New Dacia SUV gets old name--Duster

A new Duster is ready to take to the roads, but you won't find it at a Plymouth dealership--and not because there aren't any Plymouth dealerships left.

This new Duster comes from Romanian carmaker Dacia, which is owned by Renault, and the Duster is a small SUV. It uses the low-cost Logan platform that has spawned several car and small-van models.

The five-seat Dacia Duster measures 169.7 inches long, which makes it about 10 inches shorter than a Honda CR-V. It has nearly 8 inches of ground clearance and offers a choice between front-drive and four-wheel-drive drivetrains. Buyers get a choice of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 110 hp or a pair of small diesels.

This Duster goes on sale next spring in Europe.

By Dale Jewett