2 new Nissan SUVs coming to South Africa – What to expect

Nissan is gearing up for a product offensive in South Africa that will see the introduction of two new SUVs over the coming years.

While the two models have yet to be revealed, a company spokesperson recently confirmed to TopAuto that the cars are being developed with Nissan’s long-term partner Renault.

Consequently, the two vehicles will be built on the new Renault Duster platform, giving motorists the option of either a five or seven-seater.

What we know so far

It’s no secret that Nissan’s local product line-up has shrunk dramatically over the last few years, as the Japanese carmaker is down to just four models – one of which is the ultra-exclusive R1.7-million Patrol.

Another entry, the X-Trail, no longer sells in large quantities, with monthly figures consistently falling short of 100 units, and nameplates like the Micra, Qashqai, and NP200 have all been discontinued.

This means the Nissan stable is now carried almost entirely by the entry-level Magnite crossover and the Navara bakkie, and so the new SUVs are the brand’s solution to get back into the larger passenger vehicle scene.

The two models are evidently still early in the pipeline as they have yet to be given names, let alone any official photographs, though a single teaser image has been circulating online showing what the vehicles may look like.

It’s worth noting that Nissan used to sell a rebadged version of the previous-generation Duster called the Terrano, but this was limited to markets in India and central Asia.

It’s quite possible then that the manufacturer will go with a different name for its two SUVs, especially considering that they will be tailored to the African continent as part of Nissan’s global product strategy, according to a company representative.

This also suggests that the differences between the Nissans and the Renault Duster will be more than just a badge, but we will have to wait and see what the carmaker has cooked up when the two cars are officially unveiled.

The new Renault Duster (Dacia Duster in Europe) is expected to land on our shores before the end of the year, sporting a new look with blockier proportions similar to other recent 4×4 bakkies and SUVs in contrast to the more rounded edges seen on the current models – which is a look that will likely inspire the design of the new Nissan models.

The French car is 4,342mm long, 1,810mm wide and 1,656mm tall, so expect the Japanese five-seater version to be about the same, though the seven-seater is likely to be a bit longer.

In its home market, the Renault 4×4 is available with three different powertrains, including a bi-fuel unit that can run on both petrol and LP gas, giving it an impressive range of 1,300km if both 50-litre tanks are topped up.

More likely for South Africa is a mild-hybrid plant comprising a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 48V technology, which produces 96kW.

There’s also a more powerful 1.6-litre petrol hybrid assisted by two electric motors, which generates a total of 103kW, though this option is likely to be too expensive for our market.

It’s worth mentioning that the current Duster is now exclusively sold with a 1.5-litre diesel engine in South Africa, so it’s possible that both Renault and Nissan could elect to keep this powertrain for their new SUVs given diesel’s popularity in the 4×4 world.

On a related note, the Duster presently goes for between R397,999 and R465,999, so expect the new Renault and Nissans to be priced somewhere in the ballpark of these numbers if they are to attract the masses.