Good news! Actually, we can probably throw that trope in the trash by now, but affordable vehicles are still good news, so why not beat a dead horse for a while longer? There’s a new Dacia Duster for the European market, and this tiny sub-£20,000 entry-level crossover has a set of size 14 shoes to fill. Demand for the current Duster is so strong that one rolls off the production line in Romania every minute and 26 seconds. That’s 1,000 Dusters a day, all because people want something cheap and practical for A-to-B driving. With a following like that, the new one simply has to be good.
Early signs are promising, even down to the fundamentals. The new Dacia Duster rides on Renault’s CMF-B platform, which is essentially the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance’s replacement for the V-platform the current Nissan Versa rides on. Not only should this give the Duster greater refinement than many of the cheapest Nissans sold in America, it permits a higher degree of electrification. Yep, the new Dacia Duster is available as a hybrid.
In the Duster 140 Hybrid model, a 94-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a 49-horsepower electric motor, a generator, and a tiny 1.2 kWh battery pack all work in harmony to keep fuel consumption down without being a rolling chicane. Even the traditional 130 TCe model with its turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine gets 48-volt mild hybrid assistance, and there’s even a gasoline-and-LPG model that can keep an astonishing 26.4 gallons of crude-derived sauce onboard for a theoretical driving range of 807 miles.
However, even setting aside the intriguing powertrain diversity and the promise of a newly-refined platform, the new Dacia Duster seems promising because you just get the sense it was made by clever people who actually live in the real world and are constantly trying to do more with less. Take the, um, urban armoring, for example.
When you buy a new car, the ideal is for it to remain spotless, perfect, and pristine for as long as possible. You park far away from other people, braving the rain or snow or hot tarmac or whatever to protect what matters to you. Then the supermarket PA system starts playing Luther Vandross, a shopping cart decides to get its bump-and-grind on, and the bumper of your expensive new machine is marred, a scar on an otherwise well-kept car. Well, Dacia’s partly solved this because those big grey accent pieces on the Duster’s front and rear bumpers are molded in color instead of being painted. And so, they’ll look pretty much the same whether they’re pristine or scraped up, since the coloring goes all the way through. Oh, and all the unpainted plastic on the Duster’s are manufactured with up to 20 percent recycled material that offers an interesting texture. See what I mean? Clever stuff.
Then there’s the matter of holding our smartphones. Through the early half of the 2000s, the race was on to build ever-smaller, ever-thinner, ever-lighter phones that could slip in just about any pocket. Then mobile streaming came along. These days, you can buy an iPhone 15 Pro Max with a 6.7-inch display, which is big enough to get Steve Jobs spinning in his grave so quickly, you could use him to power a generator and easily run Palo Alto on renewable energy. Unfortunately, big phones don’t fit very well in many cars’ interior cubbies, but Dacia’s thought of that. The new Duster will come with mounting points for up to six different smartphone clips that are scattered around the cabin, ensuring no one’s portal to the digital world gets cast into the triangle of doom between the seats and the center console when a flock of geese suddenly appear in the road and emergency actions are required.
Oh, and of course, there’s still a base model that promises to be cheap but good, decontented in intelligent ways while still providing some modicum of nice-to-have equipment. The Dacia Duster Essential doesn’t even feature a traditional head unit, just a 3.5 mm auxiliary audio port, a phone holder on the dashboard, and a set of steering wheel-mounted audio controls. After all, isn’t the most powerful infotainment system the one you bring with you anyway? This audio setup must save Dacia a ton of money, as there’s room in the budget to bring rear ultrasonic parking sensors onboard. Not even a new Tesla Model S has those.
Needless to say, I like the new Dacia Duster on first glance. I still can’t figure out why each front door features a piece of plastic trim that looks like a mailbox, but the intrigue of the car outweighs that styling decision. Most people don’t need fully-automated premium lifestyle daily drivers, and the reasonably-priced car market is absolutely underserved right now. If anything, the new Duster would make a fantastic Nissan Kicks for the North American market. Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance, if you’re listening, make it so.
(Photo credits: Dacia)
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There IS probably going to be a Nissan version based on current reporting….. for the Indian market.
Until fairly recently Renault India used to sell a lightly modified and upgraded version of the first gen Duster (or second, if you count the rebadged ARO that Dacia sold as a Duster in the 80s) as their mid-range offering. The upgrades from the original Dacia included an optional leather interior, more features, nicer plastics and a beefier engine. To keep a budget alternative available, a slightly downgraded 2WD only version of the car was sold by Nissan as the Terrano. Nissan discontinued that car ages ago because they failed to keep it relevant, but they are having a bit of a mini-resurgence in India on the back of their one remaining model, an orphaned Datsun crossover called the Magnite. In keeping with that momentum, while its not 100% guaranteed, its extremely likely that Nissan will relaunch the Terrano when a new Renault Duster launches in India in 2025.
