Nissan Dualis 2014 Review

Dualis is dead, well, not really, it will be around until the new generation arrives soon when it will be called Qashqai (pronounced Cash Kai). The car we drove (again) recently was the front wheel drive only Dualis TS Diesel in six speed manual only. And herein lies the rub. It needs an auto to fully tap into the compact SUV segment. That will undoubtedly come with Qashqai.

ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

But there are plenty of positives with Nissan's urban SUV, particularly the engine which rates as one of the better units on the market offering strong performance and excellent fuel economy. It's a 1.6-litre turbo diesel four banger with 96kW/320Nm output and apart from a slight hesitation off idle, it goes great.

The idle stop/start system is quick and aids fuel economy in traffic. No complaints about the six speed manual either apart from the fact that it's a manual and diesel work better with an auto. The engine is efficient enough to pass Euro 5 emissions.

SAFETY

Though it has a full range of safety features, the Dualis is a relatively old design (pre 2007) and scores a four star crash rating.

DESIGN / STYLING

We are OK with its styling. Some colours give the rather boring body more presence than others with silver topping our choice. Inside is fairly generic featuring plenty of hard surfaces offset by some soft and splashes of bright work.

VALUE

With only months to run before the arrival of Qashqai, Dualis in runout is going to be good buying. The TS diesel is pitched at a snip over $30 grand but we reckon you could do better than that.

DRIVING

The drive is comfortable and the ergonomics sensible. The engine runs smoothly and doesn't make much noise at all. You could be in a petrol vehicle. And we saw the claimed 4.5 litres/100km on the trip computer, better on a highway run. That means a range of 1000km is relatively easy to attain.

On the dynamics front, the Dualis is good for what it is. Forget fanging around corners or plunging deep under brakes. Dualis offers up a supple and controlled ride, minimal body roll and quite an engaging drive feel. It is after all what we like to call a "fat hatchback' complete with front wheel drive. It has strut front and multi-link rear suspension KIT The diesel is only available in TS spec which means no leather but there's plenty of kit to keep you entertained and comfortable.

Stuff like Bluetooth phone and audio, excellent satnav, reverse camera, 17-inch alloys, cruise, aircon, remote keyless entry, power windows and mirrors, drive computer and auto headlights and wipers are all included. The cloth upholstery is possibly better for our conditions than leather. And in practical terms, the Dualis gets a big tick offering generous load and passenger space and folding rear seats.

VERDICT

We warmed to the Dualis diesel, finding it a good family all-rounder -- which is precisely what it was designed to be.

Nissan Dualis TS diesel
Price: from $30,290
Warranty: 3 years roadside assist 100,000km
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder diesel, 96kW/320Nm
Transmission: 5-speed manual, FWD
Thirst: 4.5L/100Km, CO2 119g/km