Test drive Dacia Duster: Someone else to wipe the dust

Already with history, Duster is experiencing another evolutionary leap in its development

Perhaps this article will begin with another cliché about how beneficial it is in terms of what Dacia Duster offers when it snowed heavily and snowdrifts appeared. White diaper vertically and horizontally.

At this point, even the most luxurious car stuck in an abyss, with all the charm of its high-quality, ultra-expensive materials and displays, won't provide you with an easy way to get around. Which, by the way, is the main function of the car.

Well, the Duster knows how to do it, and with its dual transmission and 21cm ground clearance in such situations, it clearly stands out from most cars on the streets. Given that driving in our cities often requires off-road qualities, it is understandable why this is one of the best-selling models in our country.

The complexity of simple things

The Dacia phenomenon, and in particular the Duster, can be studied at economic universities and from engineers who specialize in efficient automotive production, because it is not an easy task to offer the market a profitable but reliable car.

Like other Dacia models, the Duster builds on the mature B0 platform, produced for many years by the Renault-Nissan alliance, which dates back to the days of the Renault Clio II. It is not very complex in design and provides an opportunity to reduce the cost, therefore, in addition to being the basis of the car, it also serves as the basis for its favorable price.

The Duster has an increased wheelbase and track, which practically allows it to move into the compact class, surpassing the size of models produced on the same Nissan Juke platform.

Modified for a dual drivetrain and using a simple rear axle suspension design with transverse circular rods acting as load-bearing (in the dual transmission version), it handles surprisingly well in rough terrain.

Over ice, snow and sand

Renault-installed 1.5 dCi diesel engine may not be the most modern unit in the world (there is also a naturally aspirated 1.6 liter petrol version with 115 hp and a turbocharged 1.2 liter unit with 125 hp, as well as a gas version ), but it handles 1395 kg without any problems, has little fuel consumption and even shows a sporty character.

Associations are consonant with the new design of the model, the creation of the team of the Bulgarian Emil Kasabov. Another noteworthy achievement, given the fact that Duster cannot afford the complex stylistic shapes of Renault and Nissan models, due to limited production costs and brand differentiation as more budget-friendly than theirs.

However, the new Duster design definitely gives the impression of an off-budget car, with more sophisticated stylistic nuances and a deeper and more dynamic appearance. The most important qualities, such as (passive and active) safety and protection of passengers, are maintained and even developed with minor modifications to the mentioned platform and the proposed panoramic camera system.

This and the increased comfort is facilitated by a new steering system with a more direct ratio and less effort.

The architecture of the cabin has changed, especially the dashboard, which has acquired better materials. Against this backdrop and considering the favorable prices (the well-equipped model with a 110 hp diesel engine and a dual transmission sticks to the $ 21 thousand level), there are disadvantages such as noticeable noise from the engine compartment and whistling, which depends on the load and, probably , comes from the intake manifold of a supercharged engine.

Meanwhile, the CMF platform on which most of Renault-Nissan's new models are based is also entering a phase of maturity and, according to Dacia, will be used for its models from 2020. A more modern modular design is likely to make the Duster even more attractive.