The new Patrol is a Y63 — and its touring story starts with the load sheet

If a new Patrol is on your shortlist for next year's trips, the Australian picture is becoming clearer. Nissan opened orders on 27 August, announcing six grades starting at $98,990 manufacturer's suggested retail price, before on-road costs. Its first customer deliveries are expected in early 2027. Nissan Australia's pricing announcement

One detail to get straight: this is the Y63. The Y62 is the outgoing V8 generation. Nissan's earlier August announcement puts the new model's arrival in the first quarter of 2027, making January to March the current planning window, rather than a guaranteed handover date for any particular order. Nissan's Australian arrival announcement

The powertrain change is substantial. The Y63 uses a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 and nine-speed automatic, rated at 317 kW and 700 Nm. Nissan also describes an oil-scavenging system intended to maintain lubrication on steep and off-camber ground. Those are useful engineering details; how the vehicle behaves with a family's camping load is still a separate test. Nissan's powertrain announcement

If you’re comparing Patrol grades for a touring build, start with the entry-level Ti. Nissan lists a dual-range transfer case, rear differential lock and 18-inch wheels from the bottom of the range. The PRO-4X adds air suspension, 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres and an off-road front bumper treatment. Buyers do not need the most expensive badge simply to obtain low range and a rear locker. Nissan's Australian grade highlights

That creates a useful build question. Start with the actual job: passengers, luggage, the trailer if there is one, and the roads you expect to use. Then compare what each grade contributes to that job. A feature that earns its place on a weekend rock drive may contribute less to a heavily loaded trip with long sealed-road transfers. Equally, equipment that makes the daily drive more comfortable may be worth paying for when the vehicle also carries the family all week.

Our own reference point is a near-stock 2025.5 Everest Sport V6 that handles the daily driving. Its V6 has felt easygoing with the range of trailers we have towed. The planned build is a family tourer: extra fuel capacity, frontal protection, a 12V system and recovery equipment. For us, a new Patrol would need to earn its place through room for people and gear, everyday comfort and towing confidence. We have not driven the Y63.

The towing headline deserves the same discipline. Nissan announces a maximum braked towing capacity of 3,700 kg across the range. It is a ceiling subject to the vehicle's load and towing equipment, rather than a promise that a fully packed wagon can tow that mass in every configuration. Nissan's towing conditions

Before committing to a touring build, the decisive figures are the chosen grade's usable payload, front and rear axle limits, gross combination mass and permitted towball download. Put the complete trip on the scales in the plan: every occupant, the fridge, drawers, water, recovery gear and accessories. Then add the trailer's effect without counting the same towball weight twice. A higher advertised towing limit cannot answer that calculation on its own.

We would also reserve part of the build budget until accessory compatibility is established for the Australian vehicle. Roof systems, frontal protection and suspension changes need to suit the actual grade and its equipment. Buying the vehicle first and discovering the intended build does not fit is an expensive way to settle those questions.

Nissan says a fuller grade-by-grade breakdown will follow and warns that production specifications can vary from the preview material. The sensible next step is to turn a favourite grade into a complete trip specification, then judge the finished package. That will tell you more about its place in your driveway than the cylinder count alone. Nissan's specification status