Today’s Drive: Nissan Patrol Y63 Gets Its Aussie Marching Orders, Nismo Z Adds a Manual, and a Recall Reality Check

I’m filing this one with road dust still on the shoes and coffee that’s gone cold twice. Big 4x4 news out of Australia, a proper enthusiast win for Nissan’s Z, a power bump for Hyundai’s hybrid workhorse, and a few safety flags you’ll want to scan if there’s a Kia EV9 or Ram 1500 in your driveway. Oh, and an overdue rant about capacitive buttons—because some of you keep asking why I grumble at blank touch pads where a knob should be.

What matters today

• Nissan Patrol Y63: Petrol-only for Australia; pricing locked in; Nismo version ruled out; “Warrior” off-road variant could return.
• Nismo Z finally gets a manual as part of the facelift in Japan—hallelujah.
• 2027 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: more power on the spec sheet.
• Recalls: Kia EV9 (airbag issue) and Ram 1500 in Australia; plus a Honda front camera lawsuit making noise about repair costs.
• Luxury lane: Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class facelift ushers in a more affordable entry point in Australia.
• Editorial detour: Capacitive buttons are bad UX; a £5k used Mini Convertible is still a sweet summer buy if you pick carefully.

Nissan’s two-pronged day: Patrol Y63 for the outback, Nismo Z for the on-ramp

Patrol Y63: Petrol only, price set, no Nismo—but maybe a Warrior

Nissan’s next-gen Patrol Y63 will be petrol-only in Australia. That’s the official line, and it keeps the Patrol squarely in the “big, smooth, long‑haul” camp rather than chasing diesel devotees. Pricing has been confirmed for Australia, too, which tells me dealers are about to get very busy fielding trade-in questions from Y62 owners who tow boats on the weekend and caravans half the year.

Two footnotes that matter:

• Patrol Nismo is officially not coming to Australia. If you’ve ever seen how tall dunes and hot days treat high-strung powertrains, you’ll know that’s probably a wise call from the product planners.
• The locally fettled Patrol “Warrior” could return for Y63. I’ve driven the previous Warrior on corrugated outback roads; its suspension tune took the edge off the chop without turning it to mush. If they do it again, expect the same Aussie‑centric pragmatism: tougher stance, sensible hardware, and recovery points you can actually use.

Real-world thought: The current Patrol’s charm is how it shrugs off distance. On a 900‑km family slog I did last year, the big Nissan was better at keeping everyone happy than some German luxo‑SUVs that cost far more. If Y63 keeps that soft‑shoe ride while trimming a bit of thirst, it’ll stay a favorite from Perth to Cairns.

Nismo Z finally gets a manual

File under: About time. The Nismo Z, launched originally as an automatic-only bruiser, now offers a manual in Japan as part of the facelift. If the standard Z’s stick ever made you grin with its crisp bite and short throws, imagine that energy with the Nismo’s additional cooling and bracing. When I last tossed a manual Z up a tight B‑road, the front end felt planted, the gearbox clean, and the soundtrack happily old-school. Adding a clutch pedal to the Nismo formula just makes sense. Global rollout timing? Watch this space—but the enthusiast signal is loud and clear.

Hyundai’s sensible sneaker: Tucson Hybrid gets more power

The 2027 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is set to pick up more poke. No numbers here to inflate your bench‑racing ego, but any bump helps in a class where “merging briskly with four people and a week’s groceries” is the real test. The current Tucson Hybrid already does school runs and highway slogs with low drama; if Hyundai trims lag and fattens midrange response, that LA‑traffic slingshot from 20–50 mph will feel just that bit easier. Fingers crossed the chassis calibration keeps its calm—one thing I liked on rough suburban cut-and-fill roads was how the Tucson avoided the pogo-stick rebound you sometimes get in rivals.

Safety and ownership: Recalls and a painful sensor bill

Kia EV9 airbag recall

Kia’s three-row EV9 is under recall for an airbag-related issue. If you’re running kids to sport practice in one of these big electric buses, check your VIN and booking options with your dealer. Airbag faults are not the “I’ll get to it after the holidays” kind of thing—book it, sort it, sleep better.

