Suzuki Across vs Nissan Patrol

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Suzuki Across in South Africa

Suzuki Across

2.5 PHEV E-CVT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 1,199,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 227 Nm ⛽ 22.7 km/l
VS
Nissan Patrol in South Africa

Nissan Patrol

5.6 V8 Platinum 4x4 7AT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 1,949,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 298 kW 🔧 560 Nm ⛽ 9.0 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Patrol
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Patrol
🔑 Ownership Across
Across starts ZAR 1579900 cheaper Across from ZAR 1,199,900 · Patrol from ZAR 1,579,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Across Patrol
Engine Power 225 298
Torque 227 560
Engine Size 2487 5552
Claimed Mileage 22.7 9.0
Ground Clearance 200 272
Boot Space 490 490
Airbags 8 9
Kerb Weight 1955 2660
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Across

71
/ 100
+2
pts
#2

Patrol

69
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Across and Patrol are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Patrol +3 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Patrol +3 pts
Ownership Across +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Across

Performance 17/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 14/20
Ownership 20/20

Patrol

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 17/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Across

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Patrol

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Patrol

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across Patrol
Length 4635 5165
Width 1855 1995
Height 1690 1940
Wheelbase 2690 2850
Ground Clearance 200 272
Kerb Weight 1955 2660
Gross Vehicle Weight 2510 3560
Seating Capacity 5 8
Seats 5 Available
Doors 5 Available
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space 490 490
Boot Space Seats Folded 1604 1500
Boot Volume 490 Available
Front Track Width 1605 1675
Rear Track Width 1620 1675
Turning Radius 5.7 6.2
Front Headroom 1015 Available
Rear Headroom 1004 Available
Front Legroom 1090 Available
Rear Legroom 950 Available
Front Shoulder Room 1455 Available
Rear Shoulder Room 1418 Available
Max Payload 555 Available
Towing Capacity 1500 3500
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 Available
Front Overhang 915 Available
Rear Overhang 1030 Available
Load Bed Length Available Available
Load Bed Width Available Available
Spec Across Patrol
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 140
City Mileage 22.7 7.8
Highway Mileage 20.4 8.5
Claimed Mileage 22.7 9.0
Claimed Fuel Consumption 1.0 Available
Average Fuel Consumption Yes Available
Distance To Empty Yes Available
Low Fuel Warning Yes Available
Auto Start Stop 0.5 Standard
Real-world Mileage 18.5 Available
Fuel Efficiency 1.0 Available
Emission Standard EURO 6 Euro 4
AdBlue Tank Capacity Available Not Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Suzuki Across wins with 71 pts vs 69 pts for Patrol

In structured scoring, Across emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Patrol may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Across edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Across 0 vs Patrol 0. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Across 20, Patrol 20. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Across 20, Patrol 12. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Across 14, Patrol 17. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Across 17, Patrol 20. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Across edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Across scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Across and Patrol in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Across scores 17 vs 20.

Efficiency: Across scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Across scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Across scores 14 vs 17.

Ownership: Across scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Across the advantage in this comparison.