Nissan Patrol VS Porsche Cayenne
Nissan Patrol
Likes
- Big V8
- Very comfortable on-road
- Very capable off-road
Dislikes
- Price jump
- Bit thirsty
- No ANCAP safety rating
Porsche Cayenne
Likes
- Colossal power and torque
- Comfortable and easy to drive family SUV
- Practical and spacious
Dislikes
- Four-seater only
- Gear shifter position
- Short warranty
Summary
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol has copped flak in recent years because it hasn’t kept pace with its rivals in terms of modernity, specifically its in-cabin look, design and multimedia systems.
The new Y63 Nissan Patrol is due to go on sale in Australia before the end of 2025, but in the meantime, Nissan has upgraded the current-generation Patrol in an attempt to address those issues.
The Patrol range now has, among other things, an upgraded multimedia system with a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen, a 15W wireless smartphone charge pocket, Hema off-road mapping and it finally has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Read more about
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- How long will this electric car pioneer be without an EV? No more Nissan Leaf production and Ariya hold-up may see Japanese brand without a rival for Tesla Model Y or MG4 in Australia for a while
- Why the Nissan Patrol Warrior didn't become a $200,000 V8 supercharged off-road weapon and instead focused on value to challenge the LandCruiser 300 Series GR Sport
There was a lot to like about the Patrol before this upgrade. Depending on the variant, you get seven or eight seats, a stack of standard features and this 4WD is a proven touring and towing platform. But has this latest range refresh given the Patrol even more appeal?Â
Read on.
| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 5.6L |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | 14.4L/100km |
| Seating | 7 seats |
Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT needs a better name. This is the king of Cayennes and quite possibly the ruler of all super SUVs.
Well, the Cayenne Turbo GT is the fastest SUV around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Not just that, it has such colossal power and torque it'll be side-by-side with a Porsche 911 GT3 RS in a sprint from 0-100km/h. No, a better name for this SUV would be the Cayenne GT3.
Which is perfect for me because I'm at the point in my life where although I love full-on and noisy cars I also have a full-on and noisy family.
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- Porsche doesn't need support from Volkswagen or other sports car brands on eFuels - but Lamborghini, Bentley and more could all benefit from it in the end
- When is the new Porsche Cayenne electric car coming? Timing confirmed for new BMW iX, Kia EV6 rival, and more details on new larger electric SUV revealed!
We lived with the Cayenne Turbo GT for a week to find out if this super SUV was also a super family car - from practicality to safety.
We're also a family with ridiculously high expectations of luxury SUVs having lived with and tested each of the Cayenne Turbo GT's rivals - from the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga to the Aston Martin DBX and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 4.0L turbo |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | 12.5L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
Nissan Patrol7.6/10
The Nissan Patrol is nice to drive on-road for a big 4WD wagon – it’s refined, it’s comfortable – and it’s a very capable 4WD.
This is a proven touring and towing platform – and the upgraded multimedia system brings the Patrol up to date and adds a much-needed tech boost to the package.
There’s a lot to like about the V8 and though the Patrol’s interior still feels old, if you can’t wait for the next-gen Patrol this upgraded version might be just right for you.
At this price, though, the Premcar-enhanced Warrior is the better bet.
Porsche Cayenne8.1/10
Of all the super SUVs I've piloted, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is the best all-rounder in terms of performance, comfort, cabin technology and style.
As a family car it's roomy, practical and easy to use and drive daily.
As a performance car the Turbo GT is stupidly quick, with the agility of a sports car. Sure, a 911 would leave it behind on a twisty race track, but this SUV is close to having that sportscar experience and keeping your family, as well.
Design
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is 5175mm long (with a 3075mm wheelbase), 1995mm wide, 1955mm high and it has a kerb weight of 2861kg.
This bulky wagon takes up plenty of real estate and looks as impressive as you’d imagine rolling thunder to look on the road.
Though the range upgrades have mostly been limited to the multimedia system, that’s fine because – until the new Patrol arrives – the current Patrol has more than enough presence at rest and on the move to catch the eye, and not simply because of its sheer bulk.
Whereas the 300 Series has become a bit softer around the edges and, gulp, more contemporary, this generation Patrol at least retains some of the heavy-shouldered stature of 4WDs past.
Its interior, though slightly different to that of pre-upgrade versions, remains comfortably familiar, and I like it.
