New Dacia Duster Pick-Up 2025: the return of a functional icon with a modern spirit

The Romanian brand revives the concept of the compact pick-up with a third generation that’s more versatile, technological, and work-oriented — though with some trade-offs in load capacity.

Dacia is once again betting on practicality with the new Duster Pick-Up 2025, a model that brings back the spirit of those compact European pick-ups from the 1980s and 1990s, designed for professionals and small business owners. Back then, their success was based on a simple formula: low cost, minimal maintenance, and generous cargo capacity without the need for a large or expensive vehicle. Now, the Romanian manufacturer reinterprets that idea for modern times, offering a more refined, well-equipped, and European market–focused proposal.

The story of the Duster Pick-Up runs deep. Its first generation began as a specific project for OMV Petrom Group, developed in partnership with Romturingia. The result was a tough, single-cab vehicle designed for work and durability. The concept proved so successful that a second generation arrived in 2020, based on the updated Duster and once again built at the Mioveni plant. Now, five years later, comes the third iteration, even more modern and featuring a double-cab configuration that accommodates up to four passengers.

More comfort, but less cargo capacity

Switching to a double cab brings a notable improvement in interior space and comfort, but it also means sacrificing the large loading area that was once its main strength. The new Duster Pick-Up now feels closer to a SUV with an open bed than a true workhorse pick-up. However, it keeps its folding tailgate, making loading and unloading much easier, and retains Dacia’s hallmark robustness and mechanical simplicity.

Development remains under the expertise of Romturingia, and the model is certified as an N1 commercial vehicle, intended primarily for professional use. It will be sold exclusively in Romania, available in three trim levels and with two powertrain options: a 140 hp hybrid with front-wheel drive and automatic transmission, and a 130 hp TCe mild-hybrid with all-wheel drive. In both cases, the equipment matches that of the standard Duster, ensuring a much higher level of comfort and connectivity than older utilitarian pick-ups ever offered.

With a starting price of €25,983, the new Duster Pick-Up positions itself as an appealing choice in Europe’s light commercial vehicle market. Although its expansion to other markets hasn’t yet been confirmed, Dacia shows once again that it remains faithful to its core principles: simplicity, reliability, and efficiency. In an automotive landscape dominated by electrification and SUVs, the 2025 Duster Pick-Up emerges as a bridge between functional heritage and modern technology, appealing to both professionals and drivers who value practicality above all else.