Following confirmation that the Dacia Duster is going on sale in Australia, prices have now been announced for the surprisingly plucky and interesting new SUV.
It will be brought in through its parent brand, Renault, in two main variant levels; the Evolution and the Techno. These will be available with two engine options, including a 113kW/270Nm 1.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto and front-wheel drive.
And then, for adventurous types, there’s a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder mild-hybrid producing 96kW and 230Nm, matched to a six-speed manual (yes, manual), with all-wheel drive. This powertrain gets a multi-link rear suspension setup while the front-wheel drive uses torsion beam.
The braked towing capacity is 1500kg for both, with a kerb weight of 1309kg-1364kg for the FWD (Evolution-Techno) and 1422kg-1441kg for the AWD. The AWD also offers 212m of ground clearance while the FWD has 174mm.
Boot space is rated at 472L and up to 1564L in the FWD, and 358L up to 1424L for the AWD. Other technical highlights, the 1.3L engine can run on 91 RON fuel while the 1.2L requires at least 95 RON. And then speaking of fuel, the FWD is stamped at 6.5L/100km and the manual AWD is 5.7L/100km on the combined cycle.
This should be an interesting model as it promises decent off-road capability and utility, while most SUVs and crossovers on sale today are more about looking good and sportiness. Glen Sealey, general manager of Renault Australia, said:
“Unlike most vehicles in this segment, new Renault Duster really does blend the best of both worlds, with a genuine ability to bridge the gap between the urban jungle and the great outdoors. Its compact dimensions make it easy to park in tight spots in the city and suburbs, and its tall ground clearance and intelligent traction control systems make it easy to manoeuvre in a range of off-road conditions.”
The new model is scheduled to arrive in showrooms later in July, with a special introductory price of $34,990 drive-away for the base Evolution FWD 1.3L. See below for the regular starting prices (excluding on-road costs), and further below for highlight features. Accessories will also be available.
Dacia Duster Evolution 1.3T FWD auto: $31,990
Dacia Duster Evolution 1.2T AWD manual: $36,490
Dacia Duster Techno 1.3T FWD auto: $36,990
Dacia Duster Techno 1.2T AWD manual: $37,990 (due in December)
Servicing intervals are 12 months/30,000km, and warranty is five-year/unlimited kilometres.
Evolution features:
- Black and grey cloth upholstery
- Centre armrest with closed storage
- Rear air-conditioning vents
- Height and reach adjustable leather steering wheel
- Dual-zone air-conditioning with air purifier
- 7-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen (with custom display options)
- AM/FM/DAB Radio
- Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Bluetooth phone pairing with audio streaming
- Arkamys classic sound system with six speakers
- One-touch auto-up and auto-down windows on all four doors
- USB-C charging ports (two front, two rear)
- 12 V power socket (one in front cabin, one in boot)
- YouClip accessory points: 1 x rear centre console, 2 x boot, 1 x inside of tailgate
- Remote central locking
- Auto-door lock when driving
- Foldable ‘flick’ key
- Electric parking brake
- Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
- Dusk-sensing headlights
- LED lamps (low beam)
- Halogen lamps (high beam)
- Y-shaped daytime running lights
- Rear fog light
- Mirror indicator light
- 17-inch diamond-cut ‘Adventure’ alloy wheels
- Continental Cross Contact 215/65 R17 tyres
- Spare tyre (215/70 R16)
- Grey door mirrors
- Fixed roof rails
Techno adds or replaces with:
- Black and grey premium cloth upholstery
- Rear privacy glass
- Blind spot warning
- Multi-view camera
- Front parking sensors
- Smart key card
- Automatic ‘walk away’ door locking and ‘approach’ unlocking
- Engine start button
- Automatic high/low beam
- Split-level boot floor (4×2 only)
- Additional YouClip accessory point: Dashboard, right of infotainment screen
- 18-inch diamond-cut ‘Exploration’ alloy wheels
- Continental Cross Contact 215/60 R18 tyres
- Modular roof rails
