Nissan Patrol Super Safari review: the best of both worlds

Since its resurrection in 2017, the Nissan Patrol Super Safari has continued to dominate as the region’s favourite off-road vehicle. The Japanese manufacturer bowed to popular demand and brought the wilder Nissan Patrol back into production, and tweaked and tuned every new version for the better.

The 2022 Nissan Patrol Super Safari follows the trend. For starters, it sits slightly higher than its predecessors. This not only gives you a better view of what’s ahead, but also creates more clearance underneath the car to comfortably deal with extremely uneven terrain. Or an extra-large speed bump.

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Nissan has also introduced cruise control, anti-lock brakes, smart tyre-pressure monitoring and a number of other driving aids that make for a more comfortable ride. It’s now available in either a 5-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The result is that the 2022 Nissan Patrol Super Safari feels more at home than ever when you’re driving it on asphalt. We were fairly surprised just how smooth the drive was and the silence in the cabin as the 4.8-litre, 280bhp V6 engine roared away was impressive.

Choose between cloth, leather and PVC upholstery. Photo: Nissan

Now, if you just read that paragraph above and are worried that the Super Safari has been declawed, fear not — it’s equally as fun off the road as it is on it. There’s not much (if anything) that the robust suspension and new telescopic shock absorbers can’t handle. You feel more in control than ever thanks to the intelligent system that manages engine speed when under or oversteering. When we took it for a gentle spin off-road it instantly felt safely at home. The temptation to plant our foot and bounce over every hill in sight was palpable. This one lives for rough terrain.

Nissan has been very clever with its 2022 Patrol Super Safari. While improving the driving experience for thrill-seekers it has introduced the safety and comfort features found in the more luxurious Nissan Patrol, which will appeal to drivers. You can choose between cloth, leather or PVC upholstery for inside the cavernous cabin, with each seat providing comfy and ample space. And we love the straightforward nature of the Bluetooth connection that hooks your phone up to the in-car entertainment system easily.

Yes, it’s more of an everyday SUV now. You can use it for doing the school run, transporting friends and family or nipping out to do the grocery shopping. But it’s also ready to be loaded up with camping equipment, shovels and recovery sand boards at a moment’s notice for an off-road adventure.

Nissan’s evolution of the Super Safari has so far been well balanced. And this 2022 version delivers its most complete version yet. There’s no need to rip up the rule book when it comes to improvements, and by focusing on functionality and interior comfort upgrades, the Super Safari will live on for a long time.

RESULT

Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Nissan Patrol Super Safari review: the best of both worlds

Off-road or on the motorway, the 2022 model of the region’s legendary SUV is here to conquer everything in its path

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RESULT

Desert Warrior

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