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The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 Nissan Patrol Ti-L review
Nissan Patrol Pros Nissan Patrol Cons There's a newNissan Patrol – well, kind of. Many of you will remember the all-new Y63-generation Patrol was revealed last year to much fanfare, but it won't be available to Aussies until late 2026. So, Nissan Australia has got to work on the venerable Y62 Patrol to keep it fresh for now. The updated MY25 Nissan Patrol range has landed in Australia, packing a substantial set of upgrades despite looking just about identical to the MY24 range on the outside. Yes, it's all about the cabin. The US-market interior of the facelifted Nissan Armada – as the Patrol is badged in North America – has finally made it to Australia's right-hand drive Patrol. That means factory wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a colour driver's information cluster. Rejoice! It also sees the return of a surround-view camera system and availability of Bose premium audio. Smaller changes include new interior trims and upholsteries, and there's a fresh Desert Red Metallic exterior paint option for the Ti and Ti-L. Is this update sufficient enough to keep the Patrol fresh against the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser and other large off-road SUVs until the next-gen model arrives late next year? We joined the local media launch in Victoria to find out. Prices are up across the range, but not by much when you consider the upgrades and added spec levels here. To put things into perspective, the LandCruiser 300 Series starts at $97,990 before on-road costs after recent MY25 running changes – and that's for the cloth-trimmed, steel-wheeled GX range-opener. You could logically cross-shop the Patrol against a number of smaller seven-seat 4WD competitors, too. The top-shelf Ford Everest Platinum is an $81,200 proposition before on-road costs, and the Toyota Prado is priced at $92,700 plus on-roads in Altitude specification, or $99,990 before on-roads in flagship Kakadu trim. At the other end of the spectrum, the only other model in the same official 'Upper Large SUV under $120k' VFACTS sales segment as the Patrol is the Land Rover Discovery, which currently starts from $114,921 before on-roads. And there's also the hardcore Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon, which is only a five-seater and starts from $105,000. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Finally, a modern cabin. For 2025, the Australian-market Patrol gets the heavily revised interior that debuted with the US-market Armada facelift way back in 2021 – leaving our RHD market to the revised exterior with the old interior. Key interior changes now include a new centre stack with a tablet-style 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen running Nissan's current infotainment software, and a new instrument cluster that finally gets a colour supervision display with multiple pages including a digital speedometer readout for the first time. This also sees the wireless smartphone charger get relocated to a shelf hidden within the dashboard, and a revised centre console up front with a new gearshifter, an infotainment controller, and a relocated drive mode selector. New trims and upholsteries have been applied throughout, with eye-catching stitching and quilting details to go with the new woodgrain trim elements. Non-Warrior variants are available with a new Chestnut Brown leather-accented interior. While a lot of these changes have been a long time coming, it's incredible just how much of a difference they make. The interior of the Y62 Patrol – which dates back to early last decade – now feels modern even relative to its much newer competitors. Nissan's display tech is actually quite good in its latest iteration, and the changes also bring back handy features like a surround-view camera with Moving Object Detection, as well as a 13-speaker Bose premium audio system in the Ti-L. Those familiar with the touchscreens in the current X-Trail and Qashqai will find the Patrol's unit near identical. The display offers good resolution and relatively quick load times, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are here and work well too – at least in the case of my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I also like the look and feel of the revised climate control pod, which is higher on the dashboard, and while the glossy bank of switchgear is fingerprint-prone, it's clear and easy to use while also looking attractive. Storage up front is pretty good, with a phone cubby inclusive of wireless charging integrated into the dash, a cooled console box in the Ti-L which is pretty deep, lidded cupholders between the front seats and decent door bins with bottle holders. There's also a big glovebox ahead of the front passenger. Moving into the second row, there's heaps of space for families with two or more children who are likely to grow into lanky teenagers, and they're well catered for with separate climate controls, USB and 12V power outlets, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, as well as bottle holders in the rear doors. Unlike high-spec versions of some rivals, however, there aren't heated rear seats to go with the heated and ventilated units up front, and the small sunroof on the Ti-L doesn't extend past the front row. Kiddies are catered for with ISOFIX anchor points on the outboard rear seats, and there are top-tether points across the backs of all three second-row positions, as well as the driver's side seat in the third row. Speaking of, the Patrol's third row is disappointing given the vehicle's sheer size. The fixed second-row seat bases don't allow you to open up much legroom, and the floor is very high – it's remains very much a kids-only area. Nissan doesn't quote an official boot capacity for the Patrol range, but we can attest to its sheer size with the third row folded, as well as the second. It's a long, tall and wide load bay, though the rear rows of seating don't quite fold flat. There's a full-size spare wheel mounted under the rear of the vehicle, like all proper off-roaders should have . *Boot capacity not quoted by Nissan Australia To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Patrol retains its lusty naturally aspirated V8 for now, at least until the Y63 generation introduces a new twin-turbo petrol V6 in its place. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Since most of the real updates have been made on the inside, nothing about the Patrol's on-road behaviour has changed. It's still a rumbling V8 beast, and it's still massive. Surprisingly, it's actually not bad to drive over a decade after its release, and its revamped cabin makes it an even nicer place to spend time in on the open road. We drove all variants at the launch, though we spent the most time in the high-spec Ti-L and the hardcore Warrior, including both on road and off. The 5.6-litre bent eight is a gem, for both its still-beefy outputs as well as its silky smooth and brassy delivery. There's plenty of punch down low yet it loves to rev, and when you oblige it makes a lovely sound – amplified further in the freer-breathing Warrior with its side-exit exhaust outlets, which aren't too far from your right ear. Despite its age and lack of air suspension or adjustable damping, the Patrol rides with aplomb and gives off a 'King of the Road' kinda feel behind the wheel. It's like driving a leather- and wood-lined palace on wheels. General refinement is also very good, with impressive levels of insulation from road and wind noise. The Warrior transmits a little more tyre noise into the cabin with its chunkier all-terrain rubber, but it's far from unrefined. That tall, sure-footed and traditional off-road SUV feel also translates to handling, which is fine for the Patrol's size and age, but falls short of more road-focused large and upper larger SUVs. However, the locally developed Warrior's tweaked Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) system, which comprises cross-wheel fluid lines instead of anti-roll bars, does