Ro a d Te s t: NISSAN PAT ROL PICK-UP 3.0D i 4x4 |
by Howard Keeg
Patrolling the World
It’s been around since 1951, and its only real challenger is the Toyota Land Cruiser. In Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the
Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean it has assumed iconic status. And dare I suggest South Africa.
In America, they’ve snuck it in as an Infiniti QX56.
W
orldwide, the military loves it, the United Nations would
not know what to do without it, firefighters would lose
their spark, forestry companies would never get out of
the woods, and many other users cannot imagine life without it.
We are talking about the Nissan Patrol, and the latest version is
now available in South Africa. I got this vehicle for a road test, but
I live in Sandton, so what to do? How do I test a seriously tough
pickup powered by a turbocharged and intercooled new-age
16-valve diesel engine, producing 110 kW at 3 600 rpm and 371 Nm
of torque between 1 800 and 2 400 rpm, and with a class-leading
towing capacity of 2 500 kg? I don’t own a boat, I’m not into DIY
home repairs, and I’m in the middle of a sea of tarred roads. Well, I
can show the numerous potholes who’s boss, but what else?
Aha, my wife has just commissioned some builders to do some
renovations, and material needs to be fetched at Builders
Warehouse. Off we go, and the Patrol makes light work of the sand,
cement, wooden boards, and miscellaneous requirements. Now,
how do I test the 4x4 capabilities in its various modes? It becomes
a problem, so I leave it to Terry Mashoko, LCV product manager at
Nissan South Africa. Okay, he’s biased, but you know what – I won’t
disagree with a word. Over to you Terry. “The new Nissan Patrol
Pickup is an exciting addition to the Nissan LCV stable. The Patrol
nameplate carries a rich heritage the world over and in South Africa
| logistics in action
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has come to signify F