All-New Dacia Duster SUV is a Redesigned Icon.
All-New Dacia Duster is a Redesigned Icon.
The all-new Dacia Duster is the next chapter in the story of a model that has grown into a standard-setter in the compact SUV market. The original Duster was launched in Ireland in 2013, and it rose to the top by rewriting the SUV rulebook. Since first appearing on the scene, the Duster has accumulated more than 40 awards, and it was ranked as Europe’s best-selling SUV across all segments in the retail market in 2022.
Striking Design.
The new Duster still has the striking looks that propelled the previous generations to the top, so its solid, sturdy SUV character still remains, but design boundaries have been pushed higher, further and harder by adopting Dacia’s distinctive new exterior design. The modern look of the new Duster is enhanced by deliberately taut, self-confident lines, while the power of the design benefits from the sharp, vertical face, and chamfered wheel-arch guards, along with a large tailgate and side windows. The entire area around the body is now protected from light bumps and scratches. The flank shields connect to the wheel-arch guards and front and rear bumpers, forming a protective belt. The large skid plates under the bumpers protect the underbody from potential damage during off-road pursuits. The front and rear skid plates are made of a plastic that is already coloured when it is injected to make the park. The colour, therefore, is unalterable, so scrapes and scratches will not alter the plate’s colour. The shields around the car are made of Starkle™, a new material created by Dacia’s engineers. It is not painted, so scrapes and scratches will not leave conspicuous marks.
Flexible Platform.
The new Duster is built on the CMF-B platform, which is playing a central role in Dacia’s industrial strategy. This extremely flexible platform was first used on the latest Sandero and Logan models, and then on the 7-seat Jogger, and it provides all the versatility Dacia needs to optimally deploy its ambitious future product plan. The CMF-B platform provides the driver and passengers in the new Duster will more cabin and luggage space than the previous generation, and is only 3mm longer overall. The platform’s advanced engineering also reduces vibration and noise from the road, enhancing occupant comfort along the way. Additionally, by utilising the new platform for the new Duster, Dacia has embarked on its journey to electrification as it can accommodate powertrains using mild-hybrid and full-hybrid technologies.
Powertrain and Trim Options.
In terms of powertrain availability, buyers can choose between Hybrid 140, TCe 130 and Eco-G 100 power units, the latter of which provides a dual-fuel (petrol and LPG) option. The Hybrid 140 powertrain was adopted for the Dacia Jogger in 2023 and it combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine, two electric motors, and an electric automatic gearbox, while the TCe 130 combines a new-generation 3-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 48 V mild hybrid motor. Model variants consist of Essential, Expression, Journey and Extreme, with entry-level Essential only available with the Eco-G 100 power unit. All other trim variants are available with the option of either Hybrid 140 or TCe 130 powerplants.
Test Car Details.
My new Duster Extreme TCe 130 4×4 test car was finished in elegant Cedar Green metallic paintwork with contrasting 18-inch bi-tone alloy wheels, copper door mirror shells, and front fog lights as standard. Being the range-topping version of the new Duster, the list of standard comfort, convenience, safety, security and infotainment equipment is very comprehensive. The 1.2-litre mild hybrid powerplant produces 130hp and 230Nm of torque, with a 0-100km/h sprint taking a respectable 11-seconds to complete, on its way to an electronically-limited top speed of 178km/h (where permitted). The Duster 4×4 consumes as little as 6.1-litres of petrol for every 100km driven on a WLTP combined driving cycle, so the standard 50-litre fuel tank has the potential to provide over 800kms between petrol station visits. Dacia officially claim that by increasing the stiffness of its anti-roll bars, the new Duster achieves a significant reduction in body roll through corners. This equates to a reduction of 21% in the two-wheel drive version and 17% in the 4×4 version. The increased stiffness of the chassis in the Duster 4×4 is compensated for during off-road driving by an all-new electronic management system. Damping settings, power steering ratio and tuning, and tyres have also evolved. They have been reworked to ensure a more precise response in different driving conditions. The new Duster’s off-road capabilities are unparalleled in the non-expert 4×4 market (“non-expert” meaning 4×4 vehicles without low-ratio transmissions), and fans of the outdoors can choose between 5 driving modes to help them on their way. These consist of Auto (the transmission automatically distributes power between the front and rear axle according to wheel grip and speed), Snow (which optimises trajectory on slippery roads with specific ESC and anti-skid settings), Mud/Sand (for unsteady terrains), Off-Road (for top performance on tough terrain) and Eco, which optimises fuel consumption by regulating air-conditioning and the vehicles performance. With class-leading ground clearance of 217mm in the Duster 4×4, drivers now have the potential to go further off road than ever before. This is helped in no small part by a 31-degree departure angle at the front and a 24-degree ventral angle at the rear. During off-road driving, a variety of especially useful information is displayed on the 10.1-inch central screen, and these include lateral tilt, uphill and downhill pitch, and torque distribution to the front and rear axles.
Verdict and Price.
The all-new Duster continues to fulfil Dacia’s value-for-money pledge, while also being smarter than ever too. Enhanced technology in the cabin consists of a new 7-inch digital cluster, new 10.1-inch central touchscreen and a new infotainment system. The new Duster comes complete with modular roof bars, and the clever Dacia YouClip accessory system, which is a simple and practical system to hold several specific accessories in well-chosen areas in the cabin, and hold them tight. The all-new Dacia Duster is available to buy now, with prices ranging from €25,990 to €34,840 depending on the trim and engine chosen.
Visit www.dacia.ie for further information.