do a great job of minimising body roll and maximising road holding. Steering feel is quite light and almost vague, but actual steering response from the front-end is relatively direct and quick for a vehicle this size. Ladder-frame rivals like the LandCruiser 300 Series have more direct steering, and road-biased large SUVs like the Hyundai Palisade and Audi Q7 feel infinitely more car-like by comparison. But they won't go off-road like the Patrol can. Speaking of, we also took the Patrol off the bitumen and through a series of off-road obstacles at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) proving ground near Anglesea on Victoria's surf coast, where the Patrol impressed as much as it always has. Plenty of ground clearance (273mm for the Ti-L; 323mm for the Warrior) and equally generous approach and departure angles (no breakover angle is quoted) despite the Ti-L's less off-road friendly "premium bumper", plus a highly capable four-wheel drive system with low-range transfer case make this big and heavy SUV quite the off-road monster. Obstacles included moguls, muddy ruts, hill climbs, and even a 600mm 'bomb hole' water crossing. The Patrol barely broke a sweat on any of the challenges – though the Ti-L's side steps did touch down but only with wrong approach. None of this is news though, given the trusty Y62 formula hasn't changed – at least mechanically – for over a decade. Despite the tech changes, perhaps the Y62 Patrol's biggest shortfall alongside competitors is its driver assistance suite, which isn't as sophisticated as something like a LandCruiser 300 or Discovery. The adaptive cruise works okay, and now there's an actual readout for the set speed via the new colour supervision cluster. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert also work fine, but the lane support systems (departure and assist) feel underdone and don't do much to keep this big beast from drifting across lines. The surround-view camera is fine without having the best resolution, but it's good to see it return after the local infotainment solution for MY24 saw it removed from the local spec. Moving Object Detection, which is effectively blind-spot monitoring for carparks when the camera is activated, also is handy to have. Nissan also fits a high-definition digital rear-view mirror to the Patrol Ti-L, which while good in concept when the car is full of people and stuff, has limited range of view given the Patrol's height and running clearance. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The three-grade Patrol lineup remains the same for MY25, with some specification changes. 2025 Nissan Patrol Ti equipment highlights: Patrol Ti-L adds: Patrol Warrior adds – over Ti: To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The current Nissan Patrol has never been tested by safety authority ANCAP. Standard safety equipment includes: To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The MY25 Nissan Patrol is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to up to 10 years or 300,000km (whichever comes first) provided the vehicle is serviced on time by a Nissan dealer. Nissan offers capped prices for the first five services, setting buyers back $499 each or $2495 across the term. This is a reduction on the previous $3019 cost for the first five services. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool This old dog has some new tricks up its sleeve. The fresh interior goes a long way to bridging the gap between Patrol generations, and keeps the Y62 modern enough for the next 18 months while we wait for the next chapter of the legendary off-roader's story. Nissan's local boss is forecasting roughly 8000 sales for the Y62's final year of production – keeping in mind we're one of the last markets still receiving the model – so while it won't set another all-time sales record Down Under, there should be plenty to go round for those who want an example of the final V8 Patrol. The launch of the updated MY25 Patrol also coincides with the introduction Nissan Australia's new 10-year warranty and revised capped-price servicing program, meaning new Patrol owners will receive one of the longest and most comprehensive aftersales support programs out there, with a warranty duration that's double that of Toyota's and Land Rover's. It's a bit old and has its flaws, but if you want a big and capable SUV to cart the family and their friends around, and/or need to tow big loads without compromise – whether it's between capital cities or across the Simpson – the Nissan Patrol is now more modern and tech-laden than it has ever been, and remains great value for money relative to the competition. Interested in buying a Nissan Patrol? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Nissan Patrol Content originally sourced from: Patrol Pros Nissan Patrol Cons There's a newNissan Patrol – well, kind of. Many of you will remember the all-new Y63-generation Patrol was revealed last year to much fanfare, but it won't be available to Aussies until late 2026. So, Nissan Australia has got to work on the venerable Y62 Patrol to keep it fresh for now. The updated MY25 Nissan Patrol range has landed in Australia, packing a substantial set of upgrades despite looking just about identical to the MY24 range on the outside. Yes, it's all about the cabin. The US-market interior of the facelifted Nissan Armada – as the Patrol is badged in North America – has finally made it to Australia's right-hand drive Patrol. That means factory wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a colour driver's information cluster. Rejoice! It also sees the return of a surround-view camera system and availability of Bose premium audio. Smaller changes include new interior trims and upholsteries, and there's a fresh Desert Red Metallic exterior paint option for the Ti and Ti-L. Is this update sufficient enough to keep the Patrol fresh against the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser and other large off-road SUVs until the next-gen model arrives late next year? We joined the local media launch in Victoria to find out. Prices are up across the range, but not by much when you consider the upgrades and added spec levels here. To put things into perspective, the LandCruiser 300 Series starts at $97,990 before on-road costs after recent MY25 running changes – and that's for the cloth-trimmed, steel-wheeled GX range-opener. You could logically cross-shop the Patrol against a number of smaller seven-seat 4WD competitors, too. The top-shelf Ford Everest Platinum is an $81,200 proposition before on-road costs, and the Toyota Prado is priced at $92,700 plus on-roads in Altitude specification, or $99,990 before on-roads in flagship Kakadu trim. At the other end of the spectrum, the only other model in the same official 'Upper Large SUV under $120k' VFACTS sales segment as the Patrol is the Land Rover Discovery, which currently starts from $114,921 before on-roads. And there's also the hardcore Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon, which is only a five-seater and starts from $105,000. