Honestly, the new Nissan Patrol Y63 / Armada is one of the biggest sleepers on the market right now.
This isn’t just a redesign — it’s a complete step up. The interior alone is miles ahead of the LC300. Proper premium feel, tight build quality, solid materials, and most importantly: real buttons where it matters. Climate, drive modes, 4WD — all physical, easy to use, no touchscreen nonsense when you’re off-road. The screens are used properly for cameras and visibility, not replacing basic functions.
The engine — Nissan VR35DDTT — is proving itself too. Almost 2 years in now and no major issues, no recalls, nothing. That’s a big deal, especially when you look at what’s been happening with LC300 / LX600 / Tundra / Sequoia.
And this isn’t some random new engine. Nissan has been doing turbo V6s forever:
• VR38 (GT-R)
• VR30 (Infiniti)
This is their bread and butter.
The VR35 has been tested for years before release, and the Patrol is their halo model, so it’s built to a completely different standard.
Then the transmission — this is where people don’t realize what they’re getting.
Nissan has a licensing agreement with Mercedes-Benz, meaning they’re working off that architecture and design philosophy. This 9-speed is in the 700 Nm+ class, the same kind of torque capacity used in high-end models like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class — vehicles costing $200k+. That’s serious hardware.
And the tuning potential is already showing:
~80 WHP from just a downpipe + tune
That’s massive. That tells you how much headroom is built into this engine.
Space-wise, it’s just more usable than the LC300. Proper 8 seats, and you still have real boot space. The LC300 struggles when all rows are up — this doesn’t.
Ride and suspension setup is excellent — comfortable, controlled, and fully capable off-road. Modern systems, well engineered, and already proven in real-world use. And when the aftermarket fully catches up (especially once Australia really gets it), you already know what’s coming:
• lift kits
• long-range tanks
• full touring builds
• conversion options for those who want simpler setups
Off-road, it’s still a Patrol:
• low range
• rear locker
• proper 4WD system
Nothing soft about it — just more refined.
⸻
And then the biggest part nobody is talking about: PRICE
You can get a near-new PRO-4X with under 2,000 miles for around $65,000 right now.
That is insane value.
Because at that price:
• it’s basically the same money as the Toyota Land Cruiser 250
which is a smaller, lighter-duty vehicle
And the Armada/Patrol:
has more power
more space
more capability
It genuinely crushes it overall.
Meanwhile, if you want the true equivalent on the Lexus side:
Lexus LX 600
• $100,000+
⸻
Bottom line
• Strong engine (proven so far)
• Strong transmission (high torque capacity)
• Massive tuning potential
• Proper off-road capability
• Premium interior
• Huge space
• And a price that makes no sense for what you’re getting
⸻
People genuinely don’t realize how capable this car is yet.
Give it a couple more years — especially once the aftermarket explodes — and this thing is going to be everywhere.
Feels like Nissan didn’t just come back…
they came back swinging.
This isn’t just a redesign — it’s a complete step up. The interior alone is miles ahead of the LC300. Proper premium feel, tight build quality, solid materials, and most importantly: real buttons where it matters. Climate, drive modes, 4WD — all physical, easy to use, no touchscreen nonsense when you’re off-road. The screens are used properly for cameras and visibility, not replacing basic functions.
The engine — Nissan VR35DDTT — is proving itself too. Almost 2 years in now and no major issues, no recalls, nothing. That’s a big deal, especially when you look at what’s been happening with LC300 / LX600 / Tundra / Sequoia.
And this isn’t some random new engine. Nissan has been doing turbo V6s forever:
• VR38 (GT-R)
• VR30 (Infiniti)
This is their bread and butter.The VR35 has been tested for years before release, and the Patrol is their halo model, so it’s built to a completely different standard.
Then the transmission — this is where people don’t realize what they’re getting.
Nissan has a licensing agreement with Mercedes-Benz, meaning they’re working off that architecture and design philosophy. This 9-speed is in the 700 Nm+ class, the same kind of torque capacity used in high-end models like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class — vehicles costing $200k+. That’s serious hardware.
And the tuning potential is already showing:
~80 WHP from just a downpipe + tuneThat’s massive. That tells you how much headroom is built into this engine.
Space-wise, it’s just more usable than the LC300. Proper 8 seats, and you still have real boot space. The LC300 struggles when all rows are up — this doesn’t.
Ride and suspension setup is excellent — comfortable, controlled, and fully capable off-road. Modern systems, well engineered, and already proven in real-world use. And when the aftermarket fully catches up (especially once Australia really gets it), you already know what’s coming:
• lift kits
• long-range tanks
• full touring builds
• conversion options for those who want simpler setups
Off-road, it’s still a Patrol:
• low range
• rear locker
• proper 4WD system
Nothing soft about it — just more refined.
⸻
And then the biggest part nobody is talking about: PRICE
You can get a near-new PRO-4X with under 2,000 miles for around $65,000 right now.
That is insane value.Because at that price:
• it’s basically the same money as the Toyota Land Cruiser 250
which is a smaller, lighter-duty vehicleAnd the Armada/Patrol:
has more power more space more capabilityIt genuinely crushes it overall.
Meanwhile, if you want the true equivalent on the Lexus side:
Lexus LX 600• $100,000+
⸻
Bottom line
• Strong engine (proven so far)
• Strong transmission (high torque capacity)
• Massive tuning potential
• Proper off-road capability
• Premium interior
• Huge space
• And a price that makes no sense for what you’re getting
⸻
People genuinely don’t realize how capable this car is yet.
Give it a couple more years — especially once the aftermarket explodes — and this thing is going to be everywhere.
Feels like Nissan didn’t just come back…
they came back swinging.