Dacia’s New Duster Hybrid 4×4 Promises Nearly 930 Miles of Range, With Gas and LPG

Dacia is betting big on a budget-friendly SUV trick Americans almost never see: a hybrid all-wheel-drive setup paired with a dual-fuel system that can run on gasoline or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas, also called autogas).

The automaker says its upcoming Duster Hybrid-G 150 4×4 can travel up to 1,500 kilometers, about 932 miles, on a full set of tanks, thanks to two 50-liter reservoirs (roughly 13.2 gallons each). First deliveries are slated for spring 2026 in Europe, where Dacia (a value brand owned by Renault) has built a reputation for low-cost, no-nonsense vehicles.

A hybrid up front, electric power in back, AWD without a driveshaft

The headline engineering move is how Dacia creates all-wheel drive. Up front, there’s a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, rated at 140 horsepower and designed to run on either gasoline or LPG.

Out back, an electric motor drives the rear wheels, delivering up to 31 horsepower at peak and 87 Nm of torque (about 64 lb-ft). That motor draws from a small battery of around 0.8 kWh, enough for short bursts and low-speed assistance, not the long electric-only driving you’d expect from a plug-in hybrid.

Total system output is listed at 154 horsepower. Dacia says the gas engine produces 230 Nm (about 170 lb-ft) of torque, with the rear motor stepping in when traction is limited, think wet pavement, snow, or dirt roads, without the weight and complexity of a traditional mechanical AWD system.

The tradeoff: this is a cost-and-efficiency-minded setup, not a performance one. Under hard acceleration, transitions between power sources may be noticeable, and response during quick “kickdown” moments may not feel as sharp as pricier hybrids.

A 6-speed dual-clutch automatic aims to make it easier to live with

Dacia pairs the front engine with a 6-speed EDC dual-clutch automatic transmission. For drivers who spend time in traffic, that’s a meaningful upgrade over more basic gearboxes, promising smoother day-to-day driving and quicker shifts than older automated manuals.

But dual-clutch transmissions can still hesitate in certain situations, and Dacia acknowledges that some restarts and passing maneuvers may come with a brief pause while the transmission selects the right gear.

The bigger point is coordination: the electronics have to juggle two fuels, mild-hybrid assist, and an electric rear axle. That software orchestration is what makes the “AWD without a driveshaft” concept work while keeping the driving experience simple.

Nearly 930 miles of claimed range, and cheaper fill-ups, if you can find LPG

Dacia’s attention-grabber is range. With two 50-liter tanks, about 26.4 gallons total, Dacia claims up to 1,500 km (932 miles) of WLTP range, the European test cycle. Real-world results will vary with speed, temperature, load, and terrain, but the goal is clear: fewer stops and lower fuel anxiety.

The company also claims operating costs could drop by about 30%, largely because LPG is typically cheaper than gasoline in many European markets and because the hybrid system reduces consumption. Dacia also touts a CO2 improvement of 20 grams per kilometer versus the prior generation, about 32 grams per mile, though emissions and savings will depend heavily on how and where it’s driven.

In city driving, Dacia says the Duster could spend up to 60% of the time in electric-only operation under the right conditions, mainly creeping in traffic, parking maneuvers, and short low-speed stretches.

There’s a practical catch for Americans: LPG/autogas fueling infrastructure is far thinner in the U.S. than in parts of Europe. In many U.S. regions, running LPG day-to-day would mean planning routes around the limited number of stations that offer it.

AWD hardware that preserves cargo space, at the cost of a spare tire

Dacia says the rear axle uses an electric motor paired with a two-speed dog-clutch gearbox, including a neutral mode and a disconnect function. The pitch is fewer mechanical losses and more packaging flexibility than a conventional AWD system.

That packaging matters because Dacia claims cargo space stays the same as the two-wheel-drive versions: 348 liters, or about 12.3 cubic feet. For comparison, that’s compact by U.S. small-SUV standards, but the key point is that AWD doesn’t shrink it further, something that can happen with traditional driveline layouts.

The downside is a notable one for anyone who actually leaves pavement: no spare tire. You’re relying on a repair kit, which can be a shaky bet if you slice a tire on rocks far from help.

Drive modes include Snow, Mud/Sand, and Lock, designed to make traction management approachable for everyday drivers. It’s not positioned as a hardcore off-roader, more a confidence booster for winter roads, muddy trails, and steep driveways.

Why Dacia thinks it can undercut pricier hybrid AWD SUVs

Dacia’s strategy is straightforward: offer a feature mix that’s rare even among mainstream brands, hybrid plus dual-fuel plus AWD, without climbing into the price territory of better-known hybrid SUVs.

The French article points to European pricing examples like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD starting around €48,500 (roughly $52,000) and a Ford Kuga Hybrid AWD around €42,990 (about $46,000). Dacia’s bet is that buyers who want all-weather traction and long range, but don’t want to pay for a heavier, more powerful hybrid, will see value here.

Equipment can be upgraded with options like wireless phone charging, a multi-view camera, blind-spot warning, parking sensors, and heated seats and steering wheel. But the more boxes buyers check, the closer the Duster creeps toward the very price creep Dacia is trying to avoid.

If Dacia can deliver its promised range and keep the price in “affordable SUV” territory, the Duster Hybrid-G 150 4×4 could become a compelling European alternative to the increasingly expensive hybrid AWD crowd, especially for drivers who rack up miles and want traction without stepping up to a bigger, pricier vehicle.