Nissan Patrol Warrior review finds luxe 4WD ready for the toughest of terrain

Victorian company Premcar takes the Nissan Patrol and provides hardcore improvements for serious off-roading.

The Nissan Patrol Warrior is ready to tackle off-road challenges straight from the showroom, with prices starting from about $115,000 drive-away.

Remember when Australia used to manufacture cars?

Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores may be consigned to the history books, but a group called Premcar is bucking the trend of everything being made offshore.

Over the past six years the Victorian-based outfit has grown from a small crew to more than 200 employees, and souped-up more than 10,000 Nissan “Warriors” in the process.

Premcar takes four-wheel drive Nissans and gives them a thorough makeover.

They’re hardcore off-road ready, and while the Navara ute was the foundation vehicle, Premcar has also embraced the Patrol which has just received further upgrades.

You can drive straight from the showroom to the toughest of terrain for about $115,000.

What do you get?

Based on the Ti version of the Patrol, the Warrior version attracts a $20k premium over the stock-standard model.

Even in entry-level guise the big eight-seater is plush, but it’s the hardware upgrades that are the headline act.

Easily spotted courtesy of red Warrior bash plate at the front, the Patrol is jacked up a further 50mm courtesy of a suspension lift along with 18-inch alloys shod with Yokohama all-terrain rubber. Approach and departure angles have been improved while it also features stainless steel side exhausts – similar to a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.

Only four colours are available: silver, gun metallic, white or black.

Other upgrades are Alcantara dash (with Warrior inscription) and door inlays along with some glossy black features, while it now also comes with a vertical wireless phone charger along with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, dual zone aircon upfront and in the back, as well as a large cool box in the console. Like the Ti Patrol, it now also has an upgraded 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen along with access to iGO Street Navigation which comes with 30 days access to Hema maps, the GPS system for serious off-roading.

Add that to leather trim, electric adjustable front seats and a push-button start for complimentary kit.

The standard Nissan five-year unlimited kilometre warranty applies to the vehicle, while Premcar covers its components for the same period.

Capped price servicing is available, but if you pre-pay there are savings to be made. For just over $2700, that covers five maintenance visits back to Nissan, which is about $300 less than paying as you go.

New additions to the Nissan Patrol Warrior’s latest model are a vertical wireless phone charger along with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, dual zone aircon upfront and in the back, as well as a large cool box in the console.

How was the drive?

Don’t need to go bush-bashing? Well you’re better off going with the standard Patrol which is a smooth and comfortable machine.

The Warrior still has reasonable bitumen manners, but the upgrades are more than skin deep. They’re meant for the toughest stuff and can handle just about anything straight out of the box.

It does look robust with an aura of invincibility, and the V8 petrol engine is supremely creamy and strong. Hydraulic suspension delivers a comfortable ride in a straight line, there is a reasonable amount of body roll in the bends, while there is always ample firepower at the whim of your right foot.

The Patrol Warrior maintains 3500kg towing capacity, with the key gain in gross vehicle mass (which is the total you’re able to carry), that increases by 120kg.

Many people buy a van or a boat which reaches the maximum towing capacity but then fail to realise they can’t carry much in the vehicle.

Standard Patrols have solid off-road credentials, but the Premcar makeover takes things to a whole new level. Our stint off the bitumen hardly created a challenge over coarse rock and undulations.

A console dial makes shifting between modes simple, with a button for rear diff lock as well as hill descent control – that looks after all the acceleration and braking with the driver just needing to steer.

Further testament to its abilities was a production class win for the Patrol with a Premcar makeover in the four-day Sunraysia Safari Cross Country Rally earlier this month.

It’s go-anywhere ability is assured, and one location you’d need to see regularly is a servo. Our test saw the Patrol drink more than 15 litres of premium unleaded for every 100km covered.

Our average duel consumption in the Nissan Patrol Warrior was more than 15 litres for every 100km.

Would you buy one?

Kel: Muscle-bound looks and eight seats, it’s not something on my shopping list. While I understand the off-roading ability, and a lot of people love camping, that’s not how I like to spend my downtime. The V8 sounds awesome and it was easy to drive around town and on the highway. But parking was challenging and the fuel consumption would be a worry for me, along with the fact there are no heated seats … it’s no for me.

Grant: Luxury and off-road ability collide in the Patrol Warrior. The lusty bent eight sounds amazing with the side pipes and it handles remarkably well for such a big beast. For those towing the Premcar upgrades are brilliant in all facets with the V8 able to haul with ease. The Patrol Warrior is still good value up against a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, as long as you can cop the fuel bills.