2008 Nissan Dualis preview
January 21, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Nissan Australia is expecting big things from the company’s new five-door crossover, the DUALIS. According to Nissan, the car is aimed at young urbanites looking for a unique combination of small car agility and compact SUV versatility.
The Dualis is also expected to attract first-time Nissan buyers. In the first year of sales in Europe, the average age of new owners is 44 years old, three years younger than the average and six years younger than the compact SUV average.
Over 30 percent of buyers also fall into the 36-45 year bracket, against a 20 per cent average for the small car segment and 27 per cent for the compact SUV.
The Dualis finds it self against the likes of Suzuki SX4 hatchback, both cars are small and compact and utilise an all-wheel drive chassis. Like the SX4 the Dualis can pick between 2WD, Auto and 4WD lock driving modes. It has a wheelbase of 2,630mm, it is 1,615mm tall, 1,780mm wide and 4,315mm long.
Powered by a 2.0-litre four cylinder engine, the Dualis makes do with 102kW at 5,200rpm and 198Nm of torque at 4400rpm. The Japanese giant will offer the Dualis with a standard six-speed manual transmission, with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) available as an option.
As for fuel consumption, the 65-litre tank gives the manual DUALIS a 8.4-litres of fuel per 100km rating, while the CVT variants use 8.5l/100km.
From the inside the $28,990 entry price tag does not result in a cheap and nasty interior. It will sit five occupants with seating positions elevated for that sought after SUV feel.
It is available in seven colours, most of which are a Dualis special:
- Arctic White,
- Urban Silver,
- Blade,
- Cayman Blue,
- Pearl Black,
- Fired Iron,
- Intense Blue.
You also get 60/40 folding rear seats which can be tucked away to store an enormous 1443-litres of luggage. But if you want to keep the Red Bull cold, there is always the 14-litre cooled glove box which can accommodate 15 cans of coke.
Standard features include:
- Air conditioning
- Steering wheel adjustable for rake and reach
- Power windows and mirrors
- Single CD-Tuner with 4 speakers
- Remote central locking
- Front cup-holders
- Cooled 14-litre glove box
- Centre console box
- Height-adjustable, sculpted driver’s seat
- 60/40 split rear seats
- 352-litre boot capacity, expandable to 1443-litres
Unfortunately the base model does not recieve ESP as standard, but it can be added as an option.
The ALL MODE 4×4 system electronically controls power and torque by transferring it between wheels and axles the instant it is required.
There will be two models for the Australian market, the Dualis ST and Ti.The ST starts with the basics but can be upgraded with a $2,000 option pack that includes 16-inch alloy wheels, Vehicle Dynamic Control and Enhanced Understeer Control, Active Brake Limited Slip and side and curtain airbags.
The top top of the range Ti model receives the option pack as well as
- leather seats, heated at the front;
- leather wrapped steering-wheel with controls for the audio,
- Bluetooth phone compatibility and Drive computer;
- aluminium trim highlights,
- a six-stacker CD player with six-speakers,
- rain sensitive windscreen wipers,
- light sensitive auto headlamps,
- sliding centre console armrest and a handy pull-out storage tray under the front passenger seats.
The Dualis is on sale now for the following RRP:
- Nissan Dualis ST six-speed manual $28,990
- Nissan Dualis ST M-Mode CVT $30,990.
- Nisan Dualis Ti $33,990 manual
- Nisan Dualis Ti CVT $35,990
CarAdvice is road testing the Dualis in the next few weeks so check back for a review.
Print it: 
Wagons of the new age!
Interesting how this car manages to consume quite little for its size. Anyone would be silly to buy the ST + safety pack. Why not spend the extra $1k and get all the gadgets and comfort gizmos?
Hell yes I want an ochre orange ugly Korean headlight fitted SUV in todays climate!
Steering wheel sure looks cool though doesn’t it. :P
aww.. comon.. still better than the actual korean SUVs rite?
What exactly is a “standard option”?
Style wise, this thing makes the Skodas look great.
Price wise, the SX4 thrashes this to death, and looks much better too.
“Standard options include:”
Is that a list of standard items, or a list of items that are standard on all options lists of many cars? :)
The rear 3 quarter blindspot would be huge in this. I hope it has convex mirrors on both sides.
Again i hate sound repedative…BUT!!….. Where is the bloody DIESEL model?????
Of the major brands selling cars in Australia, Nissan are the most inept marketers of vehicles IMO. Provided that they advertise Dualis, and effectively, it should do alright, but this will probably be too much to expect from Nissan.
Nissan the most inept? Sorry, that can’t be – nothing matches Ford for ineptness (except perhaps Proton…..)
WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY off price wise, just like the Murano, Navara and Maxima, prices on all of those slashed, price of Dualis will drop to.
Dont get it, the Tiida [nee Pulsar] and Micra are bang on the money, the Dualis is nowhere
FFS its X Trail money? Like WTF?
Should be dollar for dollar, same as the Suz SX4, it will in the future and RUIN the resale for the early buyers
Cheers
F-0
It is overpriced and the backseat is hopelessly small which is going to kill its sale heavily. It will drop price before long.
Carl there is a diesel….In Euroland. But why not in Australia. Probably as Nissan don’t really take the diesel bit seriously which will affect sales.
Whilst I personnally like the look and idea of this , I can’t really see the point of buying what is in truth a car on stilts with a 4wd drive train and a horrendous price premium over say a focus.
Its also available in base level in the UK with 2WD only.
Morning No Name…….! Hows the weather?
Mmmm BM – I wouldn’t ask, although I did see the sun for about 5 mins this morning the first time in 4 days. Spent the half the weekend in the utility room with my head in the rear of the washing machine hunting a leak. Oh joy.
What do you think of the little Nissan babe
So did we find the leak????
The Nissan…….mmmmmmmm not me! Im not a lover of any of these mid sized SUVs regardless of what brand!
No Sun…….that sucks!
Yep sussed the leak. Inlet hose. bodged it & cut off 2cm and stuck it back on then emptied the contents of my sons pockets out of the pump. Wondered why it was broke.
Theres a great advert running of the Dualis (Called the Qashquai here) someone using it as a skateboard doing all the stunts and stuff. Cool.
Hopefully Alborz will put something on that will bring out the Holdenites, Fordies and Toyos for a fisty cuff.
BM… what are you doing up?
Dont like the look!
Must admit, saw a blue one today, they do look ok, *she* would like it [because its new] but will wait till Nissan get fair-dinkum with the price
Cheers
F-0
Its definiteiy overpriced, X-Trail money. Like the Rav4 V6 is almost Kluger money. What’s the appeal with car companies being in competition with themselves?
I quite like the style. It’s a shame Nissan Australia think so little of us that they deemed it necessary to change the name. Aussies wouldn’t get Qashquai (cash-kye, No Name?) so we get the equally difficult Dew Ah Liss.
Lord knows what the Americans will call it.
Yep that right Golfie “Cash Cow” ha ha…Isn;t Dualis a brand of toaster…Ah No thats Dualit…What do you drive tow slot of four slot!
I think after changing the Pulsar into the Tiiiiiiiiida, Nissan didn’t want to risk it.
They’re selling the ST with the option pack for no extra – your wish has been granted people. With these extras it scores the highest euro safety rating.
I just bought a black ST-option. Can’t wait to get it, it’s everything I need.
Anyone hearing word of them placing a larger engine in the Dualis?
I’m very interested in the car but am a little concerned about the 2L engine size
I still prefer the CX7 over the dualis tbh
I think the name “DUALIS” came about when someone from the Design Team at Nissan asked the CEO the question..
“Do U A Like d-IS?
However; [ as you can see by the way the car looks ] that person was obviously pissed!
It was probably the same person who designed the Rhino which ended up being called the Murano
Nice car but lacks some essentials – aux input in to the stereo for example. I can’t believe you can buy something at this price without it.
Nice enough on long open roads trips, but where’s the bull bar? If I hit a roo at 110 that nudge bar will be pointless.
Six gears is too many – needs a tell-tale on the dash to say which one you are in; personally I rarely use 5th. If you are over 40, you won’t be able to read the petrol gauge without your glasses – especially if you drive with lights on during the day.
There are too many cup holders and they are too small to be useful for cups; and the wrong shape for anything else.
The proximity of the seat height adjustment and the seat back adjustment is irritating, and don’t get me started on the hopeless electric windows.
Oh, and the doors; well if you’ve owned a Nissan previously you know that they can’t do doors.
All in all, it’s competent, but little else; the motoring equivalent of a Russell Hobbs kettle.
^ Rob, did you know that you can’t get an Aux jack for the stereo in the Mazda CX-7, which is $10K more expensive than the Dualis Ti? Pretty poor IMO, apparently it’s to do with them now having a standard reversing camera. so stupid
We were told by Nissan Australia that a 1.5L diesal Engine for the Dualis to be released by late 2010.
I think this car is the perfect size, even if you dont have children. I think its a nice shape and very modern. Nissan have done well, i mean look at th xtrail? entrails come to mind with that name!!
I think its a pretty good price options etc compared to other standard models. captiva, territory mazda.
Overall i cannot fault this car