Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Big cars command respect on the road, it’s a fact, like it or lump it.
I have nothing against the environment, in fact, I quite like nature, but ever since I was a child, I have loved SUVs. The horsepower, torque and ability to drive anywhere are intrinsically appealing.
For the vast majority of people, being able to scale a mountain in a car is not a necessity, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t nice to have the option!
Enter the new Nissan Patrol, a rugged off-road machine dubbed ‘the hero of all-terrain’.
I like the analogy, so much so that it got me thinking, if the Patrol were a superhero, which one would it be? Well, after my day driving it, simply out, if a sports car were the Flash then the Patrol is the Incredible Hulk.
Big, strong and unrelenting are just a few words that can describe this SUV.
It boasts a new front bumper and an aggressive front grille pattern with chrome. New 20-inch machining cut alloy wheels, LED headlamps with daytime running light and pop-up headlamp washer with new LED rear combination lamp and roof rails add to the range of new features.
Once you climb aboard, and climb you do, you get a great vantage point of the road and everything else.
The cabin is as cavernous as it is luxurious. Leather trim, chrome finishes, steering wheel-mounted controls and memory adjustable seats are just some of the highlights.
One of my favourite things about the infotainment system, controlled via a touch-screen display in the centre stack, is the camera. There is a 3rd generation Around View Monitor with parking assist display and Back-up Collision Intervention which alerts the driver when a moving object is detected behind the vehicle when in reverse mode.
The camera offers a range of angles of the car from the side, behind, in front and on top, which is particularly handy when you’re trying to manoeuvre a gargantuan car weighing around 3 tons.
There is comfortably room for seven people and enough on-board gadgets and gizmos to keep everyone busy.
It takes some getting used to when driving this model. Spatial awareness is key but luckily the Patrol boasts an array of sensors which let you know if you’re too close to anything.
Usually while driving in Bahrain I have to fight and claw for every inch of space on the road, not in this car. It has such presence that I when I indicated, other drivers where actually giving way for a change, I could get used to it!
After punching the Tree of Life into the sat nav, I was off on an adventure, made even more exciting by the route the Hulk decided to take me.
After finding myself driving through a dubious construction site in Askar, I switched to the ‘rock’ mode and the drive changed drastically. Potholes, uneven roads and the odd speed bump were met with confidence and fluidity.
However, when I hit the highway, I finally had a chance to put my foot down and see how it held up on-road. It did not disappoint.
Even with all that weight, it still barrels along smoothly and confidently. It’s actually difficult to gauge your speed without glancing at the speedometer because the ride is so steady and comfortable, a testament to the powerful V8, which made light work of moving this huge SUV.
As an added bonus, the model I drove had a cool box in the cabin to make sure your favourite beverage stays chilled during the summer months … now that I think of it, this car has better features than my apartment!
Prices start from BD15,995.
For details, contact YK Almoayyed, Nissan’s dealer in Bahrain, by calling 17732732, visit the showroom or www.nissanbahrain.com