Honestly besides lacking AWD, the Chevy Trax is pretty damn close to this in terms of affordability. ~€19k to ~€30k of this Duster matches up well with the Trax’s ~$20k to ~$28k price range. The uptick of the DLO of this Duster also reminds me of the Trax.
These things are properly cheap. I very much doubt the Trax would sell for €19k in Europe. Remember that European prices include the tax, which is often pretty chunky. VAT is 20% in the UK, for example. The current Duster starts at just over £17k here, which wouldn’t get you into even a base model Skoda Fabia supermini.
Frankly, I wish all automakers would give up the infotainment game and just provide you with your tablet of choice on purchase and a clever way to holster it on the dash
Rented a Duster this past summer in Ireland. It was -ok- which I suppose is high praise since it didn’t annoy us in any way. I love that the Autopian can have engaging and funny articles on cars that are what my son would describe as “meh”. Thomas that was well done, and I believe you are correct, it’s what people would actually need in the USA instead of these aspirational luxo-vehicles they go into financial debt with.
Simplicity, if done right, leads to reliability.
10 years.
230.000KM/142.000M.
Original battery.
Original glow plugs.
-10C/14F this morning.
Starts without issues.
Can recommend Dacia.
> those big grey accent pieces on the Duster’s front and rear bumpers are molded in color instead of being painted
I thought that’s how everybody was doing it until fairly recently, much to my horror.
My dad has a 2019, FWD model and a summer home in the Carpathian mtns. I hooned his precious last summer on rough roads and ruts around his house and I passed a fancy Japanese spec Forrester – driver was not gonna risk fenders and under cladding. A few years before I drove the same roads in a painfully imported 2010 FJ cruiser I owned for a while and I would choose the Duster every time. The thing is like a true goat: lightweight, excellent clutch travel and perfect power/ weight ratio. Coupled with the peace of mind of cheap repairs, it’s all you can ask for!
I keep thinking that the reason they never bring these lower market models is that such cheap models would cannibalize some others that the mothership sells. Duster vs Nissan Pathfinder anyone? Get three for one!
But this argument only goes so far. Maybe it’s the hassle of making it compliant to NAS and building a dealer network? Or they just don’t care given the insane demand EVERYWHERE else. In which case we’re doomed and stuck with Hummers, Rivians and cybertrucks – or overpriced used stuff. Lemme write to mr Dacia right now!
Mitsubishi Duster. Make it happen.
This. Its what Mitsu showrooms need.
Even if they branded it as an Eclipse Cross, I’d buy one.
TIL Mitsubishi cars are still being sold.
It’s appealing. To me, anyway.
Nissan SHOULD sell it in the states PROVIDED they could sell it CHEAPLY. I’m not and have never been a Nissan fan at all really (the Cube was the last Nissan that I could bring myself to even test drive) but a $20K Dacia Duster (maybe $23K max for a slightly fancier hybrid version) would move units IMO… not every American wants a buttload of debt and 60-month auto loan. If Nissan managed to offer the base “Essential” trim at $19,999. w/a competitive warranty and a modest/rational (not insulting) ad campaign, I suspect it might help turn things around for them in the U.S.
On a semi-related note, because I’m always curious about less-is-more cars that don’t require arms, legs, and/or other vital body parts to purchase, I watched a mechanic’s review of the new/current Nissan VERSA on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lqZ6FBAsNk and even though it has solid lifters and rear drums, it really didn’t seem that awful at all for a starting price under $20K. I’m not saying that I’d really WANT one, but the fact that it can be had with a manual transmission (a 5 speed) sort of makes it appealing to me, despite the reputation of Nissans being for those with bad credit, and Versas being penalty boxes.
Next time I go to In’n’Out on Cahuenga, I might even stop by that big Universal Nissan dealer to see if they’ve got a manual Versa I could take around the block, just out of curiosity. 🙂
PS: a quick edit to post that a visit to Nissan’s US page shows that the manual is only available on the base “S” Versa, which costs $17K including destination. The three upper trims (some of which have some desirable doo-dads for such a cheap car) can only be had with a CVT apparently. I officially decry Nissan’s ghettoization of the manual trans to the base trim only, even as I simultaneously applaud them for offering a $17K MSRP car with a manual. They better not be surprised at a low take rate for the manual though, since they’ve stacked the deck that way.
