Nissan New Zealand has officially confirmed the all-new Y63 Patrol for our market, with customers now able to register their interest ahead of its arrival in the first quarter of 2027.
The next-generation Patrol represents one of the most significant changes in the model’s 75-year history. Its familiar 5.6-litre naturally aspirated V8 has been replaced by a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6, while a new nine-speed automatic transmission, available adaptive air suspension and a far more advanced interior move the flagship 4×4 into a new era.
For traditional Patrol buyers, losing the V8 soundtrack will be a major change. From an enthusiast perspective, however, the arrival of a twin-turbocharged member of Nissan’s VR engine family opens an entirely different set of possibilities.
“For decades the Patrol has been a symbol of go-anywhere capability and trust, and it holds a special place with Kiwi customers,” said Steve Milette, Managing Director of Nissan Oceania.
“The all-new Y63 Patrol honours that heritage while taking a significant leap forward. More powerful, more polished and more capable than ever before, we can’t wait to put it in our customers’ hands early next year.”
More power and substantially more torque
At the centre of the new Patrol is Nissan’s 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which produces 317kW and 700Nm.
That represents an increase of 19kW and 140Nm over the outgoing V8, equating to six percent more power and 25 percent more torque. Peak torque also arrives earlier in the rev range, which should deliver stronger response during everyday driving, towing and low-speed off-road work.
The V6 is paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous seven-speed unit.
Known as the VR35DDTT, the Patrol’s engine is not simply a detuned version of the unit fitted to the Nissan GT-R or Fairlady Z. The GT-R uses the 3.8-litre VR38DETT, while the current Z uses the smaller 3.0-litre VR30DDTT. All three sit within Nissan’s broader VR engine family, however, and the new Patrol engine draws on technology and engineering knowledge developed through the GT-R programme.
It also uses a scavenger oil pump designed to maintain consistent engine lubrication during demanding off-road driving, including steep climbs and off-camber terrain.
The change to forced induction will naturally attract interest from tuners. Modern turbocharged engines typically allow boost pressure, ignition timing, throttle mapping and torque limits to be altered through software, often producing worthwhile gains without opening the engine.
The VR30DDTT used in the Fairlady Z has already shown how much performance can be hidden within a factory calibration. Results vary depending on fuel, temperature and dyno type, but established tuners have recorded relatively modest improvements at peak power alongside gains of around 40kW and close to 100Nm through parts of the mid-range from software tuning alone.
That does not mean the Patrol’s larger VR35DDTT will produce identical results, particularly given its heavier workload, cooling requirements and emphasis on durability. Nissan itself has nevertheless demonstrated that the engine has room beyond the standard Patrol’s 317kW output. The Middle Eastern Patrol NISMO uses a higher-output version of the same VR35DDTT producing approximately 369kW and 700Nm.
It is not yet clear how much of that increase comes from engine calibration alone, but it provides an early indication that the standard Patrol may not represent the limit of the new powertrain.
For Patrol owners, the most useful tuning gains may not be an enormous headline power figure. A conservative calibration offering stronger mid-range response, improved throttle behaviour and more accessible torque while towing could transform how the large 4×4 feels without compromising its intended use.
Of course, the Patrol will need to reach customers before tuners can properly investigate its boost system, fuel delivery, transmission torque limits and thermal management. Any modification would also need to account for warranty coverage and New Zealand’s available fuel quality.
While the loss of the naturally aspirated V8 will undoubtedly be felt by Patrol traditionalists, the considerable increase in torque should make the new engine better suited to moving the vehicle’s substantial mass, particularly while towing or negotiating difficult terrain. The potential for further development may eventually give enthusiasts another reason to embrace the change.
Adaptive air suspension joins the Patrol range
Select New Zealand Patrol grades will be offered with Adaptive Air Suspension for the first time, although Nissan has not yet confirmed which variants will receive it.
The system works alongside Nissan’s Intelligent Dynamic Damping technology, or e-Damper system, which continually adjusts the suspension to suit changing road and terrain conditions.
When Off-Road Mode is selected, the suspension can increase the Patrol’s ride height to improve its approach, breakover and departure angles. The vehicle can then lower when shifted into Park, making it easier for passengers to get in and out while also reducing the loading height for luggage.
At highway speeds, the suspension automatically lowers once the vehicle exceeds 90km/h, before raising again when its speed drops below 70km/h. Nissan says this supports fuel efficiency and cruising comfort.
Detailed ground-clearance figures and suspension travel measurements for New Zealand models are yet to be announced.
The arrival of air suspension will be another significant talking point for off-road buyers. It offers clear benefits for clearance, comfort and accessibility, although enthusiasts planning suspension lifts, larger tyres or long-term remote touring will be interested to see how readily the system can be modified and supported outside the dealership network.
A far more advanced cabin
The Y63 Patrol also introduces a considerable list of comfort and technology features, many of which are new to the nameplate.
Select grades will receive Nissan’s Biometric Cooling system. The technology monitors occupant temperatures as passengers enter the vehicle and can automatically adjust the climate-control settings when the Patrol is started.
Front-seat massage functionality will also be available on selected variants, while Nissan’s ‘zero-gravity’ seat design will be used in both the first and second rows. The seats are intended to support a more natural posture and reduce fatigue during long journeys.
The dashboard is dominated by what Nissan calls its Monolith display. In higher grades, this incorporates two adjoining 14.3-inch screens for the instrumentation, infotainment, navigation and vehicle settings.
A head-up display will also be available on selected variants, projecting key driving information into the driver’s line of sight.
Higher-specification Patrols will be offered with a 12-speaker Klipsch premium audio system developed alongside Panasonic Automotive. The system uses a 12-channel, 600-watt amplifier and has been tuned specifically for the Patrol’s cabin.
New Zealand pricing still to come
Nissan has yet to confirm the complete New Zealand model range, individual grade specifications or pricing.
It is also not yet clear which features will be fitted as standard and which will be reserved for higher-grade models. Further details will be released closer to the Patrol’s local launch.
The Patrol nameplate dates back to 1951 and has developed a strong following across New Zealand and Australia, where it has long been used as both a family touring vehicle and a platform for serious off-road builds.
The Y63 will inevitably divide some of that audience. Its advanced electronics, air suspension and twin-turbocharged engine are a considerable departure from the relative simplicity enthusiasts associate with earlier Patrols.
At the same time, 700Nm in factory form, a tougher nine-speed transmission and the untapped potential of the VR35DDTT provide plenty for the aftermarket to investigate. As with the Y62 before it, the true measure of the new Patrol may come once owners begin fitting tyres, suspension, exhaust systems and revised engine calibrations.
New Zealand customers can register their interest through Nissan’s local website now, with the first customer deliveries scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
All specifications currently released by Nissan are provisional and remain subject to change.
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