Nissan Patrol vs KIA Sorento

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 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
VS
KIA Sorento in South Africa

KIA Sorento

2.2 CRDi SXL AWD DCT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,299,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 148 kW 🔧 440 Nm Nm ⛽ 15.6 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Patrol
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Patrol
🔑 Ownership Sorento
Sorento starts ZAR 1579900 cheaper Patrol from ZAR 1,579,900 · Sorento from ZAR 999,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Patrol Sorento
Engine Power 298 148 kW
Torque 560 440 Nm
Engine Size 5552 2151
Claimed Mileage 9.0 15.6
Ground Clearance 272 185
Boot Space 490 219
Airbags 9 7
Kerb Weight 2660 1960
Seating Capacity Available 7
Warranty 3 7

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Patrol

69
/ 100
+4
pts
#2

Sorento

65
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Patrol +5 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Patrol +7 pts
Ownership Sorento +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Patrol

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

Sorento

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Patrol

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

Sorento

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

Which One's Right for You?

Patrol

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

Sorento

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Patrol Sorento
Ground Clearance 272 185
Wheelbase 2850 2815
Length 5165 4810
Width 1995 1900
Height 1940 1700
Kerb Weight 2660 1960
Gross Vehicle Weight 3560 2550
Seating Capacity 8 7
Boot Space 490 219
Towing Capacity 3500 2000
Front Track Width 1675 1640
Rear Track Width 1675 1644
Turning Radius 6.2 11.2
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 616
Load Bed Length Available N/A
Load Bed Width Available N/A
Front Legroom Available 1040
Rear Legroom Available 855
Front Headroom Available 1010
Rear Headroom Available 955
Front Shoulder Room Available 1405
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1350
Max Payload Available N/A
Boot Volume Available 219
Doors Available 5
Seats Available 7
Front Overhang Available 900
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 67
Rear Overhang Available 1095
Spec Patrol Sorento
Engine VK56VD 2.2 CRDi D4HB Inline-4 Diesel
Engine Type V8 Inline 4 Cylinder Turbodiesel
Displacement 5552 2151
Cylinders 8 4
Valves per Cylinder 32 16
Power 298 148 kW
Power @ RPM 3000-3600 rpm 3,800 rpm
Torque 560 440 Nm
Torque @ RPM 1600-2600 rpm 1,750 rpm
Fuel System Direct + Port Injection Common Rail Direct Injection
Turbocharger No Yes
Top Speed 210 200
0-100 km/h 6.6 8.5
Compression Ratio 15.4:1 15.4:1
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Front Transverse
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard D4HB
Cylinder Bore 82.0 85.4
Piston Stroke 92.0 94.0
Fuel Grade Required Petrol B7 Diesel
Engine Oil Capacity Available 6.0
Power 150 198
Variable Valve Timing Available No
Maximum Engine RPM Available 4,000 rpm
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Diesel
0–100 km/h Available 8.5
Battery Capacity Available N/A
Charging Port Available N/A
AC Charging Time Available N/A
Engine Displacement Available 2151
EV Range Available N/A

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Nissan Patrol wins with 69 pts vs 65 pts for Sorento

In structured scoring, Patrol emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Sorento 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: Patrol 0 vs Sorento 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: Patrol 20, Sorento 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: Patrol 12, Sorento 20. 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: Patrol 17, Sorento 10. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Patrol 20, Sorento 15. 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 Patrol and Sorento in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Patrol scores 20 vs 15.

Efficiency: Patrol scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Patrol scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Patrol scores 17 vs 10.

Ownership: Patrol scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Patrol the advantage in this comparison.