It so happens that the main new products come to Russia with a noticeable delay. Here is the new Renault Duster, which has reached us 3.5 years after its sales officially started in Europe. So, finally, the new Duster is officially assembled and sold in Russia. What’s new about it? The portal “Yuzhny Avtomobil” went to Dagestan to test the new product in action.
At first glance, you won’t immediately understand that you have the new Renault Duster in front of you. The familiar features have been preserved, but this is a completely different car. It’s like an old friend of yours, whom you haven’t seen for several years, and who has only become prettier over the years. The Duster’s appearance cannot be confused with anything else, but now it has a more stylish and modern appearance. All body elements are completely new.
Duster received a more sloping windshield, plastic trims on the thresholds and fenders, other mirrors. The front reflector headlights form a single ensemble with the new radiator grille. The rear lights look stylish. Now they are square with LEDs. Despite the fact that externally the predecessor and the current model are very similar, our today’s ward has a completely new body. The crossover has been completely updated, including the power structure and external panels.
The SUV has slightly increased in size, but this is almost not noticeable externally. Visually, the model has been refreshed and looks more youthful, especially in the signature red color. Although, the main buyer of Duster is still an older man, so the color palette of the new crossover is mostly calm colors. The silver pads on the bumpers are painted at the time of production of the bumper, so this element will not be scratched, and the body itself is covered with High Durability varnish, which should protect against corrosion.
The new Duster is built on the Global Access platform, which our consumer first received on the Arkana, and then on the Kaptur. Although, initially it was Duster that received this cart, because in Europe it was presented 3.5 years ago. The wheels of the new Duster with 17-inch disks are deeper recessed into the arches, which will have a positive effect on the cleanliness of the body when driving on dirt.
On the front fenders there are overhead decorative elements. They are here not only for beauty, but also to protect the paint from the sandblasting effect from under the wheels.
Top versions of Duster are equipped with Bridgestone Dueler tires, and simpler configurations received Continental ContiCrossContact LX2 tires on 16-inch wheels. The ground clearance of the new Duster is 210 mm, the approach angle is 31 degrees, the departure angle is 33 degrees. It is precisely for its good geometric cross-country ability that Renault Duster has gained a whole army of fans in our country.
Engines
For the test in Dagestan, the organizers prepared cars with a 1.3-liter gasoline turbo engine with a capacity of 150 horsepower, as well as with a 1.5-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 109 horsepower. Both versions were equipped with a manual transmission. Before the official premiere of the new Renault Duster in Russia, there were many rumors that the car would be deprived of a diesel engine, but they turned out to be implausible. Diesel is back in the engine range and will most likely account for a good share of total sales. The base engine is still the 1.6-liter petrol engine. The old two-liter petrol engine has been removed completely.
Now with the new Renault Duster, they are betting on all-wheel drive versions in all trim levels. Sales of the front-wheel drive Duster of the previous generation were so negligible that the Russian representative office of Renault made the right decision and left only the front-wheel drive on the base car. The 1.3 turbo engine, which first appeared on the Arkana and then on the Kaptur, is now also installed on the new Duster. During the three-day test drive, we had the opportunity to drive several hundred kilometers both on the diesel Duster and on the turbocharged one.
In terms of traction characteristics, the petrol 1.3 is not inferior to the diesel and even surpasses it. It works quieter, and its torque is higher – 250 Nm for the petrol, versus 240 Nm for the diesel. And given that most of our route lay in the mountains, then in conditions of thin air on the climbs, the petrol Duster turned out to be more traction. On short straight sections, the crossover with a petrol engine accelerated faster.
Acceleration from zero to a hundred for a petrol car takes 10.7 seconds, and for a diesel car – 13.2 seconds. In addition, now the turbocharged engine can officially consume 92nd petrol, so if you want to save money, but at the same time get better dynamics on the asphalt, a car with a 1.3-liter engine seems to be a more profitable choice. In addition to manual transmissions, a CVT will be installed on a car with 1.3, such cars will only be all-wheel drive.
Although I really liked the car with a petrol 1.3, the diesel version is still better for off-roading, since it allows better traction control, especially at low speeds, when you need to drive through gullies. The new Duster also has a descent control system, which allows you to regulate the speed on the descent. But, in my opinion, this is not a particularly important thing. Perhaps, on versions with a CVT it will help, but on versions with mechanics you can go down on the brakes.
Interior
The interior of the new Duster was almost completely borrowed from the Arkana – the same steering wheel, the same air deflectors and the same multimedia system. The materials used in the interior are not the most expensive, but the impression that you are in a budget car is not created. It is made inexpensively, but tastefully and quite functional. Heated seats are not only in the front, but also on the back sofa.
The multimedia system interface with simple graphics. The eight-inch screen displays the image from the all-round cameras. The head unit supports mobile devices with the screen mirroring function, as well as Yandex, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto services, but this is on the top versions. In the basic configuration, the car will have two airbags, heated mirrors, central locking, front electric windows.
Also, the maximum versions will have light and rain sensors, climate control, tire pressure sensors, heated steering wheel and windshield and as many as five USB ports. In general, the functionality of the Duster is quite decent. There is everything necessary for a comfortable ride by modern crossover standards. Of course, no one will compare Duster with premium models, but for its class it is well packaged.
The only controversial decision is the multimedia control joystick under the steering wheel. This is a purely French unique solution. You can remember that once on the early Logan and Duster the horn button was under the steering wheel. Now it is already on the hub. Perhaps in the next generation the multimedia sound control unit will also move to the steering wheel spokes.
Conclusions
If Duster were a couple of hundred rubles cheaper, it would become a real people’s car in Russia, although even under current prices its sales are quite high. In terms of price, quality, functionality, driving characteristics and operational properties, Renault Duster remains one of the best offers on the Russian market. At the same time, the public that chooses Duster is quite conservative and the simpler, the better.
So, in the regions, many may be scared off by the appearance of a turbocharged version with a 1.3 engine and even paired with a CVT. Our man from the provinces is afraid of a turbine and a CVT. But Renault assures that there is nothing to be afraid of. The engine is optimized for the use of 92-octane gasoline.
