Renault Duster 2024
At first glance, it seems unrealistic: this expatriate Renault Duster couldn’t have jumped between generations like between galaxies. Only we got a modern, versatile crossover with optimal content and not for all the money in the world.
Of course, the most interesting things about Renault Duster are not immediately apparent. You need to spend time with it, look at it, understand it, and only then do you grow respect for the engineers who managed to make such an intergalactic leap between generations. Of course, Duster has not become the most comfortable representative of the segment, but it did not try to. It has always been appreciated for its practicality and lack of unnecessary flaunting. Such a workhorse will be useful for everyone on the farm.
As new-fangled psychotherapists say nowadays, you should only compare yourself with your former self, and so it is in our case. You can only compare the Duster with the previous one because no representative of compacts has ever claimed to compete with the versatility and practicality of this compact crossover. Despite the dense filling of the segment, where Skoda Kamiq, Nissan Juke, Ford Puma compete for leadership, only this Frenchman born in Romania is able to take a separate place. And perhaps only the Suzuki Vitara can compete with its abilities. Only their positioning is still different, as is the price category.
The first Renault Duster appeared back in 2010. Back then, it was like a breath of fresh air in the compact segment. It offered excellent off-road performance, high ground clearance and great engine torque. The second generation of 2018 did not bring any global changes. There were no improvements to the trim or ride quality. Against the background of competitors, the French SUV was losing in terms of comfort and technology, which is striking. It is all the more surprising today to see such a thorough approach not only to the exterior. The changes have affected the interior and the units After the Bigster concept was unveiled in 2021, many fans were waiting for the new generation «Duster» with excitement, rubbing their palms together. And at the end of last year, we finally got it.
Therefore, my close acquaintance was long-awaited and caused no less delight than meeting Toyota LC Prado. However, in a slightly different direction: my back was already aching in anticipation because the previous car had such strange seats that I couldn’t find a comfortable position for a week and had to treat my back for quite a while afterwards.
Content
The Renault Duster actually looks like the concept, surprisingly fitting into the general trend of SUVs with their cubic shapes and plastic perimeter skirts. Here, too, you can now change parts of the bumpers. The lower part is protected by a durable recycled plastic around the circumference, which stands out with splashes of white dots to emphasize its distinctiveness. In fact, even to the touch it is pleasant and stronger than it looks.
The designers clearly measured everything in detail and tried to achieve the integrity of the style. Thus, the previous style of Y-shaped headlights at the rear has now been extended to the entire optics. Up front, these diode stripes may remind you of Volvo with their «hammer of thor», but they actually look quite original. The taillights have been shaped accordingly and are now definitely authentic.
The new Renault Duster has many stampings on the body that emphasize its off-road capability. The newcomer is only 9 mm longer and 2 mm wider than its predecessor. The shorter overhangs allowed for increased entry and exit angles (31 and 36, respectively). Plus, as before, the bottom protection is strong and holds even dirt and sand well, preventing them from getting on the engine.
Optics with LED parking lights and dipped beam, but fog lights will be available only in the maximum configuration, and in the average for an additional fee (5,194 UAH).
So, as I approached the new crossover, I was delighted to see its fresh design and opened the door to look inside. The seats look the same, but the feeling when you get in is completely different. Finally, there are global changes in the direction of quality, if not in terms of upholstery, then in terms of feel. Yes, here you can clearly save money on eco-leather and take a more practical fabric because this upholstery not only looks artificial and cheap, but will also get dirty many times more.
It seems that the new CMF-B platform has had a good impact not only on the exterior, but also on the space in the cabin. More legroom, comfortable seats with manual adjustment, you can even set the height. Add lumbar support and you’ll have a top car. The steering wheel can also be adjusted in height and reach. Good visibility, a large hood in front — this is a feature of the Renault Duster. Now it has interesting stampings in the center. When driving, you feel as if you are driving a large, sturdy car, and later you are even surprised at its maneuverability.
A separate panel with buttons for controlling the climate system is interestingly designed and easy to use. There is a full-fledged climate control. Finally, there is a heated steering wheel along with heated seats (an additional paid option).
