The first 2025 Renault Duster SUVs have landed in Australia ahead of their official on-sale in local showrooms next month – with pricing and full details yet to be revealed.
Sold under Renault’s cost-conscious Dacia sub-brand in Europe, the Romanian-built Duster is a small SUV rival to crossover SUVs like the Skoda Kamiq and Suzuki Vitara.
Offered in four model grades in the UK, Renault Australia has confirmed the Duster will be offered in Australia in two model grades but is yet to confirm full equipment details and pricing.
It showed off the two Dusters – one in Sandstone, the other in Shadow Grey – here for final evaluation and accessory tests ahead of going on sale in July 2025, giving more clues to the final spec of local versions.
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Renault Australia has said it won’t set the sales charts alight as the automaker has lower numbers this year – with access to a greater volume of Duster expected in 2026.
“Demand for this vehicle in Europe is very strong, so Australia will receive an initial allocation before shipments ramp up next year,” Renault Australia managing director Glen Sealey said in a statement.
“We ordered as many cars as we could this year, and we are now working closely with the factory to improve our allocation moving forward.”
Pricing in the UK starts at just below £20,000 ($41,520) before on-road costs and is expected to cost in the late $30,000-range in Australia – sitting close to the smaller new-generation Renault Captur SUV due here later this year.
Renault Australia has previously confirmed the Duster lineup will include ‘Y-shaped’ daytime running lights (DRLs), with standard cabin equipment including a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto .
It has also said the Duster range will come standard with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and a rear-view camera.
The overseas Duster has a three-star Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program) rating, which points to a potentially identical rating from sister safety authority ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program).
With little else revealed, the images of the two Dusters appear to match the UK-spec Expression and Journey Duster model grades, respectively.
The Expression sits above the entry-level Essential in the UK where it comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, ‘Denim style’ fabric seat trim, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and rear parking camera.
This Shadow Grey Duster appears to be one model grade above the Essential, the Journey – with Australia set to miss out on the top-spec Extreme for the time being.
The UK-market Journey gets 18-inch alloy wheels, modular roof bars and heated front seats which also have ‘MicroCloud plastic-coated textile’ upholstery.
The Duster also uses 20 per cent recycled material in its bumpers, according to Renault.
The Sandstone Duster is a 4×4 model and the Shadow Grey a 4×2, Renault Australia having previously announced both will be offered from launch.
Powering the front-wheel drive Duster 4×2 is a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 113kW of power and 250Nm of torque and mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It has a UK combined fuel economy claim of 6.5L/100km.
The 4×4 versions will use a mild-hybrid 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol three-cylinder with 96kW and 230Nm and will be only available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
4×4 mild hybrid variants have a UK combined fuel consumption figure of 6.0L/100km.
Renault Australia has confirmed 4×4 models also come with hill descent control and include five selectable drive modes.
An automatic 4×4 version is expected to be offered overseas – and will be a strong candidate for Australian showrooms – while Renault has confirmed a 4×4 hybrid with a rear-axle electric motor will go into production by the end of 2025.
Key dimensions for the 2025 Duster have been provided, confirming it’s 4325mm long, 1921 wide and 1650mm high – with ‘up to’ 212mm ground clearance, although again, depending on the model grade.
UK models also have a 517L boot in 4×2 Dusters, with 4×4 offering 456L.
The Duster shares its CMF-B underpinnings with various Renault and Nissan vehicles, including the Nissan Juke.
A range of accessories is also under evaluation, with the both cars showing off roof-mounted extras from Australian company Rhino Rack.
“Unlike many other vehicles in the small SUV segment, the Renault Duster has a level of genuine off-road ability for those who want to escape the urban jungle,” Mr Sealey said.
“That’s why we are working with Renault France and local accessory specialists to offer a wide range of options, so customers can get the most out of their new Renault Duster.”
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