Renault is having another crack at the small SUV segment with something it believes will be quite unique in its segment.
The 2025 Renault Duster – sold under Renault’s budget Dacia brand in Europe – is available to order now, ahead of showroom arrivals commencing later this month.
The Duster has a rather unusual lineup for a small SUV in Australia in 2025.
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The base powertrain is a turbocharged 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
That’s not that unusual, but if you want all-wheel drive you have to drop down to a 1.2-litre mild-hybrid turbo-petrol three-pot with less power and torque, and this is offered exclusively with a six-speed manual.
All-wheel drive variants also swap the torsion-beam rear suspension of front-wheel drive variants for a multi-link setup.
Both powertrains are offered in both Evolution and Techno trim levels, though the Techno 4×4 isn’t due to arrive locally until December 2025.
The range opens with the Evolution 4×2, priced at $31,990 before on-road costs or $34,990 drive-away for a limited time.
While it shares its platform with cars like the Renault Clio, as well as crossover SUVs like the Captur and Nissan Juke, Renault says the Duster has “tall suspension and generous off-road clearance angles”.
“Customer demand for adventure vehicles in Australia remains strong, and Renault Duster reflects this lifestyle,” said Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey.
“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.
“Whether customers choose the 4×2 or 4×4 version, the other advantage of Renault Duster’s tall suspension is the comfort it delivers over bumps and thumps on suburban roads.”
It will also be offered with “a range of genuine and locally sourced accessories to appeal to buyers with a sense of adventure”, though Renault hasn’t published a list of these yet. It has, however, revealed a Duster featuring a Rhino Rack roof platform.
All Dusters come standard with YouClip attachment points, allowing you to affix items like torches and cupholders throughout the cabin.
Renault cautions the Duster will initially arrive in “limited numbers” due to strong European demand, so Australia will receive an initial allocation before shipments ramp up next year.
“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,” said Mr Sealey.
Pricing
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2025 Renault Duster Evolution 1.3T auto 4×2 | $31,990 |
| 2025 Renault Duster Evolution 1.2T manual 4×4 | $36,490 |
| 2025 Renault Duster Techno 1.3T auto 4×2 | $36,990 |
| 2025 Renault Duster Techno 1.2T manual 4×4 | $37,990 |
Drivetrains and Efficiency
There are two powertrains on offer.
| Specifications | Duster 4×2 | Duster 4×4 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.3L turbo-petrol 4cyl | 1.2L turbo-petrol 3cyl |
| Power | 113kW @ 5500rpm | 96kW @ 4500rpm |
| Torque | 270Nm @ 2250rpm | 230Nm @ 2250rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch auto with paddles | 6-speed manual |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1309kg (Evolution) 1363kg (Techno) |
1422kg (Evolution) 1441kg (Techno) |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.5L/100km | 5.7L/100km |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 | Euro 6 |
| Braked towing capacity (unbraked) | 695kg | 750kg |
| Braked towing capacity (braked) | 1500kg | 1500kg |
The 1.2-litre also features a mild-hybrid system and automatic idle stop/start, while the all-wheel drive system brings with it a hill descent control feature plus terrain drive modes.
Dimensions
External dimensions are the same across the range, though the all-wheel drive variants have greater ground clearance and slightly less boot space.
| Dimensions | Renault Duster |
|---|---|
| Length | 4345mm |
| Width | 1921mm (mirrors folded) 2069mm (mirrors extended) |
| Wheelbase | 2657mm |
| Cargo capacity (VDA) | 472L to 1564L (4×2) 358L to 1424L (4×4) |
| Ground clearance | Up to 174mm (4×2) Up to 212mm (4×4) |
Servicing and Warranty
The Renault Duster is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 30,000km, whichever comes first. Renault Australia has yet to announce any capped-price servicing details.
Safety
The Renault Duster has yet to be tested by ANCAP, though the European-market Dacia Duster received a three-star safety rating from sister authority Euro NCAP based on testing conducted in 2024.
It has yet to be confirmed whether ANCAP will also apply a three-star rating for Australia.
Standard safety equipment across the range includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Driver attention alert
- Lane-keep assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Front and front-side airbags
- Curtain airbags for both rows
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
The Techno adds:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Multi-view camera
- Front parking sensors
Standard Equipment
There are two trim levels in the Duster lineup.
Standard equipment for the Evolution includes:
- 17-inch diamond-cut ‘Adventure’ alloy wheels
- Continental Cross Contact 215/65 R17 tyres
- Spare tyre (215/70 R16)
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Automatic LED headlights with halogen high-beam
- Rear fog light
- Grey door mirrors
- Fixed roof rails
- Electric parking brake
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB digital radio
- Wireless phone charger
- 2 x front USB-C outlets
- 2 x rear USB-C outlets
- 1 x front 12V outlet
- 1 x boot 12V outlet
- 6-speaker Arkamys sound system
- Cruise control and speed limiter
- Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Height and reach adjustable steering wheel
- Power windows with one-touch auto up/down
- YouClip accessory points: 1 x rear centre console, 2 x boot, 1 x inside of tailgate
- Remote central locking
The Techno adds:
- 18-inch diamond-cut ‘Exploration’ alloy wheels
- Continental Cross Contact 215/60 R18 tyres
- Rear privacy glass
- Automatic high-beam
- Smart key card
- Proximity entry with automatic walk away door locking, approach unlocking
- ‘Premium’ cloth upholstery
- Keyless start
- Split-level boot floor (4×2 only)
- Additional YouClip accessory point: Dashboard, right of infotainment screen
- Modular roof rails
Colours
Solid White exterior paint is standard, with the following metallic and premium finishes costing an extra $750:
- Solid White (no extra cost)
- Cedar Green
- Sandstone
- Terracotta
- Shadow Grey
- Khaki Green
- Pearlescent Black
All Dusters have black and grey cloth upholstery.
MORE: Explore the Renault Duster showroom
