Nissan India may launch petrol SUV by 2026
Nissan recently underwent a full-generation change for its flagship SUV Patrol globally. Now, the flagship SUV Patrol is rumoured to arrive in India in 2026. The SUV is expected to come as a fully imported unit to serve as a halo model in India.
The Patrol is currently available for sale only in left-hand drive markets, while the right-hand drive versions are set to arrive a little later. The company may be aiming to enhance its brand image with the launch of the Patrol in India. The robust body-on-frame Patrol has good popularity in the global market as an indestructible model over its six generations.
The Nissan Patrol is expected to get a better response for the company than the earlier fully imported X-Trail as it is an all-new model and has all the latest features along with attractive looks. Upon launch, it will rival the Toyota LC300 and Land Cruiser.
This will be the second time rumours of the company launching the Patrol in India have surfaced online. In 2020, the brand was considering launching the previous-generation Patrol (Y62) in India, right around the time it was preparing to introduce the Magnite. It also held several customer clinics for the SUV, but the product was not launched.
However, this time the rumours could be true as the company is slowly introducing the new Patrol in its existing markets. Although, it is only available in left-hand drive markets, the company could introduce a RHD version as there is a growing demand for the new SUV from markets like Australia, South Africa and Japan. It is expected to be launched internationally by 2026.
The Nissan Patrol is currently available in two petrol V6 engine options – a naturally aspirated, 3.8-litre unit and a more powerful, twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre unit. We could soon see one of these in the Indian market. The company does not offer any diesel or petrol V8 like the previous generations of the Patrol.
Of course, the Patrol will not be cheap. Being Nissan’s flagship model globally and a full-fledged import, it will likely be priced above Rs 1 crore (ex-showroom).
