The Nissan Dualis will be renamed Qashqai in Australia for the second-generation version of the high-riding hatchback crossover due in 2014, bringing it into line with most other global markets.
Nissan Australia adopted the Dualis name when it launched the original vehicle in early 2008 but says studies by its home market in the UK indicate there is a consumer advantage to using Qashqai.
“Dualis has been successful in Australia but on the other side of the coin our dealings with the UK, where the car is built… they’ve shown us research that has given us some learnings [on the strength of the Qashqai name],” says Nissan Australia spokesman Chris Jordan.
“We’re one of the few markets in the world that uses a different name… The Qashqai has been hugely successful in the UK so we are getting on the same page as the majority of markets.”
The Dualis/Qashqai is an urban-styled crossover twin to the off-roader-style Nissan X-Trail.
Nissan Australia sold 13,141 Dualis models (current version above) in 2012, making it the company’s third most popular model behind the X-Trail (16,066 units) and Navara ute (26,045).
It remains Nissan’s third best-seller so far in 2013 despite the return of the famous Pulsar badge to the company’s small car offering – with both out-selling the X-Trail.
Nissan has officially revealed the new-gen X-Trail but not yet the Qashqai.
