There’s something deeply satisfying about a vehicle that feels completely unbothered by modern trends. The 2025 Nissan Patrol Warrior isn’t here for hybrid badges or silent EV cruising. It’s here to roar down a dirt track, tow a house, and intimidate the fast lane. All the while cradling you in leather and, finally, giving you an infotainment system that doesn’t feel like it came from the iPod Classic era. Cheers, Nissan!

If you’re after subtle, keep walking. This thing wears its intent like a bullbar to the chest.

That Engine: Long Live the V8

Under the bonnet remains the heart of the beast, Nissan’s 5.6-litre naturally aspirated V8, pushing out 298kW and 560Nm of torque. That sonorous soundtrack remains untouched, unfiltered, and utterly glorious. It's not loud for theatre. It's loud because it means it. And we love it!

Slam the throttle and the Warrior lunges forward with a snarl, the 7-speed auto grabbing gears with determined smoothness. It’s not fast in a 0–100 brag-sheet sense, but on the open road, with your right foot down and a trailer hooked up behind, it feels utterly unstoppable.

In a world where turbocharged sixes and four-cylinder hybrids are taking over, the Patrol Warrior remains a V8 dinosaur with purpose, and we’re not complaining.

On the Road: Tuned for Australia, Built for Everything

Walkinshaw’s fingerprints are all over the Warrior’s tuning, and it shows. The suspension is lifted by 50mm, with upgraded springs and dampers tuned specifically for Australian conditions. Corrugations? It glides. Uneven urban roundabouts? Ironed flat.

The Warrior swaps the standard Patrol’s chrome bling for matte-black toughness, sits on 18-inch alloys wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar all-terrains, and carries a full underbody bash plate setup. It's not just for show either, it feels confident on loose surfaces and gravel, shrugging off potholes and undulations with a calm that belies its size.

Steering is light, maybe a bit too light for some, but makes low-speed manoeuvring surprisingly easy for a rig this big. Visibility? Panoramic. You feel tall, wide, and in charge. Because you are.

Updated Cabin: Finally, the Screens We Deserve

Okay, let’s address the elephant in the cabin — the infotainment finally got the update it desperately needed.

Gone is the outdated dual-screen setup. In its place: a modern, crisp 12.3-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with a 7-inch digital driver display that actually feels relevant in 2025.

The interface is slick, responsive, and integrates seamlessly with your phone. There’s also a premium 13-speaker Bose audio system, wireless charging, and more USB-C ports than you'll ever need on a bush trip. It’s not cutting-edge luxury, but it’s exactly what the Patrol needed to stay competitive in the upper large-SUV segment.

Interior Comfort and Practicality

Inside, the Patrol Warrior offers an old-school kind of luxury: big leather seats, real buttons, and a commanding driving position. You get tri-zone climate control, and oodles of space — both in the cabin and the cargo area. Sadly, due to the Warrior being based off the Ti model, one feature we would have liked to have seen, were some heated and cooled seats - if you want those as a necessity, you need to grab the top spec Ti-L model.

Third-row passengers won’t feel like afterthoughts, and with the seats folded flat, the Patrol becomes a genuine long-haul adventure rig, capable of swallowing gear, bikes, eskies, recovery tracks, you name it.

Towing and Off-Road Capability

Let’s be honest — this is where the Warrior earns its stripes.

Towing capacity: 3,500kg braked
Ground clearance: 275mm
Approach angle: 40 degrees
Departure angle: 23.3 degrees
Rear diff lock: Standard
Tow bar and wiring: Factory fitted

Whether you’re pulling a caravan through the Red Centre or climbing out of a muddy trail in the High Country, the Warrior has the grunt, clearance, and protection to back you up.

Safety Tech: It’s All There

The Warrior comes with a comprehensive safety suite, including:

Intelligent Emergency Braking
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Monitoring
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Lane Departure Warning
Intelligent Cruise Control

There’s also a 360-degree camera system, which is crucial when navigating tight trails or reverse-parking this leviathan at Woolies.

Fuel Economy: Bring Your Wallet

No surprise here, the Warrior is thirsty. V8 thirsty. Official claim sits around 14.4L/100km, but real-world figures often push into the 16–17L/100km range if you’re doing mixed driving. Add towing or off-road use, and you’ll be topping up often.

But again, you don’t buy a Patrol Warrior to save on fuel. You buy it because it’ll get you, and whatever you’re pulling, just about anywhere, in absolute comfort.

Final Word: The Last of a Legend, Now Sharpened

The 2025 Nissan Patrol Warrior is a fistful of old-school muscle, rugged refinement, and real-world off-road ability, now with a tech update it desperately needed. It’s loud, proud, and designed unapologetically for the Australian market.

Yes, it’s thirsty. Yes, it’s massive. But it’s also one of the last naturally aspirated V8 4x4’s you can buy off the showroom floor and it now finally has the interior to match its grunt and presence.

If you’ve ever said “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” then the Patrol Warrior is your last stand.