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Finally, a modern cabin. For 2025, the Australian-market Patrol gets the heavily revised interior that debuted with the US-market Armada facelift way back in 2021 – leaving our RHD market to the revised exterior with the old interior. Key interior changes now include a new centre stack with a tablet-style 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen running Nissan's current infotainment software, and a new instrument cluster that finally gets a colour supervision display with multiple pages including a digital speedometer readout for the first time. This also sees the wireless smartphone charger get relocated to a shelf hidden within the dashboard, and a revised centre console up front with a new gearshifter, an infotainment controller, and a relocated drive mode selector. New trims and upholsteries have been applied throughout, with eye-catching stitching and quilting details to go with the new woodgrain trim elements. Non-Warrior variants are available with a new Chestnut Brown leather-accented interior. While a lot of these changes have been a long time coming, it's incredible just how much of a difference they make. The interior of the Y62 Patrol – which dates back to early last decade – now feels modern even relative to its much newer competitors. Nissan's display tech is actually quite good in its latest iteration, and the changes also bring back handy features like a surround-view camera with Moving Object Detection, as well as a 13-speaker Bose premium audio system in the Ti-L. Those familiar with the touchscreens in the current X-Trail and Qashqai will find the Patrol's unit near identical. The display offers good resolution and relatively quick load times, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are here and work well too – at least in the case of my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I also like the look and feel of the revised climate control pod, which is higher on the dashboard, and while the glossy bank of switchgear is fingerprint-prone, it's clear and easy to use while also looking attractive. Storage up front is pretty good, with a phone cubby inclusive of wireless charging integrated into the dash, a cooled console box in the Ti-L which is pretty deep, lidded cupholders between the front seats and decent door bins with bottle holders. There's also a big glovebox ahead of the front passenger. Moving into the second row, there's heaps of space for families with two or more children who are likely to grow into lanky teenagers, and they're well catered for with separate climate controls, USB and 12V power outlets, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, as well as bottle holders in the rear doors. Unlike high-spec versions of some rivals, however, there aren't heated rear seats to go with the heated and ventilated units up front, and the small sunroof on the Ti-L doesn't extend past the front row. Kiddies are catered for with ISOFIX anchor points on the outboard rear seats, and there are top-tether points across the backs of all three second-row positions, as well as the driver's side seat in the third row. Speaking of, the Patrol's third row is disappointing given the vehicle's sheer size. The fixed second-row seat bases don't allow you to open up much legroom, and the floor is very high – it's remains very much a kids-only area. Nissan doesn't quote an official boot capacity for the Patrol range, but we can attest to its sheer size with the third row folded, as well as the second. It's a long, tall and wide load bay, though the rear rows of seating don't quite fold flat. There's a full-size spare wheel mounted under the rear of the vehicle, like all proper off-roaders should have . *Boot capacity not quoted by Nissan Australia To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Patrol retains its lusty naturally aspirated V8 for now, at least until the Y63 generation introduces a new twin-turbo petrol V6 in its place. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Since most of the real updates have been made on the inside, nothing about the Patrol's on-road behaviour has changed. It's still a rumbling V8 beast, and it's still massive. Surprisingly, it's actually not bad to drive over a decade after its release, and its revamped cabin makes it an even nicer place to spend time in on the open road. We drove all variants at the launch, though we spent the most time in the high-spec Ti-L and the hardcore Warrior, including both on road and off. The 5.6-litre bent eight is a gem, for both its still-beefy outputs as well as its silky smooth and brassy delivery. There's plenty of punch down low yet it loves to rev, and when you oblige it makes a lovely sound – amplified further in the freer-breathing Warrior with its side-exit exhaust outlets, which aren't too far from your right ear. Despite its age and lack of air suspension or adjustable damping, the Patrol rides with aplomb and gives off a 'King of the Road' kinda feel behind the wheel. It's like driving a leather- and wood-lined palace on wheels. General refinement is also very good, with impressive levels of insulation from road and wind noise. The Warrior transmits a little more tyre noise into the cabin with its chunkier all-terrain rubber, but it's far from unrefined. That tall, sure-footed and traditional off-road SUV feel also translates to handling, which is fine for the Patrol's size and age, but falls short of more road-focused large and upper larger SUVs. However, the locally developed Warrior's tweaked Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) system, which comprises cross-wheel fluid lines instead of anti-roll bars, does do a great job of minimising body roll and maximising road holding. Steering feel is quite light and almost vague, but actual steering response from the front-end is relatively direct and quick for a vehicle this size. Ladder-frame rivals like the LandCruiser 300 Series have more direct steering, and road-biased large SUVs like the Hyundai Palisade and Audi Q7 feel infinitely more car-like by comparison. But they won't go off-road like the Patrol can. Speaking of, we also took the Patrol off the bitumen and through a series of off-road obstacles at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) proving ground near Anglesea on Victoria's surf coast, where the Patrol impressed as much as it always has. Plenty of ground clearance (273mm for the Ti-L; 323mm for the Warrior) and equally generous approach and departure angles (no breakover angle is quoted) despite the Ti-L's less off-road friendly "premium bumper", plus a highly capable four-wheel drive system with low-range transfer case make this big and heavy SUV quite the off-road monster. Obstacles included moguls, muddy ruts, hill climbs, and even a 600mm 'bomb hole' water crossing. The Patrol barely broke a sweat on any of the challenges – though the Ti-L's side steps did touch down but only with wrong approach. None of this is news though, given the trusty Y62 formula hasn't changed – at least mechanically – for over a decade. Despite the tech changes, perhaps the Y62 Patrol's biggest shortfall alongside competitors is its driver assistance suite, which isn't as sophisticated as something like a LandCruiser 300 or Discovery. The adaptive cruise works okay, and now there's an actual readout for the set speed via the new colour supervision cluster. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert also work fine, but the lane support systems (departure and assist) feel underdone and don't do much to keep this big beast from drifting across lines. The surround-view camera is fine without having the best resolution, but it's good to see it return after the local infotainment solution for MY24 saw it removed from the local spec. Moving Object Detection, which is effectively blind-spot monitoring for carparks when the camera is activated, also is handy to have. Nissan also fits a high-definition digital rear-view mirror to the Patrol Ti-L, which while good in concept when the car is full of people and stuff, has limited range of view given the Patrol's height and running clearance. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The three-grade Patrol lineup remains the same for MY25, with some specification changes. 2025 Nissan Patrol Ti equipment highlights: Patrol Ti-L adds: Patrol Warrior adds – over Ti: To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The current Nissan Patrol has never been tested by safety authority ANCAP. Standard safety equipment includes: To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The MY25 Nissan Patrol is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to up to 10 years or 300,000km (whichever comes first) provided the vehicle is serviced on time by a Nissan dealer. Nissan offers capped prices for the first five services, setting buyers back $499 each or $2495 across the term. This is a reduction on the previous $3019 cost for the first five services. