Nissan Patrol vs Nissan X-Trail

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
⚡ 227 kW (304 hp)
🔧 700 Nm
⛽ 9.4 km/l
VS
Nissan X-Trail in South Africa

Nissan X-Trail

2.5 Acenta Plus 4WD CVT 7-seat Petrol Automatic
ZAR 812,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 126 kW (169 hp)
🔧 233 Nm
⛽ 13.5 km/l
+
＋

Want to throw in a 3rd car?

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Patrol
⛽ Petrol Economy Patrol
🔑 Ownership Cost X-Trail

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Patrol

70
/ 100
+6
pts
#2

X-Trail

64
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Patrol +9 pts
Efficiency Patrol +5 pts
Safety Patrol +2 pts
Practicality X-Trail +2 pts
Ownership X-Trail +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Patrol

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

X-Trail

Performance 11/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 15/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Patrol

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

X-Trail

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Patrol

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

X-Trail

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Patrol X-Trail
Ground Clearance 235 210
Wheelbase 2850 2705
Length 4985 4680
Width 1980 1840
Height 1910 1725
Kerb Weight 2430 1610
Gross Vehicle Weight 3300 2190
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space 309 565
Towing Capacity 3500 1500
Front Track Width 1675 -
Rear Track Width 1675 -
Turning Radius 6.0 -
Spec Patrol X-Trail
Engine 3.3L Twin-Turbo V6 Diesel 2.5L Naturally Aspirated Petrol
Engine Type V6 Twin-Turbocharged DOHC Inline 4-cylinder DOHC
Displacement 3346 2488
Cylinders 6 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Power 227 126
Power @ RPM 3000-3600 rpm -
Torque 700 233
Torque @ RPM 1600-2600 rpm -
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Direct Injection
Turbocharger Twin Turbo -
Top Speed 210 195
0-100 km/h 7.5 10.5
Compression Ratio 15.4:1 -
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Nissan Patrol wins with 70 pts vs 64 pts for X-Trail

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

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.

Patrol
Patrol
VS
EcoSport
EcoSport
Patrol vs EcoSport →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Everest
Everest
Patrol vs Everest →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Mustang
Mustang
Patrol vs Mustang →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Puma
Puma
Patrol vs Puma →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Ranger
Ranger
Patrol vs Ranger →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Territory
Territory
Patrol vs Territory →
X-Trail
X-Trail
VS
EcoSport
EcoSport
X-Trail vs EcoSport →
X-Trail
X-Trail
VS
Everest
Everest
X-Trail vs Everest →

Buyers Also Looked At These

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

Patrol
Patrol
VS
EcoSport
EcoSport
Patrol vs EcoSport →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Everest
Everest
Patrol vs Everest →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Puma
Puma
Patrol vs Puma →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Territory
Territory
Patrol vs Territory →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
CR-V
CR-V
Patrol vs CR-V →
Patrol
Patrol
VS
Elevate
Elevate
Patrol vs Elevate →

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

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

Patrol scores 5 while X-Trail scores 0 in efficiency. Real-world mileage may vary based on driving conditions.

In safety scoring, Patrol scores 20 and X-Trail scores 18. Both offer competitive safety packages in this segment.

Patrol scores 12 versus X-Trail scoring 20. Warranty coverage and ownership value influence this result.

Practicality scoring gives Patrol 13 and X-Trail 15, reflecting cabin space and usability.

Performance category shows Patrol scoring 20 compared to X-Trail scoring 11, indicating stronger overtaking capability.

While resale depends on market demand, ownership and brand positioning suggest Patrol 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. Patrol performs slightly stronger overall in structured scoring.

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

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

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

Performance: Patrol scores 20 vs 11.

Efficiency: Patrol scores 5 vs 0.

Safety: Patrol scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: Patrol scores 13 vs 15.

Ownership: Patrol scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Patrol the advantage in this comparison.