If you want a 4x4 just to ponce around in, forget the five-door Nissan Patrol. This is a no-nonsense machine with strong performance, massive dimensions, good off-road and towing capability, and a seven-seat capacity. And yet it's a more balanced car on ordinary tarmac roads than many of its full-size four-wheel drive rivals.Some 4x4 manufacturers try to disguise the brute force of the really big machines with rounded body panels and a "soft" front end. Not Nissan, which says it has loaded the latest Patrol with additional chrome brightwork to give it "a more assertive look". More assertive than the old one - blimey! Nervous children scurry indoors as a Patrol comes into view.Inside, there's generous passenger space in the long-wheelbase models. Seats go two-three in the normal layout, with the second row more comfortable than in some of the Nissan's competitors, but there are two more folding seats right at the back, once again with more space around them than you get in many other cars of this size and type.There are four big doors into the main passenger area, and two side-hinged doors right at the back. Odd, that. Nissan calls the LWB Patrol a five-door, when it actually has six, but let's not get too picky. Climbing in and out of this sizeable machine is easy, and with the high stance there's the usual good 4x4 visibility.The leather trim in the SE+ (the SE is the short-wheelbase version) looks quite smart, and this top model in the range is pretty well-equipped, with front and side airbags, automatic air-conditioning, heated front seats, a sunroof, adjustable headrests and the latest version of that highly effective Nissan alarm and immobiliser system I've learned, from some embarrassing experiences in the past, not to fool around with. But it's hardly a model of switchgear location, with several switches rather obscurely tucked away.On bumpy tarmac roads, you can't avoid the bounce that inevitably comes with the maximum-size 4x4 territory. But on smoother surfaces the Patrol handles unexpectedly well, although like the rest of its class it's not a car to take liberties with.One of its special but standard features is a switchable rear anti-roll bar (if you can find the switch) giving different settings for on-road and off-road driving. The idea is to provide firmer suspension for ordinary motoring, along with generous suspension travel to soak up the rough stuff off-road. There's also a more subtle ABS system than some other 4x4 manufacturers provide.The big mechanical thing about the latest Patrol, though, is the direct injection intercooled turbo diesel engine. You get plenty of power, 261lb/ft of torque from 2000rpm, far better mid-range pull and marginally better economy from this three-litre unit than was possible with the previous 2.8. It's an altogether superior engine, and it revs so smoothly that it's a surprise to come against the governor at about 4600rpm.A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but the five-door SE+ is the only model in the range with the extra-cost option of a four-speed automatic.Here at CARkeys we reckon Nissan has a very mixed product line these days. But it knows what it's doing in the big 4x4 class, and the long-wheelbase Patrol is a robust and competent design.Second opinion: I don't want to get too anoraky about this, but I think the switchable anti-roll bar, which has given Nissan the chance to avoid one of the many compromises between off-road and tarmac set-ups, is largely responsible for the fact that the Patrol is quite astonishingly stable in normal driving for a car of this type. It went through corners so well I initially thought the speedometer must have been under-reading. The engine is a bit noisy, but that's in character with the general chunkiness, and it undoubtedly performs well. My favourite option, at £220, is the stainless steel ladder which allows you to climb up the tailgate on to the roof. I can't imagine actually wanting to use this, but it would certainly impress the neighbours. David Finlay. Engine 2953cc Power 156bhp Transmission 5-speed manual Fuel 26.2mpg Acceleration 0-62mph: 15.4 seconds Top speed 99mph Price £32,150 Details correct at publication date
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