Good news! The Dacia Duster is coming to Australia, and it’ll arrive in the second half of 2025 – but without the Romanian brand’s badge.
Set to be sold by its parent company by the Renault Duster, the rugged small SUV has been rumoured to launch locally for years, and the decision has finally been made to bring the European Suzuki Jimny rival Down Under.
“The Renault brand has a rich history in Australia and we are proud to announce Duster will be part of our next chapter, as we continue to bring unique vehicles to the Australian market,” said Renault Australia boss, Glen Sealey.
Pricing and more specifications for the Australian-market Renault Duster will be announced closer to launch, however dealers are now taking expressions of interest from potential buyers.
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Sold in the UK as a Dacia, the Duster retails between £18,850 (A$37,500) and £23,850 (A$47,400) in that market.
The Renault Duster will be sold in Australia with a choice of two powertrain configurations.
The first is a version of the petrol engine already used in the Renault Captur and Arkana – a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing 113kW and 250Nm, sent to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission.
A four-wheel drive version will also be offered, powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder mild-hybrid good for 96kW and 230Nm, paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
European market models are also available with a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder fed by either a 50L petrol tank or a 50L LPG tank that the driver can switch between, as well as a 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid. However, those powertrains aren’t bound for our shores.
Two model grades will be offered in Australia, with a choice of seven body colours.
The Duster measures 4345mm long, 1921mm wide (2069mm with mirrors extended) and 1650mm tall, on a 2657mm wheelbase.
For context, the five-door Suzuki Jimny XL is more than 500mm shorter, almost 300mm narrower but also 70mm taller, while running on a wheelbase with just 67mm less between the axles.
While full specifications have not yet been revealed, Renault Australia has confirmed that the local market Duster will be equipped with interior features including a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Renault is marketing the Duster as a pint-sized off-roader, and as such the four-wheel drive version also offers five drive modes, plus a hill descent control system.
All Dusters come with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including autonomous emergency braking, driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, and external cameras.
MORE: Everything Renault