Nissan Patrol vs Toyota Land Cruiser: big 4x4s compared
Updated Report an error By Oleksandr Hnatiuk
Nissan · 2024–present
Patrol Y63
- Power
- 313 kW426 PS
- Kerb mass
- 2,680 kg
Toyota · 2007–2021
Land Cruiser J200
- Power
- 173 kW235 PS
- Kerb mass
- 2,581 kg
At a glance
Who suits what, worked out from the catalog figures of the versions above.
Categories won: Patrol Y63 2 Land Cruiser J200 1
- City Land Cruiser J200 Length: 4,990 mm vs 5,350 mm; Width: 1,980 mm vs 2,030 mm
- Performance Patrol Y63 Power per tonne: 117 kW/t vs 67 kW/t
- Off-road Patrol Y63 Drive and body: Four-wheel drive (4×4) · SUV vs All-wheel drive · SUV
Verdict Opinion
The Land Cruiser has the stronger reputation for long-term durability in remote areas and better resale values in many markets, and the 300 Series brought a modern diesel V6 with 700 N·m. It is the choice for buyers who want a diesel and plan to keep the car for a very long time.
The Patrol is the comfort and petrol choice. The Y62 offers a big V8 with a soft ride and enormous cabin, and the new Y63 matches the Land Cruiser's twin-turbo V6 power. Petrol V8s are thirsty, so the Patrol makes most sense where fuel is cheap.
— Oleksandr Hnatiuk
The Nissan Patrol and the Toyota Land Cruiser are the two Japanese heavyweights of the off-road world. They have competed in almost every market where roads end in sand, mud or snow. Both lines go back to 1951, when Nissan began building the Patrol and Toyota its first BJ-series off-roader, and both still use a separate frame, low-range gearing and large engines.
In the Gulf states, Australia, Africa and Ukraine the choice between them is a matter of loyalty as much as of specifications. Neither of the full-size models is officially sold in most of the European Union any more, which makes this comparison mainly relevant for import and used buyers. Our catalogue covers the Land Cruiser 200 (J200, 2007–2021) and all Patrol generations from the first to the new Y63.
Nissan Patrol vs Toyota Land Cruiser: engines and hardware
From V8s to twin-turbo V6s
The Land Cruiser 200 was a V8 car. From 2015 to 2021 its 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel (1VD-FTV) produced 200 kW (268 hp) and 650 N·m. The petrol choices were a 4.6-litre V8 with up to 237 kW and a 5.7-litre V8 with 270 kW in the Gulf and Australia. The Land Cruiser 300, revealed on 9 June 2021, dropped the V8s. It uses a 3.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 with 305 kW (409 hp) and 649 N·m, or a 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6 with 227 kW (304 hp) and 700 N·m.
The Patrol Y62, launched in Abu Dhabi on 13 February 2010, kept a 5.6-litre petrol V8 with 298 kW (400 hp) and 560 N·m. Its successor, the Y63 unveiled in Abu Dhabi on 3 September 2024, also switched to a twin-turbo V6. The 3.5-litre unit gives 313 to 369 kW (425 to 502 PS) and 700 N·m, and a 3.8-litre naturally aspirated V6 of 232 kW (316 PS) is the entry engine.
Chassis and off-road hardware
Both are body-on-frame vehicles with permanent or selectable four-wheel drive and low range. Toyota's 200 Series introduced KDSS, a system that disconnects the anti-roll bars for more wheel articulation, and Crawl Control, which works like an off-road cruise control at walking pace. The 300 Series moved to the new GA-F frame and is about 200 kg lighter than its predecessor. Nissan offers Hydraulic Body Motion Control on the Y62 to reduce body roll on the road.
The workhorse: Patrol Y61
Nissan kept the older Y61, introduced in December 1997, in production alongside the Y62 until 2024. With a simpler chassis and solid axles it remained popular for expeditions, mining and rural work, where the Land Cruiser 70 Series was its natural rival.
Towing
The North American Land Cruiser 200 was rated to tow 3,700 kg (8,200 lb). In practice, local legal limits and trailer brakes decide how much either car may tow.
Race Stats side by side
Each figure is a 0–100 score from the catalog numbers, the same as on the 1CARS Race cards. PI is the overall performance index (100–999) and its class D–S.
| Stat | Patrol Y63 | Land Cruiser J200 |
|---|---|---|
| PI | B · 525 | C · 414 |
| Power | 55 | 38 |
| Grip | 42 | 35 |
| Handling | 16 | 22 |
| Top speed | 57 | 39 |
| Launch | 62 | 39 |
Grip and handling are estimates from drive type, weight, height and body (hover a figure to see where it comes from). 1CARS Race
Who wins a race?
Quarter-mile (402 m) drag from a standing start, dry road, no reaction time — the 1CARS Race physics on the catalog figures of these versions.
