Subaru Forester vs Nissan Dualis Comparison Review
May 27, 2008 by Karl Peskett
2008 Subaru Forester vs Nissan Dualis Comparison Review & Road Test
Models tested: Subaru Forester X Auto & Nissan Dualis ST CVT
Recommended Retail Price: Forester – $32,490; Dualis – $30,990
Options fitted: None
CarAdvice rating:
Forester: 
(4)
Dualis: 
(3.5)
- Review and photographs by Karl Peskett.
There was a line in the sitcom “Friends” once which I’ll always remember. One of the girls was complaining about how they looked in photos. She mentioned the age old adage about the camera “adding five pounds.” Ross turned to her and asked: “So, how many cameras did you have on you?”
These two cars are the opposite of someone who’s conscious about their weight. Photos make these cars seem smaller than they actually are. It’s quite deceptive until you look at one in real life, and realise that they actually have a decent amount of room in them. And that’s the appeal. They’re roomy, easy to drive, and you sit higher in them, meaning more forward visibility.
Soft-roaders have really boomed in the past few years, and Subaru claims it started the revolution with the original Forester. So what better to do than to line up the original with a newcomer.
Tags: Nissan Dualis, Subaru Forester
I think it was Chandler who said “So how many cameras are actually on you” not Ross.
in my opinion the dualis wins mainky beacuse of the fact that teh glovebx area is not a war zone and it soent have ugly soor handles at that price i would rather a top spec impreza which looks way better
Forester all the way! Dualis SUCKS compared to the forester :D
Myke, you are correct, it was Chandler.
I don’t think this was really a fair comparo. The Forester is better compared to the X-trail.
I would however like to see the Dualis compared with the Dodge Caliber.
dam the Subaru kill the Nissan in the looks department
Subaru has thankfully improved the looks of the Forester in this model. Those big boxer fours are thirsty though for what they are.
Excellent comparision review is given.Nice informative article.
Yep agree with Kenzo – Good stuff. However the Dualis IMO is not a direct competitor for the Forrester. The Subie has a well known history of good off road capability, the Dualis howver is nissans modern entrepretation of a family saloon that happens to have 4wd as a benefit. 2wd versions are available in some countries.
seems small autos or not the best for proper off-roading, stick to a real car with gears.
Top marks for taking them off road.
I’ll be waiting for the turbo diesel forester. It can’t come soon enough. The proviso is if Subaru don’t keep the dual range transfer case then i’ll go elsewhere.
O. Have another look at your post. Your spelling and grammar is certainly not getting any better. Have you been goofing off school?
See the Tiguan article – leaves both of these for dead. Yes, more money, but you can spend an extra 10 on the Forester to get the flasher models.
Its a shame that in the market that the Subaru Forester goes up against the Nissan X-Trail and not the Dualis…People need to get the right cars before they do reviews
“The Forester also shifts from gear to gear creamily…”
Sounds Delicious…
I am partial to the Forrester since Im already a Subie owner. But from the pics, the Dash in the Dualis is heaps better than the Forrester.
Why anyone would buy the Dualis instead of the Forester is beyond me.
The forester is a much better car by miles!!
but I agree the correct comparison is with the x-trail
,but I still think the forester would win, with its better safety/refinement and better awd system and higher ground clearence for off road use..
This is rediculeous! How can you compare these two cars. Its pretty obvious,from engine size to price everything is way different on them. Forester should be compared with CRV or X-trail!!
I have to agree with “Subie fan 4m Perth”. this review is wrong right from the start. I have ever owned three subaru cars, two foresters and one liberty. I have never even thought of … what was the car’s name again ? -oh, “Dualis”, never heard about it. “Forester should be compared with CRV or X-trail!!”, and its better than CRV or X-trail, in my view.
yea, I think to compare these two cars is a little off. Not to mention the base dualis is cheaper so when you upgrade to add more airbags, you can’t really say that safety was the main reason.
The Tuscon might be a better comparison don’t you think? Though we all know the winner…
Though id take the Subaru over the Nissan the Dualis has the better looking interior specially the seats (and dash) but there looks like there is more rear leg room in the forester too (as says so in article).
…………………….Subaru Forester!
(That answers the rest of Milbob’s sentence).
There is also more useable boot space in the Subby! The Subby is the overall winner in my opinion! Boot space is very important, when it comes to buying a car! (To me).
“Soft-roaders have really boomed in the past few years, and Subaru claims it started the revolution with the original Forester.”
No I am not TP, but Subaru was three years behind the Rav4 in the soft roader segment. I would never consider the Leone a soft roader…
yeah the forester is not in the same class as the dualis, the dualis should be compared with the sx4 4×4 as they are both “hatches” crossed with and suv. and the forester… well it looks a lot better than the previous wagon looking things :)
^But do you know the size difference between the Dualis to the SX4? Big difference!
I have the new Forester X. In white, haha.
It’s a good car, not terribly quick, but safe, roomy, comfy, and looks kinda cool.
They’re right, the power from the auto isn’t really impressive. But the semi-auto does help, makes it a bit more fun. I havent taken mine off road yet, Im not the off-roading type.
Yeah, Forester all the way. The Dualis is hideous!
Oh, anyone looking at buying one of these, gimme a yell, I had the first registered Forester X in W.A :D Ive had it for…I think 2 months? Maybe more, I forget.
