THE Australian appetite for four-wheel drives might be stronger than ever, but the menu has changed and large, traditional rock-hoppers such as Nissan's Patrol are no longer the obvious choice for suburban diners. Not about to be written off, Patrol is now endowed with a 4.8-litre petrol engine mated to a five-speed semi-automatic gearbox - and while the thirst for fuel is astonishing, the entire package is an altogether more appealing one. For the top-spec Ti, value remains its great strength. But has it got enough to turn the tide?

Nissan Patrol Ti
Released: February '88
Ended: December '97
Family Tree: PatrolNissan's heavyweight off-roader love affair began with the GQ Patrol back in the early 1970s and extends to the fourth generation GU series released late in 1997. The final, fitting chapter in Nissan's four-wheel drive success story could well be the new-for-2002 4.8-litre Series III version tested here.
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