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool This old dog has some new tricks up its sleeve. The fresh interior goes a long way to bridging the gap between Patrol generations, and keeps the Y62 modern enough for the next 18 months while we wait for the next chapter of the legendary off-roader's story. Nissan's local boss is forecasting roughly 8000 sales for the Y62's final year of production – keeping in mind we're one of the last markets still receiving the model – so while it won't set another all-time sales record Down Under, there should be plenty to go round for those who want an example of the final V8 Patrol. The launch of the updated MY25 Patrol also coincides with the introduction Nissan Australia's new 10-year warranty and revised capped-price servicing program, meaning new Patrol owners will receive one of the longest and most comprehensive aftersales support programs out there, with a warranty duration that's double that of Toyota's and Land Rover's. It's a bit old and has its flaws, but if you want a big and capable SUV to cart the family and their friends around, and/or need to tow big loads without compromise – whether it's between capital cities or across the Simpson – the Nissan Patrol is now more modern and tech-laden than it has ever been, and remains great value for money relative to the competition. Interested in buying a Nissan Patrol? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Nissan Patrol Content originally sourced from: Patrol Pros Nissan Patrol Cons There's a newNissan Patrol – well, kind of. Many of you will remember the all-new Y63-generation Patrol was revealed last year to much fanfare, but it won't be available to Aussies until late 2026. So, Nissan Australia has got to work on the venerable Y62 Patrol to keep it fresh for now. The updated MY25 Nissan Patrol range has landed in Australia, packing a substantial set of upgrades despite looking just about identical to the MY24 range on the outside. Yes, it's all about the cabin. The US-market interior of the facelifted Nissan Armada – as the Patrol is badged in North America – has finally made it to Australia's right-hand drive Patrol. That means factory wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a colour driver's information cluster. Rejoice! It also sees the return of a surround-view camera system and availability of Bose premium audio. Smaller changes include new interior trims and upholsteries, and there's a fresh Desert Red Metallic exterior paint option for the Ti and Ti-L. Is this update sufficient enough to keep the Patrol fresh against the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser and other large off-road SUVs until the next-gen model arrives late next year? We joined the local media launch in Victoria to find out. Prices are up across the range, but not by much when you consider the upgrades and added spec levels here. To put things into perspective, the LandCruiser 300 Series starts at $97,990 before on-road costs after recent MY25 running changes – and that's for the cloth-trimmed, steel-wheeled GX range-opener. You could logically cross-shop the Patrol against a number of smaller seven-seat 4WD competitors, too. The top-shelf Ford Everest Platinum is an $81,200 proposition before on-road costs, and the Toyota Prado is priced at $92,700 plus on-roads in Altitude specification, or $99,990 before on-roads in flagship Kakadu trim. At the other end of the spectrum, the only other model in the same official 'Upper Large SUV under $120k' VFACTS sales segment as the Patrol is the Land Rover Discovery, which currently starts from $114,921 before on-roads. And there's also the hardcore Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon, which is only a five-seater and starts from $105,000. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Finally, a modern cabin. For 2025, the Australian-market Patrol gets the heavily revised interior that debuted with the US-market Armada facelift way back in 2021 – leaving our RHD market to the revised exterior with the old interior. Key interior changes now include a new centre stack with a tablet-style 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen running Nissan's current infotainment software, and a new instrument cluster that finally gets a colour supervision display with multiple pages including a digital speedometer readout for the first time. This also sees the wireless smartphone charger get relocated to a shelf hidden within the dashboard, and a revised centre console up front with a new gearshifter, an infotainment controller, and a relocated drive mode selector. New trims and upholsteries have been applied throughout, with eye-catching stitching and quilting details to go with the new woodgrain trim elements. Non-Warrior variants are available with a new Chestnut Brown leather-accented interior. While a lot of these changes have been a long time coming, it's incredible just how much of a difference they make. The interior of the Y62 Patrol – which dates back to early last decade – now feels modern even relative to its much newer competitors. Nissan's display tech is actually quite good in its latest iteration, and the changes also bring back handy features like a surround-view camera with Moving Object Detection, as well as a 13-speaker Bose premium audio system in the Ti-L. Those familiar with the touchscreens in the current X-Trail and Qashqai will find the Patrol's unit near identical. The display offers good resolution and relatively quick load times, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are here and work well too – at least in the case of my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I also like the look and feel of the revised climate control pod, which is higher on the dashboard, and while the glossy bank of switchgear is fingerprint-prone, it's clear and easy to use while also looking attractive. Storage up front is pretty good, with a phone cubby inclusive of wireless charging integrated into the dash, a cooled console box in the Ti-L which is pretty deep, lidded cupholders between the front seats and decent door bins with bottle holders. There's also a big glovebox ahead of the front passenger. Moving into the second row, there's heaps of space for families with two or more children who are likely to grow into lanky teenagers, and they're well catered for with separate climate controls, USB and 12V power outlets, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, as well as bottle holders in the rear doors. Unlike high-spec versions of some rivals, however, there aren't heated rear seats to go with the heated and ventilated units up front, and the small sunroof on the Ti-L doesn't extend past the front row. Kiddies are catered for with ISOFIX anchor points on the outboard rear seats, and there are top-tether points across the backs of all three second-row positions, as well as the driver's side seat in the third row. Speaking of, the Patrol's third row is disappointing given the vehicle's sheer size. The fixed second-row seat bases don't allow you to open up much legroom, and the floor is very high – it's remains very much a kids-only area. Nissan doesn't quote an official boot capacity for the Patrol range, but we can attest to its sheer size with the third row folded, as well as the second. It's a long, tall and wide load bay, though the rear rows of seating don't quite fold flat. There's a full-size spare wheel mounted under the rear of the vehicle, like all proper off-roaders should have . *Boot capacity not quoted by Nissan Australia To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Patrol retains its lusty naturally aspirated V8 for now, at least until the Y63 generation introduces a new twin-turbo petrol V6 in its place. