ACTION in the compact SUV kitchen just got hotter. Nissan has addressed one of the major shortfalls of its Dualis and will introduce a diesel variant from May 1.

But the oil-burner will only be available with a manual transmission with a starting price of $29,990 (the drive-away price is estimated to be about $33,200).

New features have also been introduced across the range, including sat nav and a reversing camera. That comes with higher pricing, and the entry-level ST now starts from $25,990 - an increase of $1000. 

When the refreshed range arrives in May, the Dualis diesel will be available in a new TS grade. It will feature the R9M diesel engine, idle stop/start, 96kW of power, 320Nm of torque and average fuel consumption of 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres. The Dualis TS specification, available only with manual transmission, is based on the entry-level ST grade, with the addition of exterior treatments such as front fog lights, tinted glass and chrome highlights.

Other additions to the Dualis line-up include new 17-inch alloys in the ST and TS grades, while satellite navigation and a reversing camera now standard across the range.

Nissan's Around View Monitor technology continues to feature in the Ti-L grades, which Nissan says was a popular innovation that was introduced in 2012.

"The Dualis is one of our most popular models with its stylish design, rich selection of technology and safety features as well as a seven-seat option in the Dualis+2," said Nissan Motor Co (Australia) managing director and CEO William F Peffer Jr.

"With the addition of a turbo diesel variant and additional features such as satellite navigation and reversing camera across the line-up, the Dualis and Dualis+2 represent outstanding value and are now an even more exciting and compelling proposition."

Dualis pricing

Dualis+2 pricing

 The previous Ti grade for DUALIS and DUALIS+2 is no longer available.