New Duster is launched here

The new generation Dacia Duster is now on sale in Ireland with a starting price of €17,390, writes Brian Byrne.

It comes in three grade levels, with a choice of 1.6 petrol and 1.5 diesel engines and a much more refined interior.

A factory-built commercial version will be introduced next year, as will a 4x4 variant.

Dacia Ireland has maintained what it calls the 'shockingly affordable' pricing of the Duster, which has been responsible for half of the some 20,000 vehicles sold here by Renault's budget brand since it launched here five years ago.

At the Irish launch yesterday, Renault Ireland Country Director Patrick Magee said the Dacia performance had 'doubled expectations' over that period.

"When we first launched Dacia, they gave dealers revenue when the country was just coming out of hard times," he said. "But it soon turned into a 'smart buy' for a lot of people."

Product manager Jeremy Warnock said Dacia customers appreciate being able to buy a 'no nonsense' car. "If you get the basic car right, and keep it affordable, they'll buy it. We've kept it affordable, but it is now a more sophisticated car."

The latest Duster is an all new vehicle in terms of sheetmetal, but retaining the main shape and cues of the successful original. The addition of a petrol engine option to the diesel which was the only option of the previous version will open up buyer opportunities in cities, Paddy Magee said.

He noted that an analysis of sales of the outgoing model had shown that public sector and healthcare were important buying sectors, and that half of all Dusters had been financed by Renault/Dacia's own bank.

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