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Since most of the real updates have been made on the inside, nothing about the Patrol's on-road behaviour has changed. It's still a rumbling V8 beast, and it's still massive. Surprisingly, it's actually not bad to drive over a decade after its release, and its revamped cabin makes it an even nicer place to spend time in on the open road. We drove all variants at the launch, though we spent the most time in the high-spec Ti-L and the hardcore Warrior, including both on road and off. The 5.6-litre bent eight is a gem, for both its still-beefy outputs as well as its silky smooth and brassy delivery. There's plenty of punch down low yet it loves to rev, and when you oblige it makes a lovely sound – amplified further in the freer-breathing Warrior with its side-exit exhaust outlets, which aren't too far from your right ear. Despite its age and lack of air suspension or adjustable damping, the Patrol rides with aplomb and gives off a 'King of the Road' kinda feel behind the wheel. It's like driving a leather- and wood-lined palace on wheels. General refinement is also very good, with impressive levels of insulation from road and wind noise. The Warrior transmits a little more tyre noise into the cabin with its chunkier all-terrain rubber, but it's far from unrefined. That tall, sure-footed and traditional off-road SUV feel also translates to handling, which is fine for the Patrol's size and age, but falls short of more road-focused large and upper larger SUVs. However, the locally developed Warrior's tweaked Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) system, which comprises cross-wheel fluid lines instead of anti-roll bars, does do a great job of minimising body roll and maximising road holding. Steering feel is quite light and almost vague, but actual steering response from the front-end is relatively direct and quick for a vehicle this size. Ladder-frame rivals like the LandCruiser 300 Series have more direct steering, and road-biased large SUVs like the Hyundai Palisade and Audi Q7 feel infinitely more car-like by comparison. But they won't go off-road like the Patrol can. Speaking of, we also took the Patrol off the bitumen and through a series of off-road obstacles at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) proving ground near Anglesea on Victoria's surf coast, where the Patrol impressed as much as it always has. Plenty of ground clearance (273mm for the Ti-L; 323mm for the Warrior) and equally generous approach and departure angles (no breakover angle is quoted) despite the Ti-L's less off-road friendly "premium bumper", plus a highly capable four-wheel drive system with low-range transfer case make this big and heavy SUV quite the off-road monster. Obstacles included moguls, muddy ruts, hill climbs, and even a 600mm 'bomb hole' water crossing. The Patrol barely broke a sweat on any of the challenges – though the Ti-L's side steps did touch down but only with wrong approach. None of this is news though, given the trusty Y62 formula hasn't changed – at least mechanically – for over a decade. Despite the tech changes, perhaps the Y62 Patrol's biggest shortfall alongside competitors is its driver assistance suite, which isn't as sophisticated as something like a LandCruiser 300 or Discovery. The adaptive cruise works okay, and now there's an actual readout for the set speed via the new colour supervision cluster. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert also work fine, but the lane support systems (departure and assist) feel underdone and don't do much to keep this big beast from drifting across lines. The surround-view camera is fine without having the best resolution, but it's good to see it return after the local infotainment solution for MY24 saw it removed from the local spec. Moving Object Detection, which is effectively blind-spot monitoring for carparks when the camera is activated, also is handy to have. Nissan also fits a high-definition digital rear-view mirror to the Patrol Ti-L, which while good in concept when the car is full of people and stuff, has limited range of view given the Patrol's height and running clearance. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The three-grade Patrol lineup remains the same for MY25, with some specification changes. 2025 Nissan Patrol Ti equipment highlights: Patrol Ti-L adds: Patrol Warrior adds – over Ti: To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The current Nissan Patrol has never been tested by safety authority ANCAP. Standard safety equipment includes: To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The MY25 Nissan Patrol is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to up to 10 years or 300,000km (whichever comes first) provided the vehicle is serviced on time by a Nissan dealer. Nissan offers capped prices for the first five services, setting buyers back $499 each or $2495 across the term. This is a reduction on the previous $3019 cost for the first five services. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool This old dog has some new tricks up its sleeve. The fresh interior goes a long way to bridging the gap between Patrol generations, and keeps the Y62 modern enough for the next 18 months while we wait for the next chapter of the legendary off-roader's story. Nissan's local boss is forecasting roughly 8000 sales for the Y62's final year of production – keeping in mind we're one of the last markets still receiving the model – so while it won't set another all-time sales record Down Under, there should be plenty to go round for those who want an example of the final V8 Patrol. The launch of the updated MY25 Patrol also coincides with the introduction Nissan Australia's new 10-year warranty and revised capped-price servicing program, meaning new Patrol owners will receive one of the longest and most comprehensive aftersales support programs out there, with a warranty duration that's double that of Toyota's and Land Rover's. It's a bit old and has its flaws, but if you want a big and capable SUV to cart the family and their friends around, and/or need to tow big loads without compromise – whether it's between capital cities or across the Simpson – the Nissan Patrol is now more modern and tech-laden than it has ever been, and remains great value for money relative to the competition. Interested in buying a Nissan Patrol? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Nissan Patrol Content originally sourced from: Patrol Pros Nissan Patrol Cons There's a newNissan Patrol – well, kind of. Many of you will remember the all-new Y63-generation Patrol was revealed last year to much fanfare, but it won't be available to Aussies until late 2026. So, Nissan Australia has got to work on the venerable Y62 Patrol to keep it fresh for now. The updated MY25 Nissan Patrol range has landed in Australia, packing a substantial set of upgrades despite looking just about identical to the MY24 range on the outside. Yes, it's all about the cabin. The US-market interior of the facelifted Nissan Armada – as the Patrol is badged in North America – has finally made it to Australia's right-hand drive Patrol. That means factory wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a colour driver's information cluster. Rejoice! It also sees the return of a surround-view camera system and availability of Bose premium audio. Smaller changes include new interior trims and upholsteries, and there's a fresh Desert Red Metallic exterior paint option for the Ti and Ti-L. Is this update sufficient enough to keep the Patrol fresh against the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser and other large off-road SUVs until the next-gen model arrives late next year? We joined the local media launch in Victoria to find out. Prices are up across the range, but not by much when you consider the upgrades and added spec levels here. To put things into perspective, the LandCruiser 300 Series starts at $97,990 before on-road costs after recent MY25 running changes – and that's for the cloth-trimmed, steel-wheeled GX range-opener. You could logically cross-shop the Patrol against a number of smaller seven-seat 4WD competitors, too. The top-shelf Ford Everest Platinum is an $81,200 proposition before on-road costs, and the Toyota Prado is priced at $92,700 plus on-roads in Altitude specification, or $99,990 before on-roads in flagship Kakadu trim. At the other end of the spectrum, the only other model in the same official 'Upper Large SUV under $120k' VFACTS sales segment as the Patrol is the Land Rover Discovery, which currently starts from $114,921 before on-roads. And there's also the hardcore Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon, which is only a five-seater and starts from $105,000. