Nissan Dualis: Compact Urban SUV

Motoring Channel Staff - 23/January/2008

Sydney, Australia — Nissan has launched the Dualis in Australia priced from $28,990.

The new model blends a small hatch with SUV practicality and according to Nissan will appeal to "sporty young urbanites seeking the unique combination of small car agility and compact SUV versatility."

Featuring Nissan's patented All Mode 4x4 system, and powered by 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engines rated at 102kW, the new 5-door models were designed and developed in Europe.

Australian pricing for the Nissan Dualis is as follows:

Dualis ST: $28,990
Dualis Ti: $33,990

The above prices are for the 6-speed manual variants. Automatic continuously variable transmissions (CVT) are also available on all models, at a premium of $2,000.

"Dualis is an alternative to the norm," says Stephane Schwarz, the design director at Nissan Design Europe who came up with the design.

"The [modern] car has become an extension of one's personality and fewer people are prepared to be seen as conventional any more," says Schwarz.

"To cater for them, we started to create a new type of car."

Even the name 'Dualis' relates to the dual nature of the car - compact, but capable both on and off the road. It has 188mm of ground clearance which is enough for low level off-roading, and is 10cm longer than a typical hatchback but 15cm shorter than most compact SUVs. 

A compact-compact SUV perhaps.

All Dualis models come with a large 14-litre cooled glove box that can fit something like 15 cans of drink in it, and numerous different sized cup holders. 

The boot is also fairly large for a car of this size, offering 352 litres of capacity that rises to 1443 litres with the rear seats folded away.

Standard features include a CD stereo, ABS, Nissan's selectable All Mode 4x4 system, cruise control, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors and remote central locking.

Nissan has confirmed the entry-level ST model can be upgraded with an option pack for $2,000, which adds safety and visual features such as 16-inch wheels, side and curtain airbags, and driving aids including vehicle dynamic control (VDC), enhanced understeer control, and active brake limited slip.

Sitting at the top of the Nissan Dualis range is the Ti model which buys you a better stereo with more speakers and a 6-CD stacker, leather seats and steering wheel, front fog lamps, Bluetooth phone compatibility, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers and more storage solutions.

One engine type will be offered across the Dualis range - a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine.

Peak power is 102kW @ 5200rpm and maximum torque is 198Nm @ 4400rpm. 

The all-important fuel consumption figures are above average for this type of engine, with the 6-speed manual models consuming a frugal 8.4L/100km on the combined cycle. The CVT automatic models are almost as efficient, drinking 8.5L/100km.

All models come with a large 65 litre fuel tank, which should ensure a cruising range of more than 800km with highway driving.

Ride and handling is an area that Nissan says has received particular attention. In order to appeal to younger drivers, the Dualis was designed to be fun to drive, equipped with car-like independent suspension at both front and rear axles.

Nissan hopes to attract Australian buyers who have not yet purchased a Nissan, people who are "not among life's spectators."

The Japanese company says that something like 85% of its Australian customers "are likely to be buying a Nissan for the first time" and will be trading in a premium small car for the Dualis.

Something like nine out of 10 Dualis buyers in Spain are first-time Nissan buyers and that trend is nearly repeated in Italy (84%) and the UK (83%).

So far the Dualis has been on sale for about a year in Europe, and owners average age is 44 years old, three years younger than the small car average, and about one third of all European Dualis buyers fell into the 36-45 year bracket.

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