Dacia Duster may hit Oz from under $30K

The new Dacia Duster has hit showrooms in the UK, with indicative pricing suggesting the forthcoming SUV could reach Aussie showrooms for as little as $30,000.

Dacia, the starting-price member of the Renault Group, was locked in for Australia in June this year, as exclusively revealed by carsales.

Its newly-appointed Renault importer, Ateco Group, has committed to the Romanian brand as a high priority for future growth, with a 2022 launch date slated.

One of Dacia’s foundational models is the Duster small SUV, which reached UK showrooms this week bearing fresh styling, mechanical improvements and new technology.

Petrol and diesel versions of the Duster are being offered in the UK across three trim levels – Essential, Comfort and Prestige.

Powertrains are available with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive and AWD available.

Pricing for the UK range is set at £13,995 for the TCe 90 three-cylinder turbo-petrol model – which equates to about $26,000 plus on-road costs in Oz.

Once shipping and our high standard equipment expectations are met, it is likely that Ateco will target an entry price of less than $30,000.

However, the Australian distributor is yet to comment.

In the UK, Essential models get 16-inch steel wheels, automatic LED headlights with daytime running lights, cruise control, digital radio and manual air-conditioning.

The top spec Prestige variants adopt 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, automatic climate control, front parking sensors and the upgraded infotainment.

“We will be bringing Dacia in. We are talking to them right now about the details,” the head of Ateco, Neville Crichton, revealed to carsales in June.

“It will happen. Absolutely. Dacia will fit in below Renault.”

There is no firm timeline yet, but Ateco is keen to get evaluation cars into Australia in coming months for a full-scale push in 2022.

“We think the product is good. We’ve had a good look at it. We’ve looked at Dacia for 10 years or so,” said Crichton.

In Australia, the Dacia line-up is likely to be spearheaded by the Dacia Sandero, a light-sized hatchback, alongside the Dacia Sandero Stepway light SUV version, Duster small SUV and the Duster Oroch dual-cab ute that would hand it a pint-sized pick-up built along similar lines to the popular Subaru Brumby.