Dacia’s popularity has been skyrocketing ever since Renault took control of the Romanian automaker in 1999. It’s now a force to be reckoned with in Europe, where the Sandero tops the sales charts for the first seven months of the year. It’s not the only model to reach the top 10, as the Duster holds eighth place, according to Dataforce figures cited by Automotive News Europe. Until now, the latest-generation Duster had only been available as an SUV. The family is now expanding to include a pickup. It’s not a full factory effort, since Dacia partnered with local coachbuilder Romturingia to handle the conversion. Because the proportions are largely unchanged and the rear doors remain, it’s no surprise the double-cab truck has an adorably, if somewhat odd-looking, tiny bed. The loading area measures just 41.3 inches (1,050 millimeters) long and 39.3 inches (1,000 millimeters) wide, making a kei pickup’s bed seem cavernous by comparison. The bed is so small you can’t even see it from some angles. Still, it’s not entirely surprising Dacia went down this unconventional route. Renault is a master of cost control, and a full truck conversion would have been pricey. The Duster Pick-Up can carry 948 pounds (430 kilograms) in its pint-sized bed, which is fitted with two metallic rails and four tie-down rings. Had Dacia removed the rear doors and cut away a good portion of the roof, development costs would have pushed the price too high. Even in this unusual format, the Duster Pick-Up costs more than €31,000 ($36,700) in Romania once the 21 percent value-added tax (VAT) is included. Although it’s substantially more expensive than the equivalent Duster SUV, the Pick-Up is still far cheaper than a proper truck. The Toyota Hilux is roughly €10,000 more, while the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok are pricier still. There are advantages to the pickup conversion, but some might argue that a van version makes more sense. Coincidentally, Dacia’s UK branch is launching the Duster Cargo today by removing the rear bench. It matches the truck’s payload and can swallow 40.5 cubic feet (1,149 liters) behind the front seats. The van-spec Duster gets a completely flat wooden load floor where the rear seats would usually be. A “durable material surface” sits on top, while a mesh bulkhead separates the cargo area from the driver and passenger. Dacia Duster van Dacia also adds four lashing points, rubber mats, and a full-length removable load cover to conceal items. To the same end, an opaque film covers the rear windows, which no longer roll down. In the UK, the Duster Cargo starts at £27,594 (about $37,700) with VAT included. The Pick-Up presumably caters to buyers who insist on having a brand-new truck at the lowest possible price. For everyone else, a used “real” truck, or even Dacia’s own cargo conversion, likely makes more sense. Alternatively, a pickup truck makeover based on the larger Bigster SUV might be better.
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