Patrol NISMO takes Wheels ‘Best SUV’ crown

During the publication’s annual Car of the Year (COTY) awards, the Patrol NISMO challenged its major competitors before an esteemed judging panel. The Nissan was labelled the most reliable vehicle in three significant categories: desert capability, on-road performance, and comfort.

“Patrol leaves them in the dust,” explained the judges in the award citation. “The 5.6-litre V8 mated to a slick seven-speed automatic has been poked and prodded to deliver more performance, and with all four wheels digging in for added traction, along with its off-road ability still intact, this is three cars rolled into one. It’s still a brilliant family car with loads of room for seven adults to sit in total comfort. It’s a superb off-roader with all sorts of driver aids to tame difficult terrains and it’s a sporty SUV, too. It can do it all and sure is deserving of this accolade.”

The Nissan Patrol NISMO is no stranger to such high praise. Since the model was introduced to the Gulf market in 2015, its on- and off-road capabilities have drawn plaudits from journalists and owners alike.

Samir Cherfan, Managing Director of Nissan Middle East was delighted the Patrol NISMO was recognized as a cut above the competition. “When you take a vehicle as dear to the hearts of Gulf motorists as the Patrol, and decide to produce a NISMO-tuned performance version, you must get it right,” he said.

“We knew we had a very special SUV on our hands as soon as it arrived in our showrooms. So, it’s particularly gratifying to see the wider automotive community, and many of the Gulf’s top motoring writers agree with this view.”

Patrol NISMO is part of a line-up of three cars from the tuning, performance and motorsport division of Nissan. The remaining two are the 370Z NISMO and the GT-R NISMO.

The accolade was dished out during a recent event, at Dubai Palm’s spectacular Waldorf Astoria. The Wheels COTY Awards, now in its eighth year, has established itself as one of the most prestigious automotive awards ceremonies in the Middle East.