But even with new the tech offerings and the introduction of a few concessions to our charge-hungry generation, the Patrol’s cabin still feels old. I don’t mind it, but I’m sure there are some people who reckon the next generation can’t arrive soon enough.
Porsche Cayenne
This might be a personal thing but to me nearly all Porsches look better from the back than the front.
It's the wide stance and powerful haunches, the hunkered down suction-capped-to-the-road look that does it for me and the Cayenne Turbo GT, despite being an SUV, passes this important Porsche checklist item.
The GT aero kit only serves to make this SUV look more of a beast, and the gold-bronze looking satin Neodyne wheels are a Porsche theme that I've not always been a fan of, but I get the historic connection.
If only the Turbo GT could look a little less like other Cayennes from the front. This is the king of the SUV range and despite the apron and bumper already being exclusive to this model, there should be more.
Vents in the wheel arches, carbon bonnet with nostrils GT3-style perhaps? Or is that going too far? If you do want something more lairy then there's always the Urus.
The Cayenne Turbo GT's cabin is stunning in its plushness and modern surprises such as the passenger display, the hoodless instrument digital cluster, the lashings of Race-Tex upholstery everywhere. It's perfectly Porsche. High-performance meets high-end.
It's also highly practical. Let's talk about that.
Practicality
Nissan Patrol
The Patrol cabin is plush and comfortable, a nice blend of premium and practical.
Up front, it’s a well-appointed space – leather everywhere, as well as soft-touch, padded and durable surfaces – and the fit and finish is impressive.
You get a 10.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), digital radio, steering-wheel-mounted everything and the front seats are power-adjustable (10-way for the driver, eight-way for the passenger).
There are plenty of storage spaces up front – including a deep centre console that can be used as a cooler box, little nooks for your wallet/keys/etc, as well as pop-out cupholders and door pockets. As well as enough USB points (USB-C, USB-A and a wireless charge pocket) to keep your devices powered up.Â
There are four 12V outlets (front, centre console, second row and rear luggage area).
The second row is very comfortable; when I sat behind my driving position I had head, shoulders and leg room. The second-row seats are a 60/40 split-fold configuration, with manual recline and fold function and a fold-down centre armrest.
For baby capsules or child seats, the two outer seats in the second row include a top tether point and ISOFIX anchors.
There are cupholders in the fold-down armrest as well as controls for the air con and two USB ports on the back of the centre console.
The third row is a 60/40 split-fold configuration with manual recline and fold function. There is one top tether anchorage point.
In terms of third-row seating comfort, it’s okay. There’s room enough for a Hobbit like myself, but the seats are flat and unsupportive.
All three rows get air con – there are roof-mounted vents – and there are a few handy storage spaces in the third row, but no cupholders.Â
With the third-row seats in use boot space is listed as 467L. With the third row stowed away, there’s a claimed 1413L of cargo space. With the second and third rows stowed, there’s a claimed 2623L, which is plenty.
Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT only makes one compromise on practicality and that's the removal of the middle seat in the back, which, with just two kids isn't used all the time but on average we might need it once a week for school mates and cousins.
Instead of a middle seat there is a shallow tray, which will fit a phone or in our case leaves and rocks found at the park.
So, yes, the Turbo GT is a four-seater only, but this is a spacious, large SUV with good head and legroom, wide-opening doors for easy entry and exit, and air suspension which can raise and lower the height for easy access.
Storage is excellent with enormous door pockets in the front and back and there are four cupholders.
There's a wireless phone charger in the front and two USB-C ports as well, plus two USB-C sockets in the back.
Four-zone climate control means the kids in the back can set their own temperatures. They also have heated seats.
I was disappointed to see there aren't sunshades for the rear windows - pretty vital in Australia where it feels like we're only about 50 metres away from the sun.
The Turbo GT's 576-litre boot just managed to fit our pram and a week's shopping, which is our minimum standard for living. Any more space is a bonus.
Price and features
Nissan Patrol
The Ti-L has a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of $101,600, excluding on-road costs.
One of its chief rivals, the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series Sahara, has a price-tag of approx. $138,191, before on-road costs, so right there is a saving of almost $40,000.
The new price-tag means buyers are forking out $3000 more for the new gear over a standard non-upgraded Patrol.
Standard features now include the new 10.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), digital radio, built-in navigation, a 15W wireless smartphone charge slot, as well as three-zone climate-control, front and rear parking sensors and a power-operated tailgate.
