Nissan Patrol LWB test drive since 2004 SUV

Working Class Hero

The Nissan Patrol SUV, which has been produced since 1987, has long established itself around the world as a reliable, unpretentious and durable car. It is quite suitable for Russia, where roads - you know ... By the way, it was one of the first cars to officially import into the former USSR during the years of perestroika. The official debut of the new generation of Nissan Patrol GR took place last fall. The leadership of the Nissan concern did not forget about the popularity of the model in Russia - for the presentation of a new SUV organized for the press, which preceded the beginning of European sales, invited journalists and experts of leading Russian automobile publications, including Motor magazine.

The place for starting the presentation was the capital of the Spanish province of Catalonia Barcelona, \u200b\u200bsung by the unforgettable Freddie Mercury in a duet with the now alive Montserrat Kabalier and famous for the creations of the world famous architect Antonio Gaudi, who created at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Why Spain? The assembly factories of many automobile companies work here. Among them is the Nissan concern, which produces several models here, including the Nissan Terrano II SUV. However, the hero of our story is a purebred Japanese ... We decided that the reason is as follows. Sales of the new Nissan Patrol GR in Europe begin in March, opening the spring-summer season, 98. Articles and materials about the novelty should fall into the first spring numbers of automobile magazines and newspapers. And these articles should be, of course, spring-summer. And where in Europe in the middle of winter is summer weather? Of course, in Spain!

There really was summer with twenty-five-degree heat, young juicy green grass and tangerine trees, strewn fruits. Excellent weather was preserved until our departure. Our route lay towards the Pyrenees - a mountainous country, which gave the name a peninsula, on which Spain and the neighboring Portugal with it were located.

The cars were in both versions - with a short and long wheelbase and, accordingly, three- and five -door bodies. In addition, the machines were distinguished by the interior decoration and a set of additional equipment. The same diesel engines related to a working volume of 2826 cm cube. with turbocharged and intermediate heat exchanger for cooling of boost air. This motor is the further development of a well -established in -line six, which was used (along with other power units) on the previous generation Nissan Patrol.

Why only one engine? In a conversation with Nissan Europe managers, it turned out that according to marketing research, 95% of Nissan Patrol buyers in Europe prefer this particular motor. For other markets, which include Russian, a 4.5 liter gasoline engine and a 4.2 liter diesel engine are provided.

As a result of the modernization, the power of the new Nissan Patrol motor increased by 17 hp. and reached 130 hp The torque also grew from 235 to 252 nm. The speed of maximum power and maximum torque decreased by an average of 400 rpm. The transmission was also refined. The main attention was focused on increasing the convenience of management and reducing noise and vibration during operation. On the new Nissan Patrol, all -wheel drive with a folk bridge and a two -stage hand -up box is used. In the rear bridge, a differential, automatically unlocking the rear wheels, if the machine speed exceeds 20 km/h, is used from the driver's place.

Both suspensions are underdeveloped beams connected to the spar frame with a system of longitudinal and transverse rods, the vertical load on the frame transmit cylindrical springs, and telescopic shock absorbers are extinguished. Front and behind are reproach stabilizers, in general, everything is like people. But there are differences.

Pact stability stabilizers improve the behavior of a car on a solid coating. But Nissan Patrol is a real SUV, which, by definition, has to be in places where the maximum possible movements of the wheels are required. The stabilizer significantly reduces the freedom of multidirectional movement of the wheels of one axis.

How to be? The output was found in remotely disconnected when moving along a highly crossed area by the rear stabilizer of the peretial stability. We had to evaluate the effectiveness of this engineering solution later, but for now we decided to consider the new Patrol outside and inside.

The usual angularity was replaced by more smooth and calm forms, the car lost a rude appearance that visually brought him closer to more elegant analogues like Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Land Cruiser. At the same time, the changes in the design did not affect the purpose of the machine.

Nissan Patrol is still an SUV with a good working character. This is indicated by large wheels (235/80R16), the corresponding wheeled arches with powerful oversonal arcs, massive bumpers and hard steps, the view of which does not cause doubts about their strength. A characteristic external feature was the head lighting devices with an unusual geometric connector between the headlight and the block of overall lights and the indicators of the turns.

For the first acquaintance, we chose a short -shoot version in the simplest configuration of S. Open the door to the salon. Thanks to a wide doorway, we easily penetrate the driver's seat. Massive torpedo - solidity and comfort itself, the layout is successful, it is convenient to access the controls of various car systems located on the central console.

The salon is quite spacious, it is not crowded in it of high stature, but to completely feel comfortable behind the wheel allow mechanical adjustment of the seat along the length and angle of the back of the back, as well as the steering column adjustable in height. The steering wheel with a built -in airbag does not overshadow the combination of devices, the rim is conveniently lies in the hand, and the shape and location of the spokes form a good support for the fingers and do not interfere with intense steering wheel. The location of the gearbox lever and the distribution box is well thought out, and the clarity of the operation of transmission control mechanisms is impeccable.

The review from the driver's place is magnificent, you sit quite high, and at first it seems that you are in the cab of a small truck. However, this illusion is quickly dispelled after you begin to feel the dimensions of the machine. At the top of the middle part of the torpedo there is a box of a roller with a folding transparent cover, on which the values \u200b\u200bof the longitudinal and transverse angles of the tilt of the car are projected.

