Nissan Dusts Off the ‘Patrol’ Badge for America With a New Off-Road Armada

According to Road & Track, the 2027 Nissan Armada Patrol Pro-4X marks the return of the Patrol name to the American market after a 66-year absence. The Autopian notes that the original U.S.-sold Patrol was offered through Datsun dealers between 1962 and 1969 in various configurations, including short and long wheelbases, soft-tops, hard-tops, station wagons, and vans. Nissan even used cowboy star Roy Rodgers to market the truck to American buyers.

While the Patrol departed the U.S. in 1969, it remained popular internationally, particularly in the Middle East for conquering sand dunes, as reported by The Autopian. Nissan highlighted that the current Patrol features a scavenger oil pump derived from the GT-R to maintain high power and lubrication during high g-forces on steep dunes. The historical model also achieved milestones like being the first vehicle to climb Japan's Mount Fuji and the first motorized vehicle to cross Australia's Simpson Desert.

In modern automotive history, Nissan launched the Armada in 2003 on the Titan platform, and transitioned it to the global Patrol platform for its second generation in 2017. Brent Hagan, senior manager of Product and Services Planning at Nissan North America, stated via The Autopian that while the Armada launched as a distinct U.S. nameplate, "the two vehicles have evolved together over time and today are fundamentally the same vehicle." Hagan added that he has personally owned a 1969 Patrol since 2014, calling the reintroduction meaningful.

Road & Track reports that the 2027 Armada Patrol Pro-4X starts at $81,265, which is $11,700 more than the base four-wheel drive Armada. It sits a few thousand dollars cheaper than key rivals like the Ford Expedition Tremor and Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 equipped with the 6.2-liter V-8. Mechanically, the SUV features a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 generating 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel drive system with an electronic limited-slip differential. Additional features include adaptive air suspension, metal underbody skid plates, off-road cameras, all-terrain tires, fender flares, and red accents.

Buyers will also find Nismo roof racks, Nismo rock sliders, and available Nismo Axis wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich off-road tires, according to Road & Track and The Autopian. The interior includes high-end features such as a panoramic moonroof, heated second-row seats, and biometric cooling utilizing an infrared headliner sensor to adjust temperature and airflow settings near-instantly. Production for the new model is scheduled to begin this month.