It’s too late to edit my post above, but I just wanted to add this link to a Youtube video about the 2024 Dacia Duster (one of several already available there): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kXBB6pE0gM …for a CUV, it looks reasonably handsome IMO, sort of reminding me of a cleaner version of the recently discontinued Jeep Cherokee in terms of overall shape. While not reeking of luxury by any stretch, the interior quality/design seems more than decent enough.
Apparently, the full-hybrid is only available with an automatic (a real one I hope, not a CVT though I’m not sure yet which) but all of the other trims including the mild (48 volt) hybrid and the dual-fuel one (gasoline and LPG, which almost = propane from what I gather) are only available with six-speed manual transmissions (in Europe anyway). I approve! 😉 BTW, both the full and mild hybrid drivetrains have already been used in other Dacia and/or Renault products, so they’re not unknown variables.
Also, the unpainted 20% recycled plastic with color all the way through looks to be sort of medium to dark grey with little speckles in it, much like the recycled speckly plastic seen inside the Volvo EX30 and in the Ford Maverick. I’m personally 100% fine with it… painted surfaces on bumpers or other high wear-and-tear areas always strikes me as a needless indulgence, and those painted areas are the first things to look beat up when the car is 10 or 20 years old (which is something I consider, though I know not all buyers do).
I don’t care WHAT the car is called: if it’s rebadged as a Nissan, or a Mitsubishi, or heck, if they can do so profitably I’d be perfectly happy to see actual “Dacias” sold here in the U.S., perhaps at Mitsu or Nissan dealerships… but assuming it’s OK to drive and has no significant reliability caveats, $18-23K would be a GREAT price range for a small crossover like this: practical, affordable, and even sorta easy on the eyes.
I don’t know what colors it comes in (the ones I saw on Youtube were all various shades of metallic grey) but if Dacia is bold enough to offer a few actual colors (and of course sell it here in the states) it’d seem almost irresistible.
I wish Suzuki and Dacia BOTH would sell here in the U.S. …the Jimny/Swift and this Duster all seem like good small cars for the money and frankly, there doesn’t seem to be ANY competitive options currently available here at all.
While we’re at it, I wish Citroen and Peugeot would come back to the U.S. too, but they’re held back by Stellantis and the closest thing to either that ever makes it here will likely be rebadged as a Dodge/Chrysler/Fiat.
Yes Austin, I should have at least also included Citroen in my shortlist of brands I’d love to see return to the states. I find the Traction Avant, 2CV, and DS all fascinating and charming (with the caveat I’ve never even sat in a Citroen, let alone driven one) and I swear I’ve watched that Citroen video with their Oli concept a half dozen times! 🙂
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Citroen+video+with+their+Oli&t=opera&ia=web
> see if they’ve got a manual Versa I could take around the block
If memory serves, “around the block” there is a solid 5-minute drive.
That’s 100% correct Harvey, and it’s a 15-minute drive if it’s anywhere near lunchtime since the In’n’Out and 101 freeway onramp are right next door to the Nissan dealer. 🙂
When my girlfriend’s RAV4 convertible finally succumbed to the Arizona desert destroying all of its plastic and rubber components, she wanted to replace it with something simple, without power windows, power locks, touchscreens, or anything fancy that she could still fit her bicycles in without having to take off the front wheel. She ended up with a Versa Note, and loves that little dustbuster. Sure, it’s not powerful, but since most of her driving is in-town commuting and after 7 years of grad school, she was used to bicycling everywhere and relying on coasting and momentum, so it wasn’t much of a problem.
It’s been quite reliable, too, only needing the usual regular maintenance and wear parts replaced (I nag at her to make sure to have the CVT serviced regularly, too).
But if a base-model duster had been an option, she might very well have ended up with one of those, instead. Lord knows we see enough of them in town from across the border.
🙂 Sounds like you have a smart and practical GF there Bearddevil. The Versa Note got ragged on by more than a few reviewers when it came out, but most of them seemed to ignore the context of its modest price (which is silly IMO… for a reviewer to diss a cheap car because it’s not as refined as one costing 2-4 times as much).
I recall seeing the Note at the last LA auto show I attended (I haven’t gone for a few years now) and for what it was, I thought it looked not bad at all… I think it had contrasting colored mirror caps and maybe the roof too? Also, the practicality of a hatch, and relatively simple mechanicals (less to go wrong later in life).
That’s been her experience with it. It blends in really well and doesn’t attract any negative attention, it’s been very mechanically reliable, especially with regular maintenance, and it’s like a Tardis, way bigger on the inside than should be possible. It has a ridiculous amount of rear leg and head room while still maintaining a decent amount of cargo space. It definitely gets a bad rap for being cheap, but it does cheap and cheerful so damn well. Sure, the interior isn’t fancy, but it’s incredibly durable and easy to clean. It’s not very powerful, but it also doesn’t weigh anything. It’s a perfectly cromulent transportation appliance.
