Nissan Patrol marks 75 years with more than two million vehicles sold

Staff Writer

Nissan’s Patrol has sold more than two million vehicles worldwide since its launch in 1951, marking 75 years of production across seven generations.

The Japanese automaker said the model, which began as its first four-wheel-drive vehicle, is currently available in 42 markets worldwide and continues to play a significant role in its global vehicle range.

To mark the anniversary, Nissan is introducing a new Armada Patrol PRO-4X trim for the 2027 model year in the United States, bringing the Patrol name back to the market for the first time since 1969.

The new model builds on the Armada PRO-4X and features Patrol branding inside and outside the vehicle.

Nissan is also launching a limited-edition 75th Anniversary Patrol exclusively for the Middle East. The initial production run is set at 1951 units, representing the year the model was first introduced.

The anniversary edition is based on the flagship Platinum V6 twin-turbo model and features Copper Gold exterior accents, a Bordeaux interior and dedicated anniversary detailing.

Nissan president and chief executive Ivan Espinosa said the Patrol represents an important part of the company’s history and its engineering capabilities.

The first-generation Patrol, known as the 4W60, was introduced in Japan in 1951. In the same year, it demonstrated its off-road capabilities by scaling Mount Fuji.

The model reached Kuwait in 1957, establishing its presence in the Middle East, a region that has since become one of its key markets.

In 1960, Nissan introduced the second-generation 60 Series, expanding the vehicle’s international reach. The first major shipment went to Colombia, followed by Australia and the United States in 1961.

In Australia, the Patrol became the first motorised vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert, covering more than 1100 sand dunes between the Northern Territory and Queensland in 12 days.

The third-generation Patrol 160 was introduced in 1980, with five-door and seven-seat configurations broadening its appeal beyond its traditional utility vehicle role.

The model was also introduced in pickup and long-wheelbase wagon versions in South Africa. In 1983, it became the first Nissan model manufactured in Europe, at the company’s Barcelona plant.

The Patrol also established a motorsport record, with the 160 winning the unmodified division of the Australian Off-Road Championship for 15 consecutive years from 1983.

The fourth-generation Y60 arrived in 1987, introducing coil-spring suspension, power steering and improved comfort.

That year, a diesel-powered Patrol 160 finished in the overall top 10 at the Paris-Dakar Rally, becoming the first diesel vehicle to achieve the result.

The fifth-generation Y61 was launched in 1997, incorporating updated styling, satellite navigation, a reverse camera and revised interiors.

In 2007, two Y61 Patrol vehicles completed the 15 000-mile Long Way Down expedition from John O’Groats in the United Kingdom to Cape Town, South Africa, recording only one puncture during the journey.

The sixth-generation Y62 was introduced in 2010, bringing further improvements in comfort and technology.

It subsequently achieved three Guinness World Records. These included towing a 170.9-metric-ton aircraft for 50 metres in 2013, recording the fastest ascent of a 100-metre sand dune by a production vehicle in 2015 and bringing together 180 Patrol vehicles for the world’s largest synchronised car dance in 2018.

In 2015, Nissan introduced the first Patrol NISMO, making it the first Nissan model in the Middle East to receive a NISMO version.

The Patrol returned to the US market in 2016 as the 2017 Nissan Armada, based on the Y62 generation and powered by a 5.6-litre V8 engine producing 390 horsepower.

Nissan unveiled the seventh-generation Patrol in Abu Dhabi in 2024. The latest model features a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine producing 425 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque, alongside an upgraded interior, additional space and advanced technology.

Production of the latest Patrol and the US Armada began in 2025 at Nissan’s Shatai Kyushu plant in Japan.

Nissan said the Patrol remains one of its key heritage models as the company continues to develop the vehicle to meet changing customer requirements while retaining its established off-road capabilities.