Imagine a vehicle that is as tough as an alligator but as lovable as a labrador. Struggling? Then let me suggest the Nissan Patrol. In one form or another the Patrol name has adorned Nissans for half a century, and during that time it has created a reputation as one of the world’s most rugged and reliable off-roaders.

The latest incarnation was introduced in 1998 when the previous model’s rather angular bodywork was rounded off and it was given a makeover inside. Under the bonnet was a 2.8 litre turbodiesel with 130bhp on tap.

While not top of the class in terms of refinement it remained a no-nonsense off-roader capable of towing up to 3,500kg. When buying second-hand it is worth remembering that such heavy hauling puts extra strain on engines and gearboxes. For that reason a higher mileage lightly used vehicle is a better bet than a low mileage one that has worked for a living.

Historically the marque has always lagged behind the premier badges such as Range Rover and Volvo, and the Patrol 4x4 did little to change this. However, it was for this reason that it was popular when launched and remains so today on the second-hand market. There are no pretensions about owning a Patrol, and nobody is going to accuse you of pandering to the 4x4 fashion if you buy one.

As the exterior dimensions would suggest there is no shortage of interior space. At 14ft 7in even the short-wheelbase three-door model is nearly as long as a Land Rover Discovery, and at 16ft 5in the long-wheelbase is in the supersize league of off-roaders.

There is a third row of seats in the long-wheelbase model that fold down to liberate an enormous boot space.

But size comes at a price: try parking in a supermarket space and you are likely to be impinging on someone else’s.

The Nissan Patrol drives as it looks — heavy and a little ponderous. Regardless of engine or transmission type no Patrol can top 100mph and acceleration is about gathering momentum. Similarly corners need to be approached slowly and the steering, while reasonably weighted, is undeniably woolly.

But none of this matters, because in vehicles the size of a Nissan Patrol you should never be in a hurry anyway. It’s built for going off road and here its ability is enormous.

With a rear differential lock, high and low ratio gearbox and freewheeling front hubs that improve traction as standard it can wade through water more than 2ft deep.

Rufty tufty it might be but modern 4x4 drivers also expect a few creature comforts so later SE models come with air-conditioning, alloy wheels and CD players while top spec SVE models add leather upholstery and satellite navigation to the list.

Further enhancements to the Patrol range came in early 2000 with a new 3 litre four-cylinder diesel producing 156bhp. With more power and no loss of fuel economy these are now the most sought after, particularly as prices have eased back in the past couple of years.

While the Nissan Patrol may never boast the refinement of a Range Rover or the performance of a BMW X5, as a used buy it will happily transport you over field and dale, motorway and byway. It strikes an appealing balance between comfort and performance, and for the money there is precious little to match it.

• Tailgate
  Twin opening doors make access easy but spare wheel on one side makes the larger door heavy and unwieldy

• Service history
  Check service book and invoices to authenticate mileage

• Tyres
  Check inside tyre tread for uneven wear

• Insurance
  Ranging from group 13 to 15 the Patrol is not the cheapest vehicle to insure, so get a quote first

• Tow bar
  Huge 3,500kg towing capacity makes the Patrol an attractive vehicle for the equestrian set — single-socket electrics can signal horsebox rather than caravan towing. Heavy loads can soon destroy rear shock absorbers so drive the car and listen for knocks and watch for excessive body roll

• Upholstery
  Top spec SVE models get leather upholstery as standard but the cloth seats can be more durable on the older high-mileage models

• Driving position
  Large it may be but the height-adjustable steering column and seat enable drivers of all sizes to sit comfortably

• Gearbox
  Check clutch for wear and gearbox and transmission for grumbles from towing heavy loads

• Underbody
  Check sills and exhaust for signs of off-road damage

• Nissan Patrol 3.0 Di SE+ 5dr 2003 03 with 40,000 miles and full service history. Pay £14,950 at a dealer, £13,500 privately

SWB 3dr models worth about  £1,500 less than equivalent LWB 5dr models. Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer.

Alternatives

Figures based on CAP December 2005 edition

 © Bumper Media Limited November2006