It also has 10-way driver seat with power slide/recline/height/tilt/lumbar adjustment, driver’s seat memory (with two settings, including side mirrors and steering column), eight-way front passenger seat (with power slide/recline/height adjustment) and heated/cooled front seats.
Again, compared with Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series Sahara, the Patrol offers just as much onboard gear for considerably less money.
Exterior paint choices on the Ti-L include the no-extra-cost 'Gun Metallic' or premium paint jobs: 'Brilliant Silver', 'Black Obsidian', 'Champagne Quartz', 'Hermosa Blue' and 'Moonstone White'.
Porsche Cayenne
The Turbo GT is the king of Cayennes, so it shouldn't surprise anybody that it's also the most expensive with its list price of $364,700.
Lamborghini's Urus lists for $409,744Â Â and is the Cayenne Turbo GT's not-so-subtle Italian cousin, sharing the same platform and engine.
Both are in my mind the best performance SUVs on the planet. It just depends how conspicuous you want to be.
Then there's Bentley's V8 Bentayga which isn't blessed with the Porsche's good looks but would still be all over the Cayenne if the two happened to meet at a race track.
So, why is the GT Turbo the king of the Cayennes? What makes it better? For all the reasons you'd think - it's the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most equipped Cayenne in the range.
We'll get into mind-bending engine and performance specs soon, but first let me take you through the standard features on a car that's anything but standard.
Coming standard and exclusively to the Turbo GT are 22-inch 'GT Design' wheels in satin 'Neodyne' with full-colour Porsche centre caps, an active rear spoiler, Turbo GT front apron, dual titanium exhaust, rear apron with diffuser, 'SportDesign' side skirts, wheel arch extensions, a lightweight carbon roof and tinted LED HD-matrix headlights.
Inside, and also exclusive to this grade, is the 'GT Interior Package' with 'Race-Tex' upholstery throughout with 'Deep Sea Blue' stitching on the front seats and centre console and the armrests and dashboard.
There's also the 'Carbon Interior Package' which includes dashboard and door trim elements.
Race-Tex trim is applied to the 'GT Sports' steering wheel, roof lining and gearshift, too.
The adaptive active air suspension, which can lower the car by 15mm, is standard and only available on the Turbo GT, too.
The soft-close doors are standard (a cost option on lower grades), as are the stainless steel pedal covers.
The rest of the features are also found on lower grades and include the 12.65-inch digital instrument cluster, head-up display, proximity unlocking, 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen with sat nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, a 10-speaker Bose sound system, heated front seats, rear privacy glass and an auto tailgate.
Four-zone climate control is standard on the GT Turbo, too, and so are heated rear seats.
Our car had several options fitted such as the front passenger display ($2860) and the Deep Sea Blue Accent Package.
The passenger display is a crowd pleaser, but as a family car my kids felt like they were missing screens in the back seats, too. Well, in my day...
Under the bonnet
Nissan Patrol
The Patrol has a 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine – producing 298kW at 5800rpm and 560Nm at 4000rpm – a seven-speed automatic transmission and it has seven seats. (The only other standard Patrol variant, the Ti, has eight seats.)
This is a solid combination, but it lacks a dynamic edge, which is fine with me because it yields a driving experience that’s equal parts relaxed, assured and undemanding.
The big petrol V8 is great. There’s so much grunt on tap, making for a lively on-road drive, and all the while the rumble of that engine, especially under right-foot pressure, provides a welcome soundtrack to your day.
The Patrol has full-time four-wheel drive with high- and low-range.
Porsche Cayenne
As a middle-aged parent with two children, a Porsche that I don't have to crawl into and out of like a cubby house is a great thing.
What's even better is that this ‘easy access' Porsche is every bit as brutally powerful and fast as the quintessentially ‘pure' Porsche, the 911. Actually, it's more powerful and faster.
The Turbo GT's twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine makes 485kW and 850Nm with drive going through an eight-speed transmission to all four wheels.
In comparison, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, arguably the most brutal and anti-social 911, has 386kW/485Nm.
I haven't made a mistake. Those are the real numbers. And it's only when you step on the accelerator in the Cayenne Turbo GT, and it feels like somebody's sat down on your chest, that you realise what a big deal this is.
That is such a colossal amount of oomph that this 2.2-tonne family SUV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds.
