Cheap hybrid SUV exclusive! Dacia Duster Australian details leaked as it takes on Toyota Corolla Cross, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, and GWM Haval Jolion hybrids

Renault importer Ateco Automotive is finally set to launch the internationally popular Dacia Duster in Australia later in 2025, with the order books scheduled to open sometime in the final quarter of next year.

According to an internal memo seen by CarsGuide this week, the small-to-medium-sized five-door crossover wagon may also be offered in hybrid versions as an inexpensive alternative to the GWM Haval Jolion HEV and smaller Toyota Yaris Cross.

Wearing the established Renault, rather than the little-known Dacia brand from Romania for our market, the French-owned and controlled compact crossover will take on the latter, along with the Toyota Corolla Cross, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, MG ZS and Mazda CX-30.

Pitched at the heart of the booming small SUV segment then, we expect pricing will be in the $30,000 to $40,000 bracket, which should make it one of the most popular Renault-badged models moving forward, displacing the ageing Koleos.

To help keep the Duster competitive in Australia, the memo mentions India as a possible lower-cost sourcing option to the Mioveni, Romanian factory that has built the Duster since 2010 for European markets.

Speaking of which, as a Dacia, the series is preceded by a formidable reputation, selling strongly since its debut. In fact, the Duster is currently Europe's 10th most popular vehicle outright year-to-date, outselling all of the above-mentioned small SUVs bar the Yaris Cross over there.

The Duster is currently Europe’s 10th most popular vehicle outright year-to-date, outselling all of the above-mentioned small SUVs bar the Yaris Cross over there.

About the size of the original (T30-series of 2001) Nissan X-Trail, key drawcards include chunky styling, a spacious and practical interior large enough for a family of five, a rugged robustness promising longevity, lower-than-class-average pricing and enjoyable driving dynamics – a corollary of being based on an extended version of the Renault Clio architecture.

The latest version adds to this with more luxury, refinement, economy, performance and cargo space – with a handy cargo capacity of 472 litres to boot.

Renault importer Ateco Automotive is finally set to launch the internationally popular Dacia Duster in Australia later in 2025.

The delay until later in 2025 is down to the fact that the Duster Australians will see is the all-new, third-generation, P1310 series unveiled several weeks ago in its home market. Romanian production is due to commence this month, with European deliveries expected by the middle of next year.

The new model uses the Renault Alliance's Common Module Family – B (CMF-B) architecture – a transverse-engine and front-wheel-drive platform that has been engineered to accommodate a rear-mounted electric motor on 1.6-litre four-cylinder versions, for hybridised all-wheel drive – as per the Toyota RAV4 hybrid.

The latest version adds to this with more luxury, refinement, economy, performance and cargo space – with a handy cargo capacity of 472 litres to boot.

This would be an option over two smaller petrol engines on offer – a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo and a 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo. AWD is also available with these in some markets, while a 4x4 'Terrain Control' transmission' brings some proper off-road traction settings, to go with better-than-class-average ground clearance.

What's not to love about the Duster then?

About the size of the original (T30-series of 2001) Nissan X-Trail, key drawcards include chunky styling, a spacious and practical interior large enough for a family of five.

For the two previous generations released in 2010 and 2017 respectively, the main fly in the ointment was a lack of driver-assist safety tech, which helped keep prices affordable.

While resulting in just three out of five stars for the outgoing model in the Euro NCAP ratings, it was something that consumers seemed happy to overlook, if it meant getting into a new, solid and capable family SUV that is a safer proposition than many like-priced used alternatives, since most of the basic safety spec was in place anyway.

For the two previous generations released in 2010 and 2017 respectively, the main fly in the ointment was a lack of driver-assist safety tech.

This may be remedied in the 2025 Duster, since its switch to the newer CMF-B platform ushers is driver-assist safety like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), blind-spot warning, lane-support systems and other related tech.

Additionally, for the first time, the series gains a more-sophisticated multi-link rear suspension system, though whether this is as an option to the standard torsion beam arrangement is not yet known.

Renault has huge hopes for its Romanian SUV, as it neatly slides in the ultra-affordable Euro niche abandoned by rival Skoda in recent years.

Renault has huge hopes for its Romanian SUV, as it neatly slides in the ultra-affordable Euro niche abandoned by rival Skoda in recent years.

Stay tuned, as we'll report on more Dacia-related Renault news - including the likelihood of the Duster's intriguing Bigster stablemate - the moment it drops.