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Finally, a modern cabin. For 2025, the Australian-market Patrol gets the heavily revised interior that debuted with the US-market Armada facelift way back in 2021 – leaving our RHD market to the revised exterior with the old interior. Key interior changes now include a new centre stack with a tablet-style 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen running Nissan's current infotainment software, and a new instrument cluster that finally gets a colour supervision display with multiple pages including a digital speedometer readout for the first time. This also sees the wireless smartphone charger get relocated to a shelf hidden within the dashboard, and a revised centre console up front with a new gearshifter, an infotainment controller, and a relocated drive mode selector. New trims and upholsteries have been applied throughout, with eye-catching stitching and quilting details to go with the new woodgrain trim elements. Non-Warrior variants are available with a new Chestnut Brown leather-accented interior. While a lot of these changes have been a long time coming, it's incredible just how much of a difference they make. The interior of the Y62 Patrol – which dates back to early last decade – now feels modern even relative to its much newer competitors. Nissan's display tech is actually quite good in its latest iteration, and the changes also bring back handy features like a surround-view camera with Moving Object Detection, as well as a 13-speaker Bose premium audio system in the Ti-L. Those familiar with the touchscreens in the current X-Trail and Qashqai will find the Patrol's unit near identical. The display offers good resolution and relatively quick load times, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are here and work well too – at least in the case of my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I also like the look and feel of the revised climate control pod, which is higher on the dashboard, and while the glossy bank of switchgear is fingerprint-prone, it's clear and easy to use while also looking attractive. Storage up front is pretty good, with a phone cubby inclusive of wireless charging integrated into the dash, a cooled console box in the Ti-L which is pretty deep, lidded cupholders between the front seats and decent door bins with bottle holders. There's also a big glovebox ahead of the front passenger. Moving into the second row, there's heaps of space for families with two or more children who are likely to grow into lanky teenagers, and they're well catered for with separate climate controls, USB and 12V power outlets, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, as well as bottle holders in the rear doors. Unlike high-spec versions of some rivals, however, there aren't heated rear seats to go with the heated and ventilated units up front, and the small sunroof on the Ti-L doesn't extend past the front row. Kiddies are catered for with ISOFIX anchor points on the outboard rear seats, and there are top-tether points across the backs of all three second-row positions, as well as the driver's side seat in the third row. Speaking of, the Patrol's third row is disappointing given the vehicle's sheer size. The fixed second-row seat bases don't allow you to open up much legroom, and the floor is very high – it's remains very much a kids-only area. Nissan doesn't quote an official boot capacity for the Patrol range, but we can attest to its sheer size with the third row folded, as well as the second. It's a long, tall and wide load bay, though the rear rows of seating don't quite fold flat. There's a full-size spare wheel mounted under the rear of the vehicle, like all proper off-roaders should have . *Boot capacity not quoted by Nissan Australia To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Patrol retains its lusty naturally aspirated V8 for now, at least until the Y63 generation introduces a new twin-turbo petrol V6 in its place. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Since most of the real updates have been made on the inside, nothing about the Patrol's on-road behaviour has changed. It's still a rumbling V8 beast, and it's still massive. Surprisingly, it's actually not bad to drive over a decade after its release, and its revamped cabin makes it an even nicer place to spend time in on the open road. We drove all variants at the launch, though we spent the most time in the high-spec Ti-L and the hardcore Warrior, including both on road and off. The 5.6-litre bent eight is a gem, for both its still-beefy outputs as well as its silky smooth and brassy delivery. There's plenty of punch down low yet it loves to rev, and when you oblige it makes a lovely sound – amplified further in the freer-breathing Warrior with its side-exit exhaust outlets, which aren't too far from your right ear. Despite its age and lack of air suspension or adjustable damping, the Patrol rides with aplomb and gives off a 'King of the Road' kinda feel behind the wheel. It's like driving a leather- and wood-lined palace on wheels. General refinement is also very good, with impressive levels of insulation from road and wind noise. The Warrior transmits a little more tyre noise into the cabin with its chunkier all-terrain rubber, but it's far from unrefined. That tall, sure-footed and traditional off-road SUV feel also translates to handling, which is fine for the Patrol's size and age, but falls short of more road-focused large and upper larger SUVs. However, the locally developed Warrior's tweaked Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) system, which comprises cross-wheel fluid lines instead of anti-roll bars, does do a great job of minimising body roll and maximising road holding. Steering feel is quite light and almost vague, but actual steering response from the front-end is relatively direct and quick for a vehicle this size. Ladder-frame rivals like the LandCruiser 300 Series have more direct steering, and road-biased large SUVs like the Hyundai Palisade and Audi Q7 feel infinitely more car-like by comparison. But they won't go off-road like the Patrol can. Speaking of, we also took the Patrol off the bitumen and through a series of off-road obstacles at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) proving ground near Anglesea on Victoria's surf coast, where the Patrol impressed as much as it always has. Plenty of ground clearance (273mm for the Ti-L; 323mm for the Warrior) and equally generous approach and departure angles (no breakover angle is quoted) despite the Ti-L's less off-road friendly "premium bumper", plus a highly capable four-wheel drive system with low-range transfer case make this big and heavy SUV quite the off-road monster. Obstacles included moguls, muddy ruts, hill climbs, and even a 600mm 'bomb hole' water crossing. The Patrol barely broke a sweat on any of the challenges – though the Ti-L's side steps did touch down but only with wrong approach. None of this is news though, given the trusty Y62 formula hasn't changed – at least mechanically – for over a decade. Despite the tech changes, perhaps the Y62 Patrol's biggest shortfall alongside competitors is its driver assistance suite, which isn't as sophisticated as something like a LandCruiser 300 or Discovery. The adaptive cruise works okay, and now there's an actual readout for the set speed via the new colour supervision cluster. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert also work fine, but the lane support systems (departure and assist) feel underdone and don't do much to keep this big beast from drifting across lines. The surround-view camera is fine without having the best resolution, but it's good to see it return after the local infotainment solution for MY24 saw it removed from the local spec. Moving Object Detection, which is effectively blind-spot monitoring for carparks when the camera is activated, also is handy to have. Nissan also fits a high-definition digital rear-view mirror to the Patrol Ti-L, which while good in concept when the car is full of people and stuff, has limited range of view given the Patrol's height and running clearance. