Ford Everest 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.

Ford Everest in South Africa

Ford Everest

3.0TD V6 Platinum 10AT 4WD Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,099,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 405 Nm ⛽ 14.0 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 Everest
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Patrol
🔑 Ownership Everest
Everest starts ZAR 1579900 cheaper Everest from ZAR 750,000 · Patrol from ZAR 1,579,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Everest Patrol
Engine Power 125 298
Torque 405 560
Engine Size 1996 5552
Claimed Mileage 14.0 9.0
Ground Clearance 220 272
Boot Space 259 490
Airbags 7 9
Kerb Weight 2305 2660
Seating Capacity Available Available
Warranty 4 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Patrol

69
/ 100
+1
pts
#2

Everest

68
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Patrol +7 pts
Efficiency Everest +7 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Patrol +5 pts
Ownership Everest +4 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Patrol

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

Everest

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 16/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Everest

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Patrol

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

Which One's Right for You?

Everest

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • 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 Everest Patrol
Ground Clearance 220 272
Wheelbase 2900 2850
Length 4914 5165
Width 1923 1995
Height 1842 1940
Kerb Weight 2305 2660
Gross Vehicle Weight 3100 3560
Seating Capacity 7 8
Boot Space 259 490
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
Front Track Width 1550 1675
Rear Track Width 1540 1675
Turning Radius Available 6.2
Load Bed Length Available Available
Load Bed Width Available Available
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available Available
Seats Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Everest Patrol
Engine 2.0L Single Turbo Diesel VK56VD
Engine Type Inline 4 Turbocharged V8
Displacement 1996 5552
Cylinders 4 8
Valves per Cylinder 4 32
Power 125 298
Torque 405 560
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Direct + Port Injection
Top Speed 180 210
0-100 km/h 11.5 6.6
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard Standard
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 15.4:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 92.0
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Power @ RPM 150 3000-3600 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 1600-2600 rpm
Turbocharger Available No
Engine Position Available Front Longitudinal
Engine Oil Capacity Available Available
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Available
Maximum Engine RPM Available Available
Engine Type Config Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Nissan Patrol wins with 69 pts vs 68 pts for Everest

In structured scoring, Patrol emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Everest 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 Patrol 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: Everest 7 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: Everest 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: Everest 16, 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: Everest 12, Patrol 17. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Everest 13, 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 Patrol edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Everest scores 13 vs 20.

Efficiency: Everest scores 7 vs 0.

Safety: Everest scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Everest scores 12 vs 17.

Ownership: Everest scores 16 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Patrol the advantage in this comparison.