The 911 GT3 RS can do it in 3.2 and it has a roll cage and a fixed rear wing the size of a bedroom door.
And yes, we're now coming into a digital age where Teslas and other electric SUVs are quick, too, but can they go around corners like a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT?
Do they have the same rumble and roar as a twin-turbo V8 that's terrifying and enticing at the same time.
The correct answer is, absolutely not.
Efficiency
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol has an official fuel consumption of 14.4L/100km (on a combined, urban/extra-urban cycle).
I recorded 20.9L/100km on this test. I did a lot of high- and low-range 4WDing – but the Patrol was never working hard.
The Patrol has a 140L fuel tank so and going by my on-test fuel-consumption figure you could reasonably expect a driving range of about 670km from a full tank.Â
Porsche Cayenne
Seriously? This is a 2.0-tonne twin-turbo petrol V8 with a 90-litre fuel tank. Even the Porsche specs sheet doesn't understand the question because in the column for fuel efficiency there are three letters - tbc.
My own testing saw me record 22.5 L/100km at the fuel pump, which means I enjoyed driving the car very much.
A little digging around reveals Porsche globally claims the Turbo GT will use 12.6L/100km, over a combination of open and urban roads.
You might not have as much fun as I did but easing back a little might get you closer to the 700km of range this more frugal consumption figure appears to offer.
While efficient it isn't, I'm not going to mark the Turbo GT too much here because compared to its petrol rivals the fuel consumption is what I'd expect from such a high-output heavy SUV.
Driving
Nissan Patrol
The Patrol is a tried and tested 4WD, but it’s also an impressive open-road tourer.Â
The auto is a smooth shifter and when you give the throttle firm and steady right-foot pressure the Patrol rumbles up to speed with an almost-lazy efficacy.
Ride and handling are nicely controlled and composed, on sealed surfaces and that’s carried over onto dirt – which I’ll get to soon.Â
Its upright cabin stands tall, affording the driver ample visibility, and the Patrol’s expansive bonnet only impacts driver visibility when you head off-road – but more about that later.
The Patrol is refined and comfortable and yields a relaxed driving experience.Â
It has independent suspension – double wishbones and coil springs at every corner – as well as the Nissan’s 'Hydraulic Body Motion Control' system, a network of hydraulic cylinders cross-linked between wheels, which works like a swaybar/swaybar disconnect.
This system automatically alters tension to suit the terrain (tightens on-road to keep the Patrol more controlled on firmer surfaces, such as blacktop; loosens off-road allowing for more flex in the suspension when you’re 4WDing).
Let’s not forget the V8. There's nothing like that growl as a backing track to whatever trip you’re doing and you've always got that throaty engine note as your own personal theme music. Just to put a bit of pep in your step.
It really is a beast of a thing and it is fun to drive. You might pay the price with fuel bills if you enjoy tapping that accelerator with gusto, but, geez, it's worth it.Â
However, it’s when you get properly engaged in low-speed, low-range 4WDing that the Patrol is truly at home.
There’s no getting past the fact this Nissan wagon is a great touring platform and it’s also an impressive tow vehicle. There's no disputing those things, but it is a big vehicle and while it doesn’t feel as nimble as some other large SUV wagons, at least initially, it quickly becomes easier to drive the more time you spend in it.
It does take a little bit of getting used to if you haven't driven a Patrol before, but I have, many times, so it's quite comfortable and familiar to me.Â
Steering has a nice feel and weight to it when you’re doing low-range four-wheel driving – and it’s when low-speed, low-range four-wheel driving is when you really need precision and the ability to laser-focus your driving lines.Â
Throttle response is not touchy over bumps and sharp as long as you’re enthusiastic with it, and the auto transmission is just as cluey off-road as on. However, it can get caught out up hills, holding higher gears for too long, but otherwise it's okay.
There's an overall feeling of control to the Patrol. And again, while it is a large 4WD, it’s easy to drive well and to take on quite hardcore four-wheel driving terrain.
Drive with some consideration of its sheer physical dimensions and you’ll be fine. It’s comfortable and very capable; the result of a combination of traditional-style 4WD mechanicals, plenty of low-down torque and quietly effective driver-assist tech.
