Renault Duster bringing rugged off-roader to Australia to tackle Jimny
09/05/2024 02:00 PM
An ‘extreme’ variant of the cheap-and-cheerful Dacia Duster is heading our way ready to take on Suzuki Jimny in the battle of small SUV off-roaders
TheDacia Duster small SUV is set to shake up the compact off-road market when it lands in Australia, rebranded as the Renault Duster, towards the end of 2025.
While details on specification and trim levels are still to be confirmed by Renault Australia, the brand's Australian boss, Glen Sealey, told Drive that a rugged 4×4 variant, known in overseas markets as Extreme, would form part of the range mix.
That would see the Duster go up against the Suzuki Jimny in the battle for small off-road SUVs.
"I’m excited to say we’re going to have a four-by-four manual," Sealey told Drive.
The Duster is a small SUV manufactured by the French giant's Romanian budget brand Dacia. Now in its third generation, the Dacia Duster has become one of Europe's most popular vehicles with sales that see it well entrenched inside the top 10.
The cheap and cheerful Duster is a four-metre long, five-door SUV similar in size to the Suzuki Jimny and Toyota Corolla Cross.
In its most potent form, the Duster features four-wheel drive with a multi-plate clutch to distribute torque equally to front and rear wheels, 217mm of ground clearance, 31- and 36 degree departure and approach angles front and rear respectively, off-road drive modes, bash plates, and an elevated ride height.
Marketed in Europe as a budget-friendly small SUV, the Duster is set to hit local Renault dealerships in the third quarter of 2025.
However, Sealey warned that while the Renault Duster will serve as the entry-point into the brand, complying with some Australian Design Rules (ADRs) would add some cost to locally-delivered vehicles. He also added that Australian-delivered vehicles would be specified "differently here".
The Dacia Duster, in its most basic form, is priced from £17,295 in the UK, the equivalent of $AU33,815, making it the most affordable small SUV on the market.
But Sealey warned the Renault Duster, when it arrives in local showrooms "won't be that cheap and cheerful but it will still represent pretty good value".
The post Renault Duster bringing rugged off-roader to Australia to tackle Jimny appeared first on Drive.
