Good news: Renault's off-road-styled Duster small SUV – sold under its Dacia brand in Europe – is weeks away from Australia, but only limited numbers will be available initially.
Dacia cars are weeks away from Australia, as the first two examples of the 2026 Renault Duster small SUV arrive on local roads ahead of showroom arrivals in the coming weeks.
Prices are due to be announced imminently for the Duster, a small SUV similar in size to a Subaru Crosstrek which is sold in Europe under Renault's Romanian budget brand Dacia.
The two cars pictured are being used for "final validation" and "accessory fit-out" before "limited numbers" of the Duster reach showrooms from July.
It is yet to be confirmed how many vehicles will be available initially, but Renault Australia says supply will grow in number next year.
"Demand for this vehicle in Europe is very strong, so Australia will receive an initial allocation before shipments ramp up next year," Renault Australia General Manager, Glen Sealey, said in a media 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."
Renault says "dealers are now taking expressions of interest from customers who wish to pre-order," ahead of the release of final pricing.
Two model grades will be offered – named Evolution and Techno, government documents show – with a choice of engines, and seven exterior colours.
Buyers will choose from a 96kW/230Nm 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine matched with a six-speed manual transmission, or a 113kW/250Nm 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
A 'full hybrid' capable of driving on electric power alone is available overseas, but has not been confirmed for Australia.
Images released by Renault Australia appear to show production versions of the base Evolution 4x4 in white, and high-grade Techno 4x2 in green.
The Evolution is shown with 17-inch wheels, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, a 7.0-inch instrument display, dual-zone climate control, cloth seats, automatic headlights, and conventional cruise control.
The Techno grade is pictured on 18-inch wheels, and is likely to add extra features inside, such as different seat materials or keyless entry and start.
Renault Australia has also confirmed Android Auto, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, a driver attention alert, blind-spot monitoring, and rear- or multi-view cameras will be available.
All-wheel-drive models will add a drive mode selector with rough-road settings, and hill descent control. It is not a true off-roader like a Jimny or Toyota Prado, so there are no locking differentials or low-range transfer case.
The French car maker says it is "working with Renault France and local accessory specialists to offer a wide range of options" for customers to personalise their car.
Its images show a Rhino-Rack tent on the top of the front-wheel-drive Techno, plus a roof rack, awning and other items on the roof of the 4x4 version in these photos.
Measuring 4345mm long, 1921mm wide and 1650mm tall, on a 2657mm wheelbase, the Duster is a small SUV akin to a Hyundai Kona, but its 212mm of ground clearance exceeds that of key rivals.
Its closest competitor is likely to be the Subaru Crosstrek, which is a similar size, and claims a comparable rough-road focus, but is offered as an all-wheel-drive automatic as standard.
More details of the 2026 Renault Duster are due closer to its Australian showroom arrival at the end of July 2025, pending any last-minute delays.
2025 Renault Duster available features include:
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