Modernity and technology have also reached the Renault Duster. So a 10-inch monitor and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster are the top features that you get in the maximum Techno trim. The base version offers conventional instruments, a 3.5-inch screen on the trip computer and a radio. In our case, it’s not only not the worst audio system, but also a color touchscreen, two Type-Cs, and wireless connection of an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone. Wireless charging is only an advantage of the top version.
Renault Duster has clearly saved money only on materials. And it doesn’t seem to matter when you realize the practicality of this car. Even though there is hard, rough plastic of various types everywhere, it does not scratch, does not creak, and is easy to maintain. The main thing is that the overall styling looks good. Convenient shelves in the console for smartphones and small items, small cupholders that can hold only a small glass of espresso, a non-bulky armrest with eco-leather upholstery.
The glove compartment also seems a little bigger than it actually is. I’d like to add another shelf, like in Jeep, but they saved money here too. It takes a while to find the audio controls because they are well hidden under the steering wheel. If you know that this lever is there and how to adjust everything, it becomes even more convenient. Everything else is in its place: from cruise control to changing the look of the dashboard.
For the most part, only the information on the on-board computer changes on the dashboard, not the view. There is a mode for displaying the operation of assistance systems, but only warnings from the «Blind Spot Monitoring» system are displayed here. They definitely saved money here and did not add any assistants. Good for those who don’t know what they are or don’t like them. Only in the modern world, these technologies are simply becoming more and more necessary, if not mandatory.
Among the additional options in our test Renault Duster is a surround view system. The rear camera along with parking sensors is the default. The quality may not be the best, and there are some distortions, but it’s even convenient for driving in tight spaces. Not to mention off-road driving.
Compacts do not spoil their passengers with space. However, the Renault Duster offers a wide aisle, plenty of air above the head, enough knee room for average height, separate outlets for charging gadgets, and pockets in the backs of the front seats. The sofa backrests can be folded 4060 to increase luggage space.
The trunk in the hybrid version will be slightly smaller due to the features of the all-wheel drive design with a clutch and independent suspension at the rear — and it is 411 liters, compared to 542 liters in other versions. Not a bad figure, although not a record in the segment, but there is a full spare tire under the floor along with niches and tools.
It seems that the Duster really wants to be like the Jeep, but falls short. However, it has taken some chips from the competitor in the form of pictures on the windshield with a typewriter. It also came up with additional containers, cupholders, and flashlights that can be carried in the trunk and around the cabin. Interesting mounts for them are scattered throughout the cabin, and a smartphone stand is offered next to the steering wheel, which, by the way, is also wireless when connected to the connector.
It should be understood that the brand’s model range is now undergoing major changes, and Renault Duster is not the only one that has been transformed. The fresh CMF-B platform allows us to integrate more technologies, including hybrid ones. Therefore, in addition to the familiar dci 115 (1.5 diesel) and TCE 150 (1.3 gasoline), we get the first mild hybrid based on the TCe 130 mild hybrid — with a 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.
The distribution of transmissions between the engines is generally strange because all-wheel drive is only on a manual 6-speed box and with the smallest engine with three cylinders and 1.2 liters, which has a power of 130 hp and 230 Nm of torque. These are available in full force only at 2250 rpm. No wonder I wanted to stay on each step longer than the system suggests.
I’m sure that the gear ratios are designed for such work more than for the economy mode, which the system suggests by drawing icons for upshifting on the dashboard. True, fuel consumption also increases accordingly. In the city, you can still keep within the limits of 7.4 liters, but off-road raises the bar to 8.6 liters.
In general, there are many more changes than it seems. Now you can feel a real ease in dealing with the new Renault Duster. The steering wheel has been switched to an electric amplifier and has become lighter. Perhaps it was just me who lacked response during dynamics, but rather this behavior is a feature of off-road driving, where everything falls into place and the feeling of each wheel is more understandable. Anyway, it is more pleasant to drive than most of the brand’s representatives, and at speeds up to 120 km/h, although it is noisy, Renault Duster holds its course confidently.
