4x4s we'd buy, and how we'd modify them: Nissan Y62 Patrol

Yep, it’s long in the tooth. Yep, it’s getting replaced soon. Yep, it’s thirsty. It’s a fair question: Is the Y62 Patrol really still a good purchase in 2025? Look, the answer is highly subjective, but for me it’s yes, absolutely.

It’s big, it’s excellent for towing, it’s superbly comfortable and, for a fully independent rig, it’s incredibly capable. Oh yeah, and the engine, it’s an absolute ball-tearer. And despite never having a diesel variant, heaps of folks have proven that the old idea of “YoU nEeD a DiEsEl To ToUr!” is a load of steaming political promises.

So that’s what I’d go with, a stock standard lowest-spec Ti Y62 for $88,900, which given it’s about to be superseded by the Y63 means it’s the last of the model run, which is usually where manufacturers have got everything dialled in as nicely as it’s getting. Pick your moment to buy and you may even pick a runout model up for cheap. I mean, yeah, it’s showing its age, particularly the interior, but this may be your last opportunity to own a new rig with a big bent eight for a while, so I’m getting in while I can.

I’m also of the opinion that my money is better spent on aftermarket items over the stock stuff, particularly since most of the cost between the Ti, the Ti-L and the Warrior is largely taken up by gadgetry like sunroofs, electronic opening tailgates and bi-modal exhausts (which are heaps cool, but not a necessary expense for me). Sure, the Premcar-tuned Warrior has upgraded suspension, AT tyres and a few other off-road oriented bits and pieces, but I maintain that there’s aftermarket gear that’s just as good, if not better. It’s not a bad thing by any means, for me, I just can’t see the value.

For people that have more money than me (roughly 99.9 per cent of the population) and don’t want to faff around having parts fitted, then I can see why the Warrior works. But back to what I’d buy.

The mods list is fairly basic. First off would be a full three-inch exhaust for around three grand so I can hear that engine sing, because I’m not a barbarian. The usual two-inch lift with the best shocks I can afford and some 33-inch rubber would be on the cards ($5000-ish), but not before I throw on a Raslaar front bar, lightbar and winch (setting me back around $6500), a set of sliders and scrub rails from the same company (call it $2500) and a set of quality drawers with an Evakool drawer fridge incorporated from RV Storage Solutions ($3000 or so). I’d also bung in a GME XRS UHF for $650 so I can politely ask caravanners to keep left when they’re not overtaking, which is pretty much always.

I reckon that’s a shade over twenty gees well spent, bringing it in line with a top-spec model (just a lot better for me) giving me a decent touring rig (thanks to the factory 140L tank) that’d be well protected on gnarlier tracks and still get me to any touring destination in the country in comfort and style while I‘m listening to the strains of that so-sexy V8 soundtrack.