Nissan Patrol’s V8 Era Ends as Y62 Production Wraps

There’s a peculiar sound disappearing from Australian highways. Deep, steady, unmistakable. The naturally aspirated V8 that has long defined the Nissan Patrol’s character is being retired as the Y62 prepares to leave production in August 2026.

For many owners the V8 was more than power; it was personality. It gave the body-on-frame Patrol a muscular, old-school charm in a market that has steadily drifted toward turbocharged six-cylinder engines and electrified assistance. Nissan will replace that soundtrack with a twin-turbo V6 when the next-generation Y63 arrives.

The Y62’s final shipments are due to land in Australia in September or October 2026, and Nissan will not mark the occasion with a farewell special edition.

How the Patrol changed—and what’s next

Introduced to Australia in 2013, the Y62 has been a familiar sight: hydraulic Body Motion Control, a fully independent suspension setup, and an old-school 5.6-liter V8 that punches out about 298 kilowatts, or roughly 400 horsepower, and 560 Newton-meters of torque. Properly equipped, it tows up to 3,500 kilograms. Rugged and refined, it blurred the line between workhorse and luxury SUV.

Local modifier Premcar, the outfit behind the Patrol Warrior, has been part of the story too. Their conversions add higher ride height, re-tuned suspension, chunky off-road tires, bespoke wheels, and visual cues that emphasize the Patrol’s go-anywhere ability. Those conversions will wind down after Nissan stops Y62 production.

The replacement is already known overseas as the Y63—sold in some markets under the Armada name—and it charts a different course. A 3.5-liter V6 with twin turbochargers replaces the free-breathing V8. Outputs climb dramatically in performance variants: the Patrol NISMO, in left-hand-drive markets, is rated at up to 495 horsepower and around 700 Newton-meters.

The V6 joins a nine-speed automatic transmission that traces its roots to Mercedes-Benz. The tune is meant to deliver strong low-end torque and better efficiency than the old V8. Purists will grieve. But for most buyers, the swap represents a meaningful gain in performance and compliance with tightening emissions rules.

Right-hand-drive prototypes of the Y63 have been seen undergoing local validation testing, including caravan towing trials. Nissan plans to finalize specifications, fuel economy figures, and pricing nearer the model’s rollout later this year.

Whether you mourn the V8 or welcome the V6, the practical facts matter: the Y62 leaves behind a legacy of durability, a 300,000-kilometre/10-year warranty in some markets, and a platform that balanced serious towing with surprising refinement. The Warrior conversions will remain as testament to how adaptable the Patrol architecture proved to be.

The Patrol’s voice is changing. That voice will still be loud. It will just be different.