On the road, the crossover behaves decently, not threatening to sway, as one might expect with a ground clearance of 215 mm. But the chassis is quite elastic, even sometimes too much. The car behaves softer the worse the road is, swallowing even threateningly deep pits. But small potholes are transmitted to the cabin and make the ride for the rear passengers more vibrating than you expect. It is worth remembering that in the all-wheel drive version, the Duster will have an independent rear suspension, and in the mono-wheel drive version — a torsion beam. The front suspension is always MacPherson-independent.
The Renault Duster was already one of the best all-terrain vehicles in its weight class, and now it seems to have improved its abilities. Now the transmission offers all-wheel drive modes from economy, when the front-wheel drive is more involved, to driving in snow or sand, and there is also a 5050 torque lock. This range allows the crossover to get through mud and even harder terrain than just a forest track.
The ability to tow up to 1,500 kg is not bad for a B-Class compact. So you can easily pull out some poor guy, as well as tow a trailer to the country. Plus, the roof has roof rails by default, and in the maximum configuration, they can also change the direction of the fasteners to install an additional roof rack. So with a kerb weight of 1,495 kg, you can load the crossover with even more than that (3,395 kg).
In its third generation, the Duster is moving to the same side of the environmental spectrum as all Europeans. The consequences are relevant and most countries do not get diesel engines at all. We are still lucky, but in a limited version — mono-drive with a 6-speed manual transmission plus added AdBlue. Environmentally stifled engines are our reality. And only the emergence of decent hybrid versions can save the situation.
Our test Mile Hybrid is based on a 48-volt system consisting of a 48-volt starter-generator and a 0.8 kW lithium-ion battery. Not a bad system paired with a manual transmission that allows you to adjust the torque without relying on electronics. And this is only for the better in our case. The engine is pushed not only by the turbine but also by the battery. The start-stop is good at picking up and starting the engine if it suddenly stalls (a great feature for those who are new to driving a manual transmission).
Tests on off-road routes that I found showed that the car is capable of even more than you might think. Most likely, owners of older versions understand what we are talking about. Moreover, the chassis configuration has been preserved as much as possible. We can only hope for the strength and reliability of this entire system so that we can still praise the changes in the Mk3 in 10 years.
Today, the Renault Duster has fully met all the expectations that were placed on it. Three configurations, three engines, a limited choice of drive and engine boxes, but the price remains between 22 and 26 thousand dollars. All this makes Renault Duster an indispensable workhorse for those who are interested in practicality and versatility. It will not compete Ineos Grenadierbut it can easily overcome sharp hills and skillfully uses the traction control system when hanging the wheels or slipping in the sand.
Moreover, it is difficult to find competition in terms of performance and price. Only the mono-drive Chinese Chery Tiggo 4 or Skoda Kamiq in the simplest version will be cheaper. Ford Kuga or VW T-Roc will be more comfortable, modern, and technologically advanced, with a price of over 28 thousand dollars. So far, only the Suzuki Vitara can claim to be a worthy competitor in all respects, including off-road. And the price for the old versions of the Japanese in 2024 is not bad and there are options for choosing a box and drive.
Against their background, the Renault Duster still remains a simple, understandable and unpretentious worker who has been slightly spruced up and looks modern and stylish. Its advantage is not only the price from 929,900 to 1,110,600 hryvnias, but also the opportunity to save up to 100,000 hryvnias thanks to a branded program.
PROS: design styling, off-road capabilities, interior, and noise insulation levels have improved.
CONS: quality of materials in the cabin, audio system, fuel consumption, engine, and transmission offerings.
| Body, type | SUV |
| Dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 4343x1574x1661 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2657 |
| Declared ground clearance, mm | 217 |
| Trunk volume, liters. | 411/1 424 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1423 |
| Engine | 1.2 Hybrid |
| Power, hp. | 130 |
| Torque, Nm | 230 |
| Li-ion battery, kWh | 0,8 |
| Type of drive | 4WD |
| Pendant | Independent Macpherson/ independent |
| Transmission | 6 MT |
| Dynamics 0-100, s | 11 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 180 |
| Fuel consumption, l (mixed) | 6,4 |
| Cost, UAH | From 929 900 |
| The cost of the test car, UAH | 1 110 600 |
| Competitors | Suzuki Vitara |
| Ford Puma | |
| Skoda Kamiq | |
| Hyundai Kona | |
| Nissan Juke |