- 1 Patrol Y63Patrol Y63 · 3.5 V6 twin-turbo · petrol · 313 kW (426 PS) 13.77 sat 159 km/h
- 2 Land Cruiser J2004.4 · diesel · 173 kW (235 PS) 16.10 sat 133 km/h · +2.33 s
Size and weight
Side view to scale, all cars from the front bumper.
| Patrol Y63 | Land Cruiser J200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,350 mm210.6 in | 4,990 mm196.5 in −360 mm −14.2 in −6.7% |
| Width | 2,030 mm79.9 in | 1,980 mm78.0 in −50 mm −2.0 in −2.5% |
| Height | 1,945 mm76.6 in | 1,970 mm77.6 in +25 mm +1.0 in +1.3% |
| Wheelbase | 3,075 mm121.1 in | 2,850 mm112.2 in −225 mm −8.9 in −7.3% |
| Kerb weight | 2,680 kg5,908 lb | 2,581 kg5,690 lb −99 kg −218 lb −3.7% |
| Fits a standard garage? | Too long and too wide | Too wide |
Difference vs Patrol Y63 (±). Garage check: a standard single garage takes a car up to about 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) long and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) wide (width as listed in the catalog; some makers include the mirrors). Leave about 0.6 m (2 ft) to open the doors.
Full specifications
| Nissan Patrol | Toyota Land Cruiser | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Version | Patrol Y63 · 3.5 V6 twin-turbo · petrol · 313 kW (426 PS) | 4.4 · diesel · 173 kW (235 PS) |
| Production years | 2024–present | 2007–2021 |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Class | SUV / crossover | SUV / crossover |
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Performance | ||
| Power Why it matters: More power means stronger acceleration and easier overtaking, especially with a full load. | 313 kW (426 PS) 420 hp Better | 173 kW (235 PS) 232 hp |
| Power, all versions | 55–369 kW (75–502 PS) 74–495 hp | 173–286 kW (235–389 PS) 232–384 hp |
| Torque Why it matters: Torque is the pulling force you feel when accelerating from low revs, towing or climbing hills. | 700 Nm 516 lb-ft | No data |
| Power per tonne | 117 kW/t 142 hp/ton calculated Better | 67 kW/t 82 hp/ton calculated |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Diesel |
| Engine | 3,492 cc · 6 cyl 3.5 l | 4,400 cc 4.4 l |
| Engine code | VR35DDTT | No data |
| Gearbox | 9-speed automatic | No data |
| Drive | Four-wheel drive (4×4) | All-wheel drive |
| Dimensions and weight | ||
| Length | 5,350 mm 210.6 in | 4,990 mm 196.5 in |
| Width | 2,030 mm 79.9 in | 1,980 mm 78.0 in |
| Height | 1,945 mm 76.6 in | 1,970 mm 77.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 3,075 mm 121.1 in | 2,850 mm 112.2 in |
| Kerb weight Why it matters: A lighter car is usually more agile and uses less energy. | 2,680 kg 5,908 lb | 2,581 kg 5,690 lb Better |
| Boot Why it matters: A bigger boot fits more luggage, shopping or a pram. | No data | 655 l 23.1 cu ft |
These cars do not differ in the data we have.
Equal rows hidden (3): Body, Class, Country.
Better marks the stronger figure — only for measurable specs (power, torque, 0–100 km/h, consumption, boot, weight).
In plain words
Nissan Patrol has more power: 313 kW (426 PS) against 173 kW (235 PS) for Toyota Land Cruiser. Nissan Patrol is 360 mm longer than Toyota Land Cruiser (5,350 mm vs 4,990 mm). Toyota Land Cruiser is lighter by 99 kg (2,581 kg vs 2,680 kg). Nissan Patrol is the older design (from 1951); Toyota Land Cruiser arrived in 2007. Nissan Patrol is still in production; Toyota Land Cruiser is not. On the catalog figures, the Toyota Land Cruiser is the pick for city; the Nissan Patrol is the pick for performance and off-road.
Which one to choose
Choose the Nissan Patrol if you want a large petrol 4x4 with a smooth V8 or the latest twin-turbo V6, plenty of interior space and a comfortable ride on long desert or highway trips. A Y61 is still a good basis for an expedition vehicle.
Choose the Toyota Land Cruiser if you need a diesel, prioritise reliability far from service stations, or want strong resale value. The 200 Series 4.5 V8 diesel and the 300 Series 3.3 V6 diesel are the versions most buyers look for.
Frequently asked questions
Which is older, the Patrol or the Land Cruiser?
Both lines date from 1951: Nissan started building the Patrol that year, and Toyota built its first BJ off-roader, the vehicle that later became the Land Cruiser.
Do they still have V8 engines?
No longer in the newest generations. The Land Cruiser 300 (2021) uses twin-turbo V6 engines, and the Patrol Y63 (2024) uses a twin-turbo 3.5 or a 3.8-litre V6. The previous Land Cruiser 200 and Patrol Y62 were V8 cars.
Is the Land Cruiser 300 sold in Europe?
Not in most of the European Union. The full-size Land Cruiser is officially offered only in a few European countries, including Ukraine; elsewhere Toyota sells the smaller Land Cruiser.
Which has the stronger engine, the Patrol or the Land Cruiser?
The new Patrol Y63 with up to 369 kW (502 PS) outguns the Land Cruiser 300 petrol with 305 kW (409 hp). In the previous generation the Patrol's 5.6 V8 (298 kW) also beat the Land Cruiser 200's 5.7 V8 outside North America.