V8 Patrol prices slashed by Nissan

NISSAN Australia has dramatically cut the price of its hulking V8 petrol-powered Patrol off-roader by up to $27,500 in preparation for the imminent arrival of sister brand Infiniti's mechanically identical QX80 next month.

On sale now, the refreshed 2015 V8 Patrol now starts from $69,990 plus on-road costs for the Ti four-wheel drive auto, which is a massive $23,400 drop from its old starting price of $93,390.

The range-topping Ti-L has taken a tumble from $114,490 to $86,990, which is a $27,500 cut – which is about the price of a base two-wheel drive Nissan X-Trail SUV.

In the range re-jig, the previous base-spec $82,690 ST-L has been discontinued, leaving just two choices. The V8 Patrol sells alongside the long-in-the-tooth Y61 Patrol that starts at $53,890.

The reduced prices mean the Patrol undercuts the petrol Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series that kicks off from $80,990 in entry level GXL guise, topping out at $110,990 for the specced-up Sahara.

Nissan’s luxury arm Infiniti next month will expand its Australian line-up with the QX80, a high-end version of the Patrol using the same V8 petrol powertrain, only with more luxury kit and different front and rear styling.

Rival Lexus employs a similar strategy with its LX570 SUV flagship, which is a Toyota LandCruiser 200 under the skin.

Infiniti Cars Australia is yet to confirm pricing for the big QX80, but the Patrol's huge price reduction points to it starting from at least $100,000.

The Lexus equivalent starts at $134,700.

Apart from pricing cuts, the V8 Patrol gets a number of minor updates to the two-and-a-half year-old model, including a repositioned gear-shift lever that has been moved from the left side of the centre console to the right, closer to the driver.

Standard across the range is an Off-Road Monitor that gives the driver information on tyre pressure and slip and steer angle, as well as a compass and a Traffic Monitoring System for real-time traffic data in the sat-nav system.

Previously optional features now offered as standard include leather-accented seats, sat-nav, an around-view monitor, tyre-pressure monitor and Nissan's Hydraulic Body motion Control suspension system.

Power for the eight-seat Ti and seven-seat Ti-L continues to come from a 5.6-litre V8 producing 298kW and 560Nm, matched with a seven-speed automatic and Nissan's all-mode four-wheel drive system.

Nissan has changed up the colour pallet replacing Alpine White with Ivory Peal and Precision Grey dropped in favour of Gun Metallic.

The petrol-only Y62 proved to be a tough sell for Nissan after its launch in early 2013, with most buyers in the upper-large SUV segment opting for diesels.

In its first year on sale, Nissan sold 2364 petrol and Y61 diesel Patrols, which dropped by 21.4 per cent in 2014 to 1859. The LandCruiser 200 found 9311 and 9067 homes in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

So far this year, Nissan has shifted 803 Patrols, a 1.8 per cent increase over the same period in 2014.

Nissan Patrol pricing*

Ti 4WD (a)	$69,990 (-$23,400)
Ti-L 4WD (a)	$86,990 (-$27,500)

*Excludes on-road costs.