doesn't mean that the double-wishbone and four-link rigid suspension setup of the Land Cruiser is not capable of providing a well-supported ride. It lessens the impact inside the cabin of the Land Cruiser.

Since both vehicles are off-road-ready models, ground clearance is a matter to consider. The Nissan Patrol has 273 millimeters of ground clearance, significantly over the Toyota Land Cruiser's 235-millimeter. Although they differ in ground clearance, they have the same water wading capability of up to 700 millimeters. From the driver's perspective, both vehicles are good people movers during an off-road adventure, but the Toyota Land Cruiser gives a more comfortable ride when the ride gets rough. Plus, the turning radius and wheel articulation of the Land Cruiser makes it easy for drivers to maneuver the car.

The Toyota Land Cruiser may be a point above the Nissan Patrol from a driver's perspective, but its more affordable price is still a matter to consider.

Also Read: Was the Wait Worth It? 2022 Nissan Patrol's 4 Pros and 3 Cons