We climb back. To do this, tilting the back before, we move forward the front seat. The spaces in the back even in the short -drawn version was in abundance.

But maps and legends are already distributed, it's time to go. The engine starts with tapping diesel engines, the clutch drive works impeccably. Turn on the first, touch. The column of brand new, from a needle, Nissan Patrol reached out to leave Barcelona.

You can’t call the dynamics of overclocking outstanding, the engine is quite sluggishly gaining momentum, forcing for a long time moving in each gear, but it differs in excellent elasticity on the highest. True, here the inertia of almost a two -ton car helps him. It also affects when moving at high speed, and sometimes it was possible to accelerate up to 170 km/h along the speedometer, the benefit of a significant part of the route passed along the high -speed motorway.

The short -binding Patrol at speed is kept well, without causing a driver in concerns about the choice of the trajectory, the rear stabilizer copes with his tasks confidently. But actually, for such modes, the car is not created - in the turns you feel some fervor.

I liked the steering wheel with its information content. The characteristics of the amplifier are successfully selected - a heavy car is easily controlled. The Bridgestone Duler H/T tires hold the road perfectly, and they are not heard at all. The same can be said about the transmission that, when working in 4x2 mode, does not literally make no sound. The cabin is quite quiet, the sound of the motor goes out in good sound insulation, so that it is quite possible to talk quietly on abstract topics. The rattle of the coonomer cover was somewhat annoyed both in open and in a closed state.

The next day there was a change of compositions - we moved to a long -standing Patrol in a richer configuration of SE. It is distinguished by a body with an additional pair of doors and the third row of seats from a short car.

The difference in execution immediately catches the eye thanks to the leather salon (in the version S, the seats had fabric upholstery) and a torpedo with inserts from wood material. The front seats gained additional adjustment in height, and the electrician controls the adjustment process - using the buttons on the seats on the side. Instead of a conventional aeroclimatic installation of version S, a climate control appeared in the machine in the machine.

Nissan took a big step towards increasing the comfort of his most important SUV. An increase in the wheelbase made itself felt - sitting on the rear or, more precisely, the middle seat has become even more convenient. And as this affected the behavior of the car on the road, we had to find out on the site of the mountain highway leading to the place of off -road tests. This is a real mountain road with a narrow, almost single -row carriageway, winding the slopes of the mountains along the overgrown forests and shrubs. Naturally, about half of the turns are closed, and you catch yourself thinking: what if suddenly? .. But the car confidently prescribes the fucked trajectory of a mountain serpentine. The already mentioned elasticity of the engine, which makes unnecessary, frequent gear shifts, was not superfluous.

We are in place. The place was the route on which the most desperate amateurs are trained in an off -road driving. Here, among other things, it was necessary to check the operation of the ABS on steep descents and the effectiveness of the disconnected rear stabilizer. Brief briefing - and following Terrano II, we are going to explore the route.

It is possible that in real conditions you simply won’t find this, but, as they say, it’s hard in teaching .... Cool climbs, a movement with a side roll, when it seemed that the car would turn over, alternated with tearing through such a thick thicket that the mirrors of the back The species sometimes folded, touching the trees. We moved in reduced gear with the locking of the rear axle. When they got to the site on which the ABS is tested, at first they did not understand where Terrano the instructor failed. He really fell into a ravine with almost vertical slopes, and our Patrol dived there and after him. We literally hung on seat belts. It seemed a little more - and the car, according to the laws of physics, would collapse to the bottom of the ravine. In fact, he was perfectly kept by the anti -lock system, which allows to descend, without changing the pressure of the brake pedal, which is difficult to do by car with an ordinary vacuum brake amplifier.

Patrol easily coped with the rise, which followed, showing sufficient power and traction force of the engine. To demonstrate the advantages of the stabilizer disconnected, a special area with the alternation of pits was built in a checkerboard pattern. He had to drive him twice - with a stabilizer and without him. For greater clarity, you could get out of the car and see personally how this device works, driven by a button located to the left of the steering column. The difference is visible with the naked eye - when moving through unevenness, the hind wheels are noticeably reduced.

The return trip to the capital of Catalonia also ran along the high -speed highway. We were no longer up to jokes and not up to the landing landscapes - we must have time for an airplane for Moscow. The time remained in a sawn -off shotgun - we were too carried away by off -road pokatushki. As it turned out, we did well that we changed cars. The long -border Patrol behaves perfectly at speed, demonstrating good stability in straight sections and when moving in corners, and thanks to a tighter suspension, it is even better controlled than a short -term version. We were in a hurry that we arrived even with a small margin and managed to admire the view of the winter Mediterranean Sea.

But Gaudi's creations had to be postponed until the next time.

This is where our acquaintance with the new Nissan Patrol GR ended. The car demonstrated everything that a real SUV is capable of. On good asphalt, he also feels quite confident. Despite the greatly changed appearance, Nissan Patrol retained its reliable work in nature. This is still a car for real men.

Text: Sergey Ivanov
 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 4/1998]