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The three-grade Patrol lineup remains the same for MY25, with some specification changes. 2025 Nissan Patrol Ti equipment highlights: Patrol Ti-L adds: Patrol Warrior adds – over Ti: To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The current Nissan Patrol has never been tested by safety authority ANCAP. Standard safety equipment includes: To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The MY25 Nissan Patrol is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to up to 10 years or 300,000km (whichever comes first) provided the vehicle is serviced on time by a Nissan dealer. Nissan offers capped prices for the first five services, setting buyers back $499 each or $2495 across the term. This is a reduction on the previous $3019 cost for the first five services. To see how the Nissan Patrol lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool This old dog has some new tricks up its sleeve. The fresh interior goes a long way to bridging the gap between Patrol generations, and keeps the Y62 modern enough for the next 18 months while we wait for the next chapter of the legendary off-roader's story. Nissan's local boss is forecasting roughly 8000 sales for the Y62's final year of production – keeping in mind we're one of the last markets still receiving the model – so while it won't set another all-time sales record Down Under, there should be plenty to go round for those who want an example of the final V8 Patrol. The launch of the updated MY25 Patrol also coincides with the introduction Nissan Australia's new 10-year warranty and revised capped-price servicing program, meaning new Patrol owners will receive one of the longest and most comprehensive aftersales support programs out there, with a warranty duration that's double that of Toyota's and Land Rover's. It's a bit old and has its flaws, but if you want a big and capable SUV to cart the family and their friends around, and/or need to tow big loads without compromise – whether it's between capital cities or across the Simpson – the Nissan Patrol is now more modern and tech-laden than it has ever been, and remains great value for money relative to the competition. Interested in buying a Nissan Patrol? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Nissan Patrol Content originally sourced from:
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Donald Trump warns Apple about ‘Make in India', will Tim Cook-led iPhone maker listen?
Tim Cook had said that Apple plans to source most US-market iPhones from India during the June quarter. (AI image) US President Donald Trump doesn't want Apple to expand manufacturing in India, but will the Tim-Cook led tech giant listen? Apple reportedly remains committed to its investment strategy in India. Apple has plans to establish a significant manufacturing presence in the country, according to government officials quoted by PTI. Following Trump's comments about telling Apple CEO Tim Cook to reduce manufacturing operations in India, government officials engaged in discussions with representatives from the Cupertino-based technology company. According to the PTI report, during these discussions, Apple executives confirmed to Indian government officials that their investment plans remain unchanged, with India continuing to be a crucial manufacturing destination for their products. "Apple has said that its investment plans in India are intact and it proposes to continue to have India as a major manufacturing base for its products," the source was quoted as saying. What did Donald Trump say to Tim Cook about India? Earlier in the day, Trump revealed his conversation with Cook, stating he had asked Apple to increase manufacturing in the United States and not India. President Trump warns Apple, claims India has offered a deal with "no-tariffs" "We have Apple, as you know, it's coming in. And I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ótimas notícias para os cidadãos brasileiros! Leia mais Undo I said to him, Tim, you're my friend. I treated you very well. You're coming in with $500 billion. But now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India. You can build in India if you want to take care of India," Trump said. Trump also commented on India's high tariff structure, noting the difficulties in selling products in the Indian market. Trump said that India proposed a zero-tariff arrangement, contrasting with previous high tariffs that he said hindered business operations. He mentioned his conversation with Tim, acknowledging Apple's past manufacturing in China whilst emphasising the need for US-based production. Also Read | Donald Trump says India has offered a trade deal with 'literally no tariffs' Apple's India Plans A few weeks ago, Tim Cook had said that Apple plans to source most US-market iPhones from India during the June quarter, whilst Chinese facilities will produce devices for other markets, considering potential tax tariff uncertainties. Official sources indicate that India contributes 15 per cent of global iPhone production. The manufacturing operations involve Foxconn, Tata Electronics and Pegatron India (with Tata Electronics holding majority ownership). Additionally, Foxconn has commenced production of Apple Airpods in Telangana for export markets. S&P Global's analysis reveals that US iPhone sales reached 75.9 million units in 2024, whilst India's exports stood at 3.1 million units in March, indicating a requirement to enhance shipments through additional capacity or reallocation of domestic market-bound deliveries. Also Read | Tata Electronics looks to double Apple iPhones enclosures production in India to one lakh "Apple's Indian exports already headed predominantly to the United States, which represented 81.9 per cent of phones exported by the firm in the three months to February 28, 2025. That increased to 97.6 per cent in March 2025 as a result of a 219 per cent jump in exports, likely reflecting the firm looking to preempt higher tariffs," according to the S&P Global Market Intelligence report. In April, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that India's iPhone exports amounted to Rs 1.5 lakh crore during fiscal year 2025. The Apple ecosystem stands as a significant employment generator in India, with approximately 2 lakh individuals working across various vendor operations throughout the country. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Telegraph
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Approving US-made cars would make UK roads less safe
New cars sold in Britain could become less safe if America gets its way in ongoing US-EU trade talks. Currently there's a chasm in safety standards between US-market vehicles and those approved for sale in Europe, which Britain is still aligned to for safety legislation. Although there's not currently much of an appetite for American-made cars in Britain, the US wants its vehicles to be declared 'equivalent' to ours in safety terms – despite them falling way short. Why is the safety of US-market cars an issue? Following President Donald Trump's directive that America should sell more cars abroad, the US and EU are currently in negotiations. The US believes the EU's stricter vehicle safety rules are simply a form of trade protectionism. US ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland said: 'If we sell you a vegetable or a car or a product, if it's safe to use in the US it should be deemed safe to use in the EU.' Are US vehicles safe? 'When it comes to protecting pedestrians and everyone else outside of vehicles, the gap between crash standards in the US and Europe is an ocean wide,' James Nix, vehicles policy manager for pressure group Transport & Environment (T&E) said. Dudley Curtis from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) added: 'One long-standing issue is the design of the front end of vehicles. In America you don't have a pedestrian protection requirement. We've had these since 2003.' What safety equipment do US cars lack? There's a host of safety equipment we take for granted that isn't compulsory on US-market cars. At the very basic level, seatbelt reminders have been compulsory in cars sold in Europe since 2019. In the US, they are only required for the driver's seat. The Biden administration wanted them all-round in 2026-27 but experts think that's now unlikely to happen. