Nissan plots Rogue action

Determined not to repeat the loss of sales momentum between the Pulsar and its Tiida replacement and with its X-Trail not due for replacement until 2008, Nissan is carefully researching the compact SUV segment.

A product-savvy CarPoint reader confirmed she had recently been part of a market research event which focused on compact softroaders in the $35-40,000 segment. This hotly-contested segment has grown half a size recently with the up-sized Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan is apparently keen to maintain its share of the pie.

The dilemma Nissan faces is the success it has enjoyed in the low $30,000 segment with its current X-Trail. This king of the smaller crossover vehicles with its powerful 123kW 2.5-litre engine has a steady following with those who want a powerful but compact model with better than average all-road capabilities.

Based on a medium-sized passenger model not seen in Australia, the X-Trail and its name have considerable brand equity in Australia. Nissan would have to think twice about dropping it and risk a repeat of the Pulsar/Tiida saga. Which makes some of Nissan's recent activity in the local marketplace all the more interesting…

Until recently, it was assumed that the Euro-focused Qashqai (red car pictured, for more click

CarPoint can reveal the market research event and other clues have now muddied the water further. Indeed, the car being 'workshopped' by Nissan was described by the abovementioned reader as "a smaller version of the Murano without the awkward and squashed-looking tail styling of the Qashqai."

This suggests that the car of the moment is the Rogue (also pictured, for more click

Officially a US-only model and not confirmed as even package-protected for right-hand drive, the Rogue was dismissed as a possible Australian model by Nissan sources as recently as last week.

Now, we can confirm the company is not only researching the car, but also market testing it by name. Indeed Rogue was considered the top choice by the group which our reader when tested against others such as Qashqai, Trevi and Elacia.

So what's Nissan up to? Is the company looking for market muscle to get the Rogue built in right-hand drive, or is it perhaps looking at a 'hybrid' model that rests somewhere between the two. Alternatively is it simply looking to use the Rogue name to re-badge the Qashqai?

At this stage your guess is as good as ours. What you can be sure of is a new X-Trail will arrive Down Under some time in 2008 wearing X-Trail badges. Mark our words there will be no repeat of the Tiida debacle. Nissan has learned that lesson at least…