Nissan Navara 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.

Nissan Navara in South Africa

Nissan Navara

2.5 Pro-4X Automatic Diesel Automatic
ZAR 690,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW (188 hp)
🔧 450 Nm
⛽ 12.8 km/l
VS
Nissan Patrol in South Africa

Nissan Patrol

5.6 V8 Platinum 4x4 7AT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 1,949,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 227 kW (304 hp)
🔧 700 Nm
⛽ 9.4 km/l
+

Want to throw in a 3rd car?

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Patrol
Petrol Economy Navara
🔑 Ownership Cost Navara

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Navara

71
/ 100
+1
pts
#2

Patrol

70
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Patrol +5 pts
Efficiency Navara +2 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Patrol +4 pts
Ownership Navara +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Navara

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 20/20

Patrol

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 5/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Navara

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

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?

Navara

  • 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 Navara Patrol
Ground Clearance 228 235
Wheelbase 3150 2850
Length 5260 4985
Width 1850 1980
Height 1855 1910
Kerb Weight 2050 2430
Gross Vehicle Weight 3150 3300
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 0 309
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Front Track Width - 1675
Rear Track Width - 1675
Turning Radius - 6.0
Spec Navara Patrol
Engine 2.5L Turbo Diesel 3.3L Twin-Turbo V6 Diesel
Engine Type Inline 4 Turbocharged V6 Twin-Turbocharged DOHC
Displacement 2488 3346
Cylinders 4 6
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Power 140 227
Torque 450 700
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Common Rail Direct Injection
Top Speed 180 210
0-100 km/h 10.5 7.5
Power @ RPM - 3000-3600 rpm
Torque @ RPM - 1600-2600 rpm
Turbocharger - Twin Turbo
Compression Ratio - 15.4:1
Engine Position - Front Longitudinal

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Nissan Navara wins with 71 pts vs 70 pts for Patrol

In structured scoring, Navara 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

Based on structured category scoring, Navara performs better overall in South Africa. However, final choice depends on driving priorities.

Navara scores 7 while Patrol scores 5 in efficiency. Real-world mileage may vary based on driving conditions.

In safety scoring, Navara scores 20 and Patrol scores 20. Both offer competitive safety packages in this segment.

Navara scores 20 versus Patrol scoring 12. Warranty coverage and ownership value influence this result.

Practicality scoring gives Navara 9 and Patrol 13, reflecting cabin space and usability.

Performance category shows Navara scoring 15 compared to Patrol scoring 20, indicating stronger overtaking capability.

While resale depends on market demand, ownership and brand positioning suggest Navara may hold stronger long-term value.

Off-road suitability depends on drivetrain and ground clearance. Refer to the full specification comparison for detailed technical differences.

Efficiency and ownership categories influence running costs. Navara performs slightly stronger overall in structured scoring.

Value depends on feature set, performance and ownership coverage. Structured comparison gives Navara the overall advantage.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

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

Performance: Navara scores 15 vs 20.

Efficiency: Navara scores 7 vs 5.

Safety: Navara scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Navara scores 9 vs 13.

Ownership: Navara scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Navara the advantage in this comparison.