Renault Duster confirmed for Australia

RENAULT Australia has confirmed the arrival of its Duster compact SUV for the land Down Under.

Due in local showrooms in the second half of this year, the Renault Duster will be offered with two- and four-wheel drive configurations and with the option of petrol- or mild hybrid drive.

Bringing what Renault Australia says is a “new level of ruggedness” to the Small SUV segment, the high-riding model will offer “rugged good looks, practicality, and off-road capability”.

The third generation Renault Duster will compete in the bustling Small SUV segment locally, where it will vie against the likes of the Jeep Compass, Nissan Qashqai, and Subaru Crosstrek.

Engine choices include a 113kW/250Nm 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol in conjunction with two-wheel drive, or a 96kW/230Nm 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol when optioning four-wheel drive.

Two yet to be named trim grades will be available, each with a choice of seven paint colours.

While Renault Australia is keeping some of the Duster’s details up its sleeve, it has confirmed key measurements as follows: The Duster will measure 4345mm in length, 1921mm in width, 1650mm in height, and 2657mm in wheelbase.

The model’s turning circle is listed at a tight 10.8m with ground clearance of up to 212mm. Cargo space is listed at a generous 472 litres.

Several Australia equipment details have also been confirmed, with Renault Australia listing Y-shaped daytime running lights, a 10.1-inch central infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and 7.0-inch digital instrumentation screen as standard.

A reversing or 360-degree camera system (grade dependent) will further be available, as will a five-mode (Auto, Snow, Mud/Sand, Off-Road and Eco) Drive Mode selector on four-wheel drive variants.

Standard safety equipment is confirmed to include autonomous emergency braking, blind spot warning, driver attention alert, hill descent control (four-wheel drive variants only), lane keep assistance, and traffic sign recognition.

Overseas, where the Duster wears Dacia branding, we find the most recent EuroNCAP result awarding the model with just three safety stars.

“The Renault brand has a rich history in Australia, and we are proud to announce Duster will be part of our next chapter, as we continue to bring unique vehicles to the Australian market,” said Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealy.

“(The) Duster is right at home in a campground, as it is in the urban jungle.

“In a segment dominated by city and suburban SUVs, Renault Duster goes where others in the class fear to tread – thanks to its excellent clearance angles and intelligent off-road driving modes.”

Pricing and more detailed specifications for the Renault Duster line-up will be announced closer to local showroom arrivals.