Nissan Patrol   Women's view

June Neary takes the Nissan Patrol 4x4 on an English Safari

Lymington Harbor, on the Solent was our destination in Nissans 4-wheel drive Patrol. Admittedly it wasnt exactly the rough terrain for which the Patrol was originally designed. The picturesque setting did, however, provide some small unfinished lanes which are as near as Britain gets to jungle. The weather was foul very wet and windy.

It was a shame for the boatees who had to sport their wet-weather gear instead of shorts and t-shirts but it was great for me to see how this 4x4 handled in gale-force weather. I quickly got used to the size of this massive off roader.

Being head, shoulders and torso above the rest of the traffic made me feel confident behind the wheel of such a heavy vehicle. It weighs 3 tonnes, about the same as a baby elephant. Well bolstered high-set seats ensure comfort on a longer journey and a great view of the road. With the watersports completed, our next stop was the New Forest.

The height of the Patrol was much appreciated here. Annie, the four-year-old I had in tow, loved looking out the window at the horses with their baby foals beside them. She was also spoilt for choice on where to sit. The five-door model we were trying (theres also a three-door version) seats up to 7 people.

Plenty of room then, for soft pony, big teddy and Giraffe, all of whom youll be pleased to know were seated and buckled up individually. In fact, Annie found the inside of the Patrol a small adventure house with plenty of pockets in which to place extra toys and food, armrests to pull up and down, drink holders and map reading lights which went on, off, on, off, on, off Other gadgets include temperature gauge, compass, adjustable headlights, twin airbags and climate control. To give you an idea of how big our model was, three heavily pregnant donkeys waddled over to investigate us. The Patrol towered above and beyond all three stood together whilst they admired their wide girths in the shiny paintwork.

Mother Nature must have been doing her spring cleaning on the way home. The rain was falling by the bucket load. I was relieved not to be driving my usual car. Visibility would have been down to zero with the amount of spray being kicked up.

The Patrol handled all of this with ease, its height helping to avoid much of the spray and its tyres sticking to the slippery road like glue.

Driving through the ford we ventured into was, of course, a piece of cake. While saloon cars hesitated at the 2-foot river looking for a dinghy, we ploughed through, leaving a wake any Riva sports boat would be proud of. Small sighs could just be heard when we saw big puddles on the opposite side of the road. A 3.

0 six-cylinder diesel engine pulls this 5010mm-long whale on wheels. Though it does feel incredibly huge when you first get in, I quickly overcame my fears. It helps that Nissan has gone to great lengths in recent times to refine the Patrol, making it far easier to handle than one would initially think.

Prices start at £24,080 for the entry-level model, rising to £28,080 for the flagship Aventura five-door model I tried. All models get a strong warranty package, with a three-year/60,000-miles parts and labour guarantee.

So could I live with one? One things for sure, everyone gets out of your way when youre in a Patrol. To have exclusive use of the roads is certainly a prospect I could live with. To have a vehicle fit for the jungle isnt especially necessary for a city dweller like me though. That said, and forgetting for a moment its thirst for jungle juice, the Nissan Patrol is an exciting driving experience that I became quite attached to as our weekend drew to a close.

If outdoor excursions are your pastime, but you hate cold mornings, Id recommend one of these. Similarly, if you have a large family and live in the country, a Patrol will remove any excuse for not arriving at school when theres 10 foot of snow outside. With practicability on the outside and luxurious comfort on the inside, theres not a lot else you could ask for in a four-wheel drive.