After years of watching Toyota dominate UAE roads with the Prado and Land Cruiser, Nissan has completely rebuilt the Patrol for 2025. And for the first time in decades, this might be the SUV that gives Toyota a real fight in the Emirates.
The new Patrol (Y63 generation) isn't just another facelift – it's a complete reimagining that takes everything we loved about the old Patrol's toughness and wraps it in genuine luxury. But the real question UAE buyers want answered: can it handle our roads, our weather, and our driving conditions better than the competition?
Two Engines, But Only One Makes Sense in the UAE
Nissan offers two engine options, but living in the Emirates, there's really only one choice.
The Twin-Turbo V6: Built for UAE Conditions
The star of the show is a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 pumping out 419 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. In the UAE's stop-start traffic and highway overtaking situations, this translates to effortless acceleration that makes the 2.7-tonne Patrol feel much lighter than it is.
More importantly, this engine delivers instant torque from low RPMs – perfect for pulling away from Dubai's endless traffic lights or merging onto Sheikh Zayed Road. The 0-100km/h time of 6.6 seconds is genuinely impressive for something this massive.
The Base Engine: Skip It
There's also a 3.8-litre naturally aspirated V6 with 312 horsepower. Still, in the UAE heat with complete air conditioning running, you'll want every bit of power you can get. The twin-turbo is worth the extra dirhams.
Interior: Finally Worthy of UAE Luxury Standards
Previous Patrol generations always felt cheap compared to what UAE buyers expect at this price point. The new one completely changes that story.
The cabin features premium quilted leather with Japanese-inspired Kumiko stitching, massage seats, and genuinely impressive build quality. The second and third-row space is enormous – crucial for UAE families who regularly travel with extended family or household staff.
The new 12.3-inch touchscreen finally looks modern, and the panoramic sunroof (with proper UV protection) helps the massive cabin feel even more spacious. Most importantly, the climate control system has been completely redesigned to handle UAE summers without breaking a sweat.
Built for UAE Roads (And Off Them)
The Patrol's reputation in the UAE was built on one thing: indestructibility. The new model retains its DNA with a body-on-frame construction, while adding the refinement that UAE buyers increasingly demand.
On Dubai's glass-smooth highways, it rides like a luxury sedan. On weekend desert trips, it's still the unstoppable force UAE families have relied on for decades. The Warrior variant takes off-road capability even further, perfect for serious Liwa or Jebel Hafeet adventures.
Pricing That Makes Sense in the UAE Market
Here's where things get really interesting for UAE buyers. Local pricing starts around AED 180,000 for base models and tops out around AED 320,000 for fully loaded versions.
Compare that to a Toyota Land Cruiser 300, which starts around AED 220,000 and can easily hit AED 400,000+ when fully optioned. The Prado, while cheaper to start, quickly becomes expensive when you add the features that come standard on the Patrol.
For UAE buyers, this pricing makes the Patrol a genuine value proposition – something that's never been true before.
Real Talk: How It Fits UAE Life
After living in the UAE for years and driving countless SUVs here, the new Patrol finally feels like it was designed with our market in mind.
What Works in the UAE
- Twin-turbo V6 handles highway speeds and city traffic with equal confidence
- Massive interior perfect for UAE family sizes and lifestyle needs
- The air conditioning system actually keeps up with the summer heat
- Still legendary for desert driving and off-road capability
- Significantly better value than Toyota alternatives
- A high driving position gives excellent visibility in Dubai traffic
What Doesn't Work as Well
- Fuel consumption is still heavy (important with current petrol prices)
- Some interior materials show fingerprints easily in dusty conditions
- Technology, while improved, isn't quite at German luxury levels
- Nissan's service network, while good, isn't as extensive as Toyota's
The UAE Verdict: Finally a Real Choice
For the first time since I've been covering cars in the UAE, the Patrol offers a genuine alternative to Toyota's SUV dominance. It's refined enough for Dubai Marina, tough enough for Hatta weekends, and spacious enough for the way UAE families actually live.
Should You Buy One?
If you've been automatically choosing Toyota because "that's what everyone buys," it's time to reconsider. The new Patrol offers more luxury, better performance, and superior value while maintaining the desert-proven toughness that made the nameplate legendary here.
The only real question is whether you trust Nissan's long-term reliability as much as Toyota's. But for many UAE buyers, the combination of genuine luxury, proven capability, and smart pricing makes that a risk worth taking.
After decades of playing catch-up, Nissan has finally built a Patrol that belongs on UAE roads – and in UAE driveways.