Mind you, if I’d been buying for me, I’d have gotten the manual transmission version and put on some wider and stickier tires and had a blast doing “slow car fast”.
CVT?
“I still can’t figure out why each front door features a piece of plastic trim that looks like a mailbox…”
Because Rugged Off-road Adventure Lifestyle!
Maybe they are borrowing a page from KIA with their goofy cladding?
Dacia: “We don’t know them”
LOL! 😀
I haven’t googled, but Dacia probably installs anti-theft immobilizers in their vehicles, unlike Hyundai/Kia. So it’s no surprise they don’t want to be associated. 😉
Cheap and dependable has sold a lot of cars over the years. You’d think more companies would try that.
It kind of looks like a mashup of the corresponding bits on the full-size Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport.
The decision to go with a headless entertainment center is right on. Maybe add a Bluetooth option.
I’m with James May on the subject of Dacia. If they were sold here, I’d buy one and call it Bim.
People can also just add a bluetooth module that hooks up. They made a reasonable choice that’s for sure.
That Bim segment was the hardest I’ve ever heard my mother laugh. We were both crying!
I came *this* close to naming my Autopian account “Hey Bim”. That is my Reddit handle, but alas I have sworn off Reddit after their corporate douchebaggery this year.
I would like to get one to rally in.
Mitsubishi should just badge-swap this and sell it in the US as a cheap and cheerful economy blob.
The Duster is sold with Renault branding outside Europe.
Besides Mitsubishi already has the ASX which already fits the ‘cheap and cheerful economy blob’ definition…
Fair, but the US didn’t get a new Outlander Sport (not sure if we’re getting the new one in Europe atm), just the same 1st gen getting the Frontier treatment but with a new front clip. This Duster is roughly around the same size and could be a good replacement.
First thing I immediately thought when I read this article was “This should be the next Outlander Sport”. I currently drive the previous-gen Outlander, and it delivers on every level of being inexpensive to acquire & own, but rock solid and dependable to operate. All of their cars are like that, but their smaller models deserve an update like this.
Judging the journalist that schleps around that phone for photoshoots
He doesn’t schlep it.
He throws it under the Dacia.
Which is why it looks like that.
I guess I can look forward to seeing these on the road. I see at least one current Duster a week here in San Diego.
It is sold in Mexico as the Renault Duster, starting at MEX$ 379 300 ($ 21 k). https://www.renault.com.mx/autos-particulares/duster.html
Yes, I am very well aware.
ARRRRGH! I’m so frustrated! Why isn’t there a way to legally import/register/insure a Mexico-market car in California w/o complex and costly agony?
The Suzuki Jimny and Swift were bad enough (being small, interesting, and affordable cars available in Mexico but not the States) but now I learn that the base Duster is there too for US$21K? Does Renault also offer a version of Dacia’s Spring EV in Mexico? If so, you can gag me with a NACS adapter.
It’s just too much: that makes THREE cheap yet desirable cars (each with a few versions of course) that can be had for well under $25K in Mexico but AFAICR there’s nothing even vaguely equivalent in the States, where mfgrs keep moving their once cheap-and-cheerful models upmarket gen after gen, or just discontinuing them altogether (i.e.: Honda Fit).
Honestly, I’d be hard-pressed to think of any $20Kish car available here that I’d really want. There are a few that I might be able to rationalize but they’re not really desirable.
I don’t even remotely need a new car, and of course, these days needlessly buying a new car isn’t exactly a financially sound decision for most folks. I’ve got two cars and a Vanvan, even though I work from home and barely drive a few thousand miles per year total. HOWEVER, if the new Swift or Duster was available here, I’d be sorely tempted to buy one anyway, especially if they came in any decent yellow, orange, green, or purple.
Bring back cheap and cheerful cars PLEASE! And bring back actual COLORS!
Of course they sell the Dacia Spring under its international name : RENAULT KWID E-TECH ! Have a look : https://www.renault.com.mx/autos-electricos/kwid-e-tech.html
It’s official then: at the affordable end of the market, Americans get an automotive selection that pales in comparison to that of both our southern and northern neighbors. 🙁
I was going to rent one in Europe and was excited but ended up with a shortage, sad.
I think dusters would be a great cheap car for America.
I think the black plastic mailbox is intended to suggest a fake snorkel.
Ok hear me out…Nissan pulls out of the US and Dacia fills the void.
And I would be in line to buy one, but never a Nissan
yep I would totally want one as a cheap car.
There’s room for both. I’d say make Dacia Datsun, but they already tried that in a few markets.
I still think Datsun was a better brand name vs. Nissan. But that’s JMHO.