It’s not often that an automaker reveals the luxury version of its product first before the more mainstream model. However, that’s exactly what Nissan doing for its flagship SUV.
In case you haven’t heard, the next-generation Nissan Patrol is just around the corner. But before that, it’s the luxurious version of the SUV that will be revealed first, the Infiniti QX80.
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Now, that day has come and the 2025 QX80 bares it all. With that, the Infiniti gives us a good idea of what to expect in the all-new Patrol.
The redesigned QX80 draws heavily on the QX Monograph concept shown earlier this year. Most of its design elements have made it to the production version, from its sleek LED daytime running lights, bold grille, and yes, even the flush door handles. Its grille is larger than ever and features a design pattern that, according to Infiniti, is ‘inspired by the organic shapes of a bamboo forest.’
For the rest of the body, it bucks the trend of strong character lines and acute angles. Instead, the QX80 goes for a more minimalist look with a tidy appearance. The kink on the rear window is an interesting touch. As for the rear, there are full-width taillights that feature over 300 LEDs. Expect the future Nissan Patrol to feature the same profile and it’s likely to have a simpler looking front end and rear section.
Inside, it’s a huge departure from the past QX80. Its occupants are greeted by three screens, along with acres of leather, wood, and suede. On the dash are a pair of 14.3-inch displays, one serving as the instrument cluster, and the other as the infotainment screen. The 9-inch touchscreen mounted below the infotainment display then serves as the climate control panel.
For maximum comfort, seat massagers are available for the second row and standard at the front. Go for the top-spec Autograph variant and it gets a pair of Ottoman seats in the center row. Speaking of top-spec, it also comes with a Klipsch Reference Premiere Audio System with 24 speakers, 1,200 watts of power and Individual Audio functionality.
As it’s still a Nissan product, now would be a good time to talk about its air-conditioning. Infiniti claims it’s the first vehicle in its class to offer climate control for all three rows of seats. On top of that, the front seats are heated and ventilated, and that function is also available for the second and third row. It also has something called biometric cooling that automatically adjusts the fan speed according to the passenger’s body temperature.
Moving to tech, it comes with advanced driver assist systems and a whole set of camera innovations. The first is called Front Wide View that provides a wide, 170-degree view to the sides of the vehicle across both 14.3-inch displays. The next is Invisible Hood View that helps take the guesswork out of driving off-road and other tricky driving situations.
Given that it’s based on the next-gen Nissan Patrol, the QX80 comes with off-road oriented tech and features. All variants feature a drive mode selector with Standard, Eco, Sport, Snow, Tow and Personal settings while higher trim levels get electronic air suspension and something called Dynamic Digital Suspension. It’s essentially active suspension that constantly adjusts the vehicle’s anti-roll bars and dampers on or off pavement.
As mentioned before, the 5.6-liter V8 is gone. In its place is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes more power and torque than the outgoing eight-cylinder. It packs 450hp and 700Nm of torque, an improvement of 50hp and 140Nm of torque. Dubbed the VR35DDT, it’s directly related to the Nissan GT-R’s VR38DETT. It then shifts with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
So, when is the all-new Nissan Patrol coming? Well, the manufacturer is still tight-lipped on details, but it's safe to say that it's just around the corner. Expect some of the tech to trickle down from its plusher counterpart, as well as some of its styling details and, of course, the engine. Nissan still won't say what to expect from the next-gen Patrol, but it's safe to say that it could be a massive leap over the outgoing model.