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) has been hailed as the greatest safety advance since the seatbelt as it slows a car automatically if it detects an impending impact. Since 2022 it must be fitted to every new car sold in the EU (and the UK). The US was due to make it compulsory in 2029 but the ETSC says the Trump government has suspended that. Cars sold this side of the Atlantic since 2022 must also have intelligent speed adaptation. This uses cameras and GPS to encourage drivers to stick to speed limits. Again, it's not compulsory in the US. Neither is fatigue monitoring or emergency calling, which enables the car to automatically summon assistance if it detects a possible driver-incapacitating accident. Then there are the things we don't see. To get the top five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, vehicles sold in the EU must pass stringent tests for the protection of occupants in frontal and side-impact collisions, whiplash prevention and safety assist features, as well as pedestrian safety. Equivalent testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US isn't as rigorous. 'For example, they don't use the latest [more sophisticated] generation of crash test dummies,' the director-general of Europe for the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), Laurianne Krid, pointed out. What is the problem with selling US-market vehicles here? As we've seen, simply saying a US car is as safe as a European one doesn't make it so. James Nix from T&E said: 'Particularly since the 2000s, Europe has made significant vehicle safety improvements that simply weren't mirrored in the US.' To maintain this improved safety standard, all manufacturers – whether from Europe, Korea, Japan, China or the US – must currently seek European type approval for their cars to sell them in large volumes here. There are concerns that giving in to the US would set a precedent for other countries. The ETSC's Curtis explained: 'We want to send a very clear message that this is a bad idea and will be a big mistake. We don't want to see the EU's world-leading vehicle safety standards undermined, because it's hard to see how that doesn't then undermine the whole system.' If the US gets its way, we might also see an influx of much larger vehicles. The FIA's Krid said: 'Most of the crash tests we do don't test the compatibility of smaller vehicles with much larger ones. Having larger vehicles coming to Europe isn't going to be great for road safety in general.' There's also the impact on infrastructure. Krid added: 'We do know the heavier the vehicles and the fewer the axles that weight is put on, the more damage there is to the infrastructure. So bringing in larger vehicles will have an impact on roads.' And the last thing we need is more potholes. Why aren't US vehicles as safe? Of course some US-made vehicles such as Teslas meet European type approval requirements, but they are the exception rather than the rule. The ETSC's Curtis explained: 'The US and Europe have two different regulatory systems. In the US, there's manufacturer self-certification before a car can be sold. Then there's a robust enforcement system run by [the] NHTSA. 'The European type approval system independently checks components, systems and the whole vehicle before it's allowed to be sold.' The result is that US roads are significantly less safe than Europe's. The ETSC says that since 2013, road deaths in the EU have decreased by 16 per cent. In the US over the same period, they have increased by 25 per cent. How likely is equivalency to happen? With the Trump government nothing is off the table. 'It's hard to second guess what the US strategy is,' said Curtis. The concern is it could be the thin end of a wedge that will see larger US vehicles coming in through a back door. Currently, if you want to fizz around Fulham in a monster Ford F-Series pick-up, you can buy one via the individual vehicle approval (IVA) loophole. Sales of giant Chevrolet Silverados sold in Europe through IVA went up by 513 per cent between 2022 and 2023. Safety experts want the IVA loophole closed. Krid warned: 'There is a genuine risk that some vehicles [deemed unsafe in Europe] might come through. That's what happens in negotiations. We want to limit the loopholes or whatever might arise from the trade agreement.' One thing is for sure, there are multiple reasons we should all be concerned about the prospect of car safety standards being diluted.
Bloomberg
24-03-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
What the War on Japan's Kei Trucks Says About US Road Safety
Built for the Japanese market, kei trucks have amassed a following of enthusiasts in the US, particularly among car buyers who want pickup trucks that fit the urban environment. They weigh a fraction of what a full-size US-market truck weighs, but boast similarly sized cargo beds. At a mere 11 feet long, they're also easier to maneuver in tight spaces. But owning a kei truck in the US often means jumping through regulatory hoops, as contributor Dan Albert learned after buying a 25-year-old Honda Acty from Japan. Many state departments of motor vehicles deem the mini trucks too unsafe for US streets, due to their inability to protect passengers in the event of a collision with a typical two- or three-ton vehicle. As Albert argues, though, that says less about kei trucks — which score well on crash tests in Japan — and more about US vehicle safety standards, which have helped make roads more dangerous. Today on CityLab: Why Did the Government Declare War on My Adorable Tiny Truck?
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Final-Generation Toyota Starlet Is Down on the Tokyo Street
Though there are some notable exceptions, most of the vehicles you'll see on the streets of Japan will be less than 15 years old. Older cars that were cheap when new are especially rare, which is why today's late-1990s Down on the Street machine caught my eye as I traveled to Akihabara to check out the stunning scale-model selection at Yodobashi Camera. We only got the Starlet in the United States for its second generation, which had rear-wheel-drive and was sold here (only in three-door hatchback form) for just the 1981 through 1984 model years. From 1987 until 1998, the US-market Tercel was built on chassis derived from the next few generations of front-wheel-drive Starlet. That's about the extent of our Starlet experience. In its homeland, though, the Starlet was a strong seller for nearly three decades. Some of the best JDM car commercials ever made were for the Starlet. This one, for example. In fact, home-market Starlet ads got more frantic with each passing year. This one is my personal favorite. The final generation of Starlet was built for the 1996 through 1999 model years. It was available only as a hatchback, with three or five doors. I'm told by a Japanese Starlet racer that the 1996-1999 Starlet five-door is a very rare automobile, because most buyers took the cheaper three-door. The owner has a parking spot sized perfectly for this car, though it appears that the location on a busy alleyway has resulted in some right-side body scrapes. The characters at the upper left of the license plate indicate that this car is registered in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo. This would be a useful commuter machine for the narrow, crowded streets of Tokyo. It's battered enough so that a few more scrapes won't show, yet still benefits from Toyota reliability and ease of parts obtainment. It's a little bigger than a kei car, but it also has enough power to make long highway drives low-stress. The Starlet was replaced by the Vitz, which we know as the Echo and Yaris.