The Patrol Ti-L has selectable drive modes for off-road conditions and they include 'Snow', 'Sand' and 'Rock' and they tweak the traction control system, engine response and throttle with the aim of getting the Patrol to perform optimally on the chosen surface.Â
It has full-time 4WD with high- and low-range and, while it doesn't have the low-down torque of something like the 300 Series, it has plenty of grunt when it counts. There’s ample torque for smooth-momentum 4WDing and the big petrol V8 keeps things ticking along without any stress.
Beyond the very effective off-road traction control system and the great low- and mid-range torque, you also have a rear diff lock. So if things get that difficult, you can always engage it.Â
The Patrol has plenty of wheel travel, helped somewhat by its aforementioned swaybar-disconnect system, and that articulation helps it stretch a tyre to the dirt for all-important traction.
Off-road driver-assist tech (hill descent control, hill start assist etc) is non-intrusive and effective.
But it’s not all the best of news onboard the Patrol.
It feels quite low when you’re driving it over challenging terrain. Ground clearance is 273mm (compared to the 300 Series' 235mm) and approach, departure and rampover angles (28, 26.3, and 24.4 degrees) are par for the course for a large 4WD wagon with a wheelbase this lengthy.
But, while those measurements check out, that feeling of the Patrol being vulnerable to underbelly scrapes and knocks lingers.
Wading depth is listed as 700mm and, while I didn’t get the chance this time to test that limit (the usual mudholes were dry), I’ve driven through plenty of mudholes in this generation Patrol in the past.
As mentioned, the Patrol has an upright cabin, which offers plenty of visibility, but the expansive bonnet impacts the driver’s vision at the front, especially when driving over, for example, a steep crest into a dry creek bed.
As always, when faced with such a situation it’s best to get out of the vehicle and take a look.
The Patrol’s tyres – Bridgestone Dueler 693II all-terrains (265/70R18) – are perfectly reasonable on-road, but aren't well-suited to hardcore 4WDing.
As always with less-than-ideal off-roading rubber, if you're going to ask more of your Patrol than the occasional gentle drive along well-formed dirt tracks in dry weather, it's a good idea to replace the standard tyres with a decent set of aggressive all-terrain tyres.Â
I've tow-tested with many Patrol variants over the years, so it’s worthwhile noting the towing capacities which are 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked), so standard for this size of 4WD.
Porsche Cayenne
Never have I met a car this powerful and superbly athletic that is as pleasurable to drive alone on great, fast roads as it is to pilot at 50km/h in the suburbs with a family on board.
It exceeds my understanding of engineering that something this large can move so quickly. That in an instant can turn and tip into a corner with such precision and effortlessness.
Yet it can switch seamlessly and happily to coping with speed bumps and potholes, delivering a ride so comfortable it'll send babies off to sleep. And it did.
The only issue, and this is such a tiny thing, is the dash-mounted gearshift, which means having to reach up and select Drive or Reverse or Park, which, when executing a three-point turn, is necessarily frustrating.
Still, I'm giving the Turbo GT a 10 out of 10 for driving under all conditions, and we didn't even go off-road, which of course you can do, as long as it's not too wild.
Safety
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol does not have an ANCAP safety rating because it has not been tested.Â
Safety gear includes AEB, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and more.
As standard it has dual front airbags, front-side and curtain airbags that cover all three rows, as well as two ISOFIX points and two top tether points in the second row for baby capsules/child seats.
Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT hasn't been locally crash tested and so doesn't have an ANCAP rating.
That's quite normal for super high-end cars. But, when this third-generation model first arrived in 2017 it was tested by ANCAP's European equivalent, Euro NCAP, and was awarded the maximum five stars.
There's AEB which operates at city, urban and highway speeds, and lane keeping assistance, and lane change assistance which is a form of blind-spot warning, and adaptive cruise control. You can option rear cross-traffic alert, as well.
A space saver spare wheel is under the boot floor.
Ownership
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol has a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, and comes with five years of roadside assistance. At a time when warranties are stretching to 10 years, five years is a let-down.
Servicing is scheduled at 12 month/10,000km intervals, and capped price service rates apply, averaging about $600 a year over the full warranty term – but check with your dealership for up-to-date servicing costs.
Porsche Cayenne
The Cayenne Turbo GT is covered by Porsche's three-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, which is lagging behind in terms of duration even compared to other luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz, which offers five years.
Servicing is recommended annually or every 15,000km, although there isn't a capped price maintenance plan with final costs determined at the dealer level (in line with variable labour rates by state or territory).