Sydney show: Nissan slams down sub-$15K Micra

IN STARK contrast to Toyota’s LandCruiser-dominated stand, Nissan showed its more sensitive side at the Australian International Motor Show this morning with the release of full Australian pricing and specifications for its new Micra light car, the all-new X-Trail compact SUV and the Dualis crossover.

The X-Trail hits the streets at the end of October while the Dualis and Micra will be out in December.

Set to shake up – if not absolutely throttle – the city-car segment, the long-awaited Micra will arrive with a lower-than-expected $14,990 sticker price and an ultra-competitive equipment list which includes five doors, (four-speed) automatic transmission, air-conditioning, dual front airbags, ABS brakes, anti-whiplash front head restraints, power windows/mirrors, remote central locking, an MP3-compatible single-slot CD stereo and a 60/40 split-fold rear seat.

A $1700 “City Collection” option pack combines side and curtain airbags with a six-stack CD player and 15-inch alloy wheels.

As GoAuto reported on our first drive overseas earlier this year, power will come from a 1.4-litre engine producing 72kW at 5600rpm and 137Nm at 3200rpm.

Following a similar trail to the mid-size Pathfinder and Murano SUVs, the X-Trail and Dualis combination has also emerged as one with considerable potential, although it remains to be seen whether the sportier new urban-oriented model will add to, or cut into, the consistently strong X-Trail sales.

Left: X-Trail and Dualis.

The platform architecture is the same, the two share various mechanical components and the pricing also blends in – quite neatly, in fact, with X-Trail pricing starting from $31,990 for the ST, $35,990 for the ST-L and $38,990 for the range-topping Ti.

The Dualis will kick off at $28,990 for the ST and climb to $33,990 for the Ti. CVT auto on both will add $2000, while Dualis will offer a mid-series of sorts with a $2000 ST option pack comprising ESC, side and curtain airbags and 16-inch alloy wheels.

All Dualis and X-Trail models will be fitted standard with dual front airbags, ABS brakes, air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors, a single CD stereo, remote central locking and cruise control, however only the full X-Trail range will feature six airbags and ESC (with traction control, “active brake limited slip”, hill-descent control and hill-start assist).

There are many other nuances in the features list, but a key differentiator to consider is that the Dualis depends on a 102kW/198Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine while the X-Trail uses a 125kW/226Nm 2.5-litre petrol.

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