Ram 1500 recall in Australia

There’s also a recall campaign for the Ram 1500 in Australia. Whether you use yours to tow a wake boat or cart fence posts, the fix should be straightforward once the dealer has parts and slot time. Pro tip I’ve learned the hard way: turn up with a clean bed and note your accessories. You’ll be in and out faster, and nothing goes walkabout.

Honda front camera lawsuit highlights ADAS repair costs

A reported lawsuit claims a failing front camera cost one Honda owner just shy of $3,000. It’s a reminder that the little “eye” behind your windshield runs a lot of big jobs—lane keeping, traffic sign recognition, collision warnings. If it’s out of whack or fails post-windscreen replacement, calibration can be pricey. My evergreen advice:

• Document windscreen work and calibration receipts.
• Keep glass and sensor areas squeaky clean; it genuinely reduces false alerts.
• Ask about extended coverage on critical ADAS hardware when you buy—boring, but it can pay for itself once.

Luxury lounge: Maybach S-Class gets a facelift and a friendlier entry price (Australia)

Mercedes‑Maybach’s refreshed S‑Class will land in Australia with a more attainable starting point than before. “Attainable” in Maybach-speak still lives well north of the mass market, but if you’ve ever sunk into those pillow‑top headrests while the suspension irons a city street flat, you’ll understand why people stretch for it. I noticed right away how these cars de‑stress you; the cabin hush is so complete your pulse slows a notch. If the facelift tightens the tech and trims some option creep into the base car, expect to see a few more double‑M grilles gliding through Melbourne’s CBD.

Opinion: Capacitive buttons are clever until you need mittens

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve jabbed at a glossy pad that refuses to change the temperature because my fingertip was 3 mm off. The industry’s love affair with capacitive panels feels like it was signed off on a warm, well‑lit design desk—not on a rainy night with gloves on and kids yelling about the playlist. Physical knobs and toggles win when you’re driving. Simple as that. The tide is turning back, thankfully; you can already see brands quietly sneaking real buttons into mid‑cycle updates. Good. More, please.

Used buy of the day: £5k Mini Convertible

Sun’s out, top down, money saved. A £5k Mini Convertible still delivers that cheery steering feel and a roof that turns a damp commute into a small event when the weather gives you a window. If you’re shopping:

• Check roof operation and seals—look for damp carpets and slow frames.
• Listen for timing chain rattle on cold start in earlier turbo petrols.
• Inspect rear subframe mounts and make sure the drains aren’t clogged.
• Budget for fresh tires; Minis get grumpy on cheap rubber.

Get a good one and you’ll forgive the tiny boot the first time a sunset drive reminds you why you bought it.

Quick compare: Three family haulers in today’s headlines

Wrap-up

From bush tracks to back roads, today’s news is a neat snapshot of where we’re headed: big SUVs still matter in Australia, performance cars are better with three pedals (always have been), hybrids keep sharpening their everyday edge, and the ownership side—recalls, sensors, and service visits—matters just as much as horsepower. Now, if we could just get carmakers to give us a volume knob as standard again, we’d be laughing.

FAQ

• Is the Nissan Patrol Y63 coming to Australia with diesel or hybrid options?

  No—Australia is getting the Patrol Y63 as petrol-only based on today’s announcements.

• Will there be a Nismo version of the new Patrol for Australia?

  Not at launch—Nissan has ruled out a Patrol Nismo for the Australian market.

• Does the Nismo Z now offer a manual transmission?

  Yes, in Japan as part of the facelift. Availability for other markets hasn’t been detailed yet.

• What’s the issue with the Kia EV9 recall?

  An airbag-related problem. Owners should contact their dealer to arrange the fix.

• Is the Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class cheaper now?

  The facelift introduces a more affordable entry point in Australia compared with before, though it remains a high‑end luxury purchase.