2023 Nissan Patrol Warrior review: Pre-production prototype

The rejuvenation of Australian engineering and manufacturing in the automotive scene has taken another leap forward, with the Premcar and Nissan alliance officially revealing the Patrol Warrior - well, a pre-production prototype.

Sitting 50mm higher than the Patrol Ti it's based on, the Patrol Warrior has been given the full Premcar treatment including new suspension, a bi-modal exhaust system and an all-new towbar that enables the storage of a full-sized spare wheel.

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To strike a balance between on- and off-road performance, without leaning too far either way, Premcar equipped the Warrior with a re-engineered Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) system, which is designed to do away with the need for an anti-roll bar. To assist with this set-up, Premcar totally re-developed both the progressive-rate rear springs and front springs, and the result of this combination is a much smoother, compliant ride on a variety of surfaces.

On a brief and somewhat challenging off-road circuit at Brisbane’s Mt Cotton facility, the Patrol remained competent and reassuring - though admittedly the tight track didn’t pose too many serious challenges. The Patrol's forward-facing camera proved invaluable on crests and steep descents, but we did have to restart the vehicle after electrical gremlins prevented us from engaging hill descent control. Articulation is adequate, with approach and departure angles remaining unchanged at 34.4 and 23.6 degrees respectively.

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Premcar opted to wrap 34.4-inch Yokohama Geolandar AT G015 tyres around 18-inch alloy wheels, covered by custom-made fender flares and mud flaps. The vehicle is about 60kg heavier than the Ti it's based on, mainly due to the fitment of these tyres, but, as is the case with Patrol Ti, the heavy vehicle is surprisingly agile for an eight-seater that weighs close to three tonnes. Payload capacity has increased by 58kg.

The addition of a bi-modal exhaust is a great boon for buyers who love that V8 howl. And a neat feature of the system is that the side pipes close when touring, so owners won't be overwhelmed with a constant V8 bellow on long road trips. Instead, the pipes will open and let loose an almighty V8 bark when owners floor the pedal. The vehicle's extra ride height should prevent the side pipes from scraping on the ground when off-road - it didn't touch any rocks on our off-road jaunt, but it’ll be interesting to test it further (stay tuned).

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Any changes to the petrol-powered V8?

While fettling with the 298kW/560Nm V8 engine was considered by the Premcar team, Premcar's Engineering Director, Bernie Quinn, told journalists at the vehicle's launch that it didn't quite make sense as a business case – so the powertrain remains unchanged, which isn’t exactly a bad thing, mind you.

Previous experience with the Patrol Ti shows that it is a very thirsty engine, but a 140-litre fuel tank should net the owner around 900km from a full tank ... should.

Patrol Ti standard equipment

On the inside, Premcar opted to delete all of the Patrol's woodgrain trim, replacing it with soft-touch Alcantara upholstery surrounded by high-gloss trim – all black.

Warrior insignia is emblazoned on the passenger-side dash above the glovebox, but otherwise the interior remains stock Patrol, with all of its circa-mid-2010 quirks – yep, that includes a CD player.

While quite dated in design, the big buttons and dials in the cabin - like the ones used to control the 4x4 system and climate system - are within easy reach of the driver and are very easy to operate.

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The front leather-covered seats are big, comfortable and secure, ideal for long distances behind the wheel in discovery of remote campsites, and there’s plenty of space and storage options in the front row. The second row provides ample room for three abreast, but the third row is better suited to two (cramped) adults or three kids. Plenty of storage pockets and cupholders remain in the back seats, with USB inputs available in the middle row.

Even with all three rows of seats in use, the Patrol still has enough space in the cargo area for camping gear and a few backpacks. Fold the third row down to liberate more space, and then fold the second row down for enough space to catch a few zeds. Plus, there’s a 12V power outlet in the cargo area.

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The Warrior has also been updated with black mirror caps, a black grille, a red bash plate and a Warrior-branded front bumper. At the rear Premcar has added a completely new tow bar unit, which allows for fitment of a full-size spare wheel. The towbar doesn't impede on departure angle and it features two recovery points and a new valance panel.

At the time of writing, the vehicle was in pre-production, with design and testing still being finalised ahead of its launch later in 2023.

Bernie Quinn told 4X4 Australia that the company is still contemplating final decals and artwork, so the subtle use of Warrior badging currently seen on this pre-production vehicle may be jacked-up when the production version launches - something we hope to see.

Premcar is also considering whether to install a more brash bashplate, like the one seen on the Navara Warrior, but that is yet to be confirmed.

Safety features

Premcar expansion

To keep up with the demand of manufacturing both the Navara and Patrol Warriors, Premcar will open a second vehicle assembly plant around the corner from its original base in Epping, Victoria. This will see Premcar increase its workforce with approximately 100 more employees.

“Our current engineering and production facility has produced more than 5000 new vehicles, and adding this new production centre is set to grow this much further,” Bernie Quinn said. “Most of all, it will create many new Australian manufacturing jobs, which is especially important for the local automotive industry.”

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Pricing

Pricing for the Patrol Warrior is yet to be confirmed. The Patrol Ti is stamped with an $82,160 price tag - so, basing it on the price discrepancy between the PRO-4X and PRO-4X Warrior, expect to pay at least $10K more for the Patrol Warrior.

Pre-orders for the vehicle opened on June 15, with the Warrior covered by the factory Patrol’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty.

Patrol Warrior specs