Three new models from Dacia at Geneva

ROMANIAN Renault-owned brand Dacia introduced three new models at the recent Geneva International Motor Show: a new Duster compact SUV, the Spring small electric SUV and a rally-raid-inspired buggy called the Sandrider. 

Dacia is on the wish list for Australian Renault distributor Ateco Automotive, which says all it would take for the European value brand to come here is for head office to say, “let’s go”. 

Renault Australia boss Glen Sealey said the Bigster and Duster SUVs from Dacia’s portfolio hold the most promise for Australia, the Duster in particular as it is available in right-hand drive for the UK market with front- and all-wheel drive options. 

Dacia’s third-generation Duster made its first official public appearance at Geneva, exhibiting a more robust and assertive look underscored by a range of engines including LPG, hybrid and mild hybrid across 4x2 and 4x4 options. 

The new Duster is built on Renault’s CMF-B platform and is priced in Europe from €20,000, (A$33,358). 

Dacia says Duster remains the best-in-class family SUV in terms of its price/performance ratio, provides enhanced in-car experience thanks to the new platform and, in 4x4 configuration, takes the nameplate’s off-road capabilities to new heights. 

Additionally, the new Duster utilises more sustainable materials and hybrid powertrains and is “packed with new technologies to further increase safety and comfort”. 

The Chinese-made Dacia Spring features a new interior and exterior styling for the European market and is said to be Europe’s only full-electric car to weigh less than a tonne but retains the best load capacity in its class despite compact dimensions. 

Dacia says the model has “many nifty features” and is more digital than ever, with a customizable digital dashboard featuring a 7-inch screen and a 10-inch multimedia central screen.  

The versatile SUV features a 33kW motor on the Essential and Expression trims, and 47kW on the Expression and Extreme trims. 

As with the Duster, Dacia says the new Spring represents Europe’s best price-performance ratio for this size of battery electric vehicle, underlined by its 14.6kWh/100km WLTP energy efficiency rating.  

Rounding out Dacia’s Geneva exhibit was the funky-looking Sandrider, which attracted plenty of attention at the Swiss show – particularly with the appearance of rally legend Sebastien Loeb on the Dacia stand talking the talk about this model. 

The Geneva vehicle was in prototype fettle but showed the path Dacia is taking towards Sandrider’s first competition appearance in 2025 in the Dakar Rally before heading to the World Rally-Raid Championship. 

Dacia's strategy for the Sandrider is to use it as a life-sized technological laboratory committed to low-carbon mobility and is “a perfect match for what’s needed to take on The Dakar”. 

The model will run on synthetic fuel made by Aramco and has been design tapping feedback from racing crews from the start of the project taking inspiration from the Dacia Manifesto concept car.