I don\’t think I\’d buy either. Was a Subaru enthusiast for 20 yrs, but my current MYO6 Forester has turned me off. The throttle on the manual car had a mind of its own and the dealers/Subaru Aust\’s solution was to swap the car for an auto; which drops down a gear or 2 at the slightest rise. The suspension is too firm and the seats uncomfortable after the first hour.
We travel outback quite a bit. Can\’t someone build a good medium size wagon with low range, manual trans. and preferably a diesel?
I think it is a suitable comparision given that for the same equipment the cars cost the same. What makes it unfair is that the Dualis is overpriced in comparison. If you compare it to the SX4 it costs about 5k more for the same equipment – so all you get is a little extra size. I like the Dualis but to be at all competetive it needs to have the airbags, esp etc. on the base model – then it slots in between the Forester and SX4 where it belongs.
Was all set to buy a New Forester which was only just ahead of my second preference an X-TRAIL . Had test drives of both back to back and was sold on the smoothness of the CVT in the Nissan. I actually prefer the new shape of the Forester but the interior trim ,dash and 4 speed auto is a bit disapointing.
Test drove the Forrester X today and must say I was a little disappointed with the drive. The manual gearbox wasn’t very good, the gears changes were notchy. Also, the engine felt unrefined and rough, and pretty gutless all up. Is this normal on these cars, or just the one we drove?
The car handled well, and the ride was nice and non SUV like.
Looking at the manual Forrie, Outlander VR and manual Diesel X-Trail. Based on the test drives we’ve had of all the three cars, the X-Trail is probably the best.
Cheers,
Chris.
My partner and I own a Dualis Ti and test drove both Forrester and Dualis, While looking for our car. We found that the Forrester was clunky and heavy to drive,not to mention it’s soccor mum look. Where as the Dualis handles like a sporty hatch back and recently went on a trip to country NSW ( 7 hours each way) and paid $65 for petrol all up. We were really impressed. We love our car
I bought a Forester XT Manual in May 08, have owned about 12 Subbies over the years. Not as impressed with this one as i was hopong, although probably still the best choice in it’s class. I agree with Murray that the throttle (cableless) has a mind of it’s own, i recon it’s tuned for the auto model, seemes to be a delay when you let your foot off the throttle. Hill holder pisses me off, they have changed it to release after about 2 seconds instead of release from brake pedal, easy to stall when you stop for less than 2 seconds on any slight hill. Tyres are shit in the wet. Lots of road noise (turn the good stereo up), Seat belt warning alarm would drive people that open gates to get to there property mad, cant put weight on passengers seat without alarm going off (It’s like a Volvo)No low range in turbo version a pitty. Fuel economy close to 11.9 Litre per 100 average over 8 months.
Took the Forester for a test drive in hope that all the reviews got it right and they had come a long way from the previous model. Nope still cheap and nasty!!!
Took the dualis for a test drive … fit and finish shits over the forester shame it dosnt have more power.
My partner and I own a Dualis ST and test drove both Forrester and Dualis, While looking for our car. We found that the Forrester was too noisy and heavy to drive,and we didnt like its rough look. Where as the Dualis handles like a sporty hatch back ,easy to handle in this class of cars,economic 8 l/100 Km,excellent road view,Good looking interior. We were really impressed. We both love our car.In ur comparison u havent compared Ti Model with forester.Ti is even far better than St dualis.
;)
The dualis is fantastic; but then again I like economy; full 4×4 and the Dualis has auto gears also with select a gear option; and twin parking cameras as standard; and bluetooth as standared (here in Japan) and full StaNav and it has a full sunroof and the family love it.
The Japanese elastic band gearbox got taking used to; due to UK being almost all gearshift. But it’s fine when you are used to it.
The only thing I would change is putting sliding rear doors on it as this car is going to be sold to a lot of families with children.
If I buy another car it will be the 7-seat version with 2Litre Diesel (or hybrid if it ever happens).
Sliding rear doors would do for now. Who designed supermarket parking spaces?
I have just bought a Nissan Dualis Ti. It is a fantastic family car. It is very nice to drive with its silent and smooth engine. Interior is nice looking. Its looks is for younger buyers. It’s a practical and efficient car!
I recently bought a Nissan Dualis St 2wd after researchiong alot of cars and it was the best for my needs. The CVT is seamless in its gear changes and the engine is really quite. The ride height is good and the forward visibilty great, even look down at the New Suburau when driving. Around town 2wd with traction control is all that is needed. The AWD (lock) only works between 0-40kph so its a psuedo Low range otpion. The only thing I would change is that little triangle shaped window at the back as it could be larger to provide more visibilty, at present it creates a blind spot. Nissan says to use 91 octane fuel but I am getting better fuel economy around town with 95 octane fuel, the difference being an extra 150km per tank.
Yeah, I’ve had the Dualis for over a year now, and can’t say anything but good things – sweet & refined engine, good fuel economy, very quiet cabin, excellent 6-speed gearbox, and build quality is spot on.
This review misses the point – the Dualis doesn’t aim to compete with the Forester, it’s aimed to compete again compact hatches like the focus, golf etc. Hence the 2WD option.
For anyone who’s after a frugal compact wagon this is well worth a look
id take the suby driven both and dont fit in dualis although its called the rogue in Canada and the awd system cant handle as well as the symetrical awd system only tested in a foot of snow and cvt with the nissan is unrefined and has no gears and we dont nearly have as much sand the cvt in the latest gen in the legacy/liberty and outback should be put in the forester and impreza for better fuel economy although canadians only get the 2.5i and turbos and the H6