Dacia has reversed a previous decision not to import the van version of its Duster 4WD into the UK and announced that it will now be available in right-hand drive format, with first deliveries expected at the end of June.
The Dacia Duster Commercial van model will soon be available in the UK.
Interstingly, the firm says that one of the main factors behind the decision was demand from Dacia Ireland, where car-derived vans account for 30% of the van market — suggesting that the Irish van market is very different to that in the UK.
Getting back to the Duster Commercial, this van — which offers a similar loadspace to the old Astravan — will be available in 2WD and 4WD format and will offer a loadspace of up to 1,150 litres and a payload of 550kg. The flat cargo deck will be almost 1.4m long and more than 1m wide between the wheel arches.
The Duster Commercial has a payload of 550kg and loadspace of up to 1,150 litres
Dacia has sold more than 16,000 Dusters in the UK since launching the car here in January 2013, and the Commercials will add to the sales potential of the range.
The Duster Commercial is available solely with a 1.5-litre, 107 hp dCi 110 diesel engine, but offer buyers the choice of Ambiance or Lauréate equipment packages, each with the option of two- or four-wheel drive.
Standard equipment on all models includes roof bars, a chrome grille, chrome interior highlights, a toughened plastic floor with two anchorage points, electric front windows, a height-adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat, luggage area lighting, a four-speaker radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth, AUX and USB sockets, ABS with Emergency Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control and four airbags. The Lauréate specification adds distinctly un-Dacia like items such as door sill protectors and a seven-function trip computer.
Inside the Duster Commercial: what’s not to like?
Because the Duster Commercial is classed as a van, owners can reclaim the VAT on the purchase price, and they attract flat-rate benefit-in-kind taxation for users.
Prices for the Duster Commercial will start from £9,595 +VAT for a 2WD Ambiance model and rise to £12,545 +VAT for a 4WD Lauréate model. For my money, the pick of the range will be the Ambiance 4×4 at £11,295 +VAT: buying a Dacia and then paying extra for luxury fripperies seems to defeat the purpose of buying a budget brand in the first place.