It’s been 11 years since Dacia Duster made its debut on the market, quickly becoming an icon of the accessible and practical SUV. In this decade almost 2 million units have been sold and in Italy alone it has won the hearts of over 250,000 customers. With the Dacia Duster 2021 model its essence is not distorted, but some aspects are improved with which the house aims to strengthen its status in the market.
We got to get behind the wheel of the new model in a first test drive in the Parisian countryside, which also included a short and fun off-road trip.
Dacia Duster: design and interior
The new C-segment SUV, produced by the Renault-owned brand, is a restyling of the previous model and there are not many aesthetic innovations. You can immediately notice the renewed grille, which features new elegant chrome and a design that recalls the signature Y shape. The signature also returns in the designs of the headlights, both front and rear. In particular on the previous ones we find eco LED lamps and for the first time we also find the LED turn signals.
The 16 “and 17” wheels have also been renewed, on which the Dacia signature is back and there is a new rear spoiler. A lot of work has been done on the Dacia Duster 2021 model with a view to reducing the environmental impact: it has been achieved up to a saving of 5.8g of CO2 for the 4 × 4 model.
One of the strengths of this SUV is the space it offers compared to other more expensive competitors, both in terms of the roominess of the vehicle and when it comes to cargo space in the trunk. You can travel comfortably in 4 adult people, maybe some precautions are missing to offer more space for the legs of the rear passengers, but the 2,674mm wheelbase allows you to be comfortable. Discreet comfort even for the fifth passenger, who will not have to struggle with a central tunnel that is too high to position his legs.
The interior has also been improved, thanks to new upholstery and new seats that perfect ergonomics. The central console has been raised, also characterized by a sliding arm for greater driving comfort. Inside there is a 1.1-liter compartment where we find a 12 V socket. Two USB sockets for rear passengers have been inserted in the rear part of the compartment.
The infotainment system it now supports has also been renewed Apple CarPlay e Android Auto both in mode wireless. Perfect solution to offer a practical and comfortable use experience. The screen is now 8 ”, with an abundant black frame which, however, does not disturb too much. Also abandoned the USB socket on the side of the display, on the new Dacia Duster we find two type A under the air conditioning module. The series of improvements made to the whole is closed by a new steering wheel equipped with multifunction controls including, by popular demand, cruise control.
Dacia Duster 2021 – interior
The driving experience
It is a fact that the Duster is a comfortable SUV, suitable for a family and always characterized by an affordable price. But in the same way she never hid her adventurous nature. And that’s why we begin our story about the experience behind the wheel of the Duster in the international preview, right from the 4 × 4 model.
This version is powered by a 115hp dCi diesel engine with 6-speed manual transmission and offers some more features thanks to the 4×4 monitor: we are talking about altimeter, pitch angle and compass that help us during off-road routes. The ground clearance is 214mm, it has a 30 ° angle of attack, a 33 ° exit angle and a 21 ° hump angle. We are talking about data suitable for excursions that not all Duster customers will surely make the most of.
In the path studied by Dacia for our test drive, the cameras were very comfortable Multiview which help us to observe the terrain around us, even from the side. The viewing quality is not excellent, but more than enough for clear vision. Also introduced the colored bars that indicate the direction of the vehicle: the blue lines are an absolute novelty on Duster.
Duster in off-road
The lightness of the vehicle on an all-wheel drive vehicle allows you to climb without difficulty even on large slopes, also taking advantage of the new function High Hill Descent Control which guarantees an adaptive speed, between 5 and 30 km / h. Activated directly from a practical control on the console, it allows the driver to worry only about holding the steering wheel without touching the accelerator or brake.
If for the 4 × 4 the choice of the diesel engine is obligatory, for the two-wheel drive we can indulge ourselves more. We went on our tour to the Parisian campaigns the model Duster Bifuel petrol-LPG ECO-G 100hp, which, although not particularly exciting on paper, has struck for its panache. The 6-speed ratio turbocharged LPG engine has a very smooth shift lever that is pleasant to drive. We are facing an ideal model for traveling on the motorway, but which instead struggles a bit in sections with many fast corners. The steering remains too light and a slight roll is felt.
We would have expected something more, especially when we sat down on the version TCe 150cv, which despite having the ability to release a fair amount of power, reminds us as soon as 100km / h is exceeded that it is better not to overdo it. But the TCe version has a great merit: the 6-speed DCT automatic transmission, which is well mapped and consumption is optimized. We are talking about 6.5 / 7 liters per 100km in a mixed route between suburban, city and even a little highway. But of course it also always depends on the foot.
Dacia Duster 2021: which to choose
Few but interesting improvements characterize the Dacia Duster 2021 model, which once again presents itself to the public as a convenient and complete solution. If on the one hand there are many set-ups available, some doubts remain about the entry version, the Access model from € 12.950 which does not have air conditioning, has only the radio predisposition and only front electric windows. For the marketing department it’s a godsend, for sales maybe a little less. Following we find the Essential version which starts from € 14.950 and which at least has the adjustable steering wheel and the Radio Dacia Plug & Music. In the Essential version you can also choose the diesel engine.
Dacia Duster 2021 – details
This brings us to the most interesting version, the Dacia Duster Comfort. With € 16,750 we have the 8 ”Media Display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, rear parking sensors, alloy wheels, manual climate control, adjustable driver’s seat and cruise control just to name a few. For this set-up we also have the 4 × 4 version.
The top of the range is called Prestige and starts from a list price of just 1000 euros higher than the Comfort version. We thus have access to some options such as 17 ”wheels, tinted windows and Dark Metal chrome for the roof bars and mirrors. Also included is the satellite navigator, rear view camera and lumbar adjustment for the driver. Precisely on this version there is an interesting commercial news for the launch. Is called Prestige Up (€ 18,450 for LPG and € 19,900 for the 115hp diesel) and will shorten delivery times. Including the convenience of keyless and 4-view multiview rooms.
Conclusions
Regardless of the different versions of Dacia Duster 2021 available (all the details on the new Duster can be found here), what is most puzzling is the lack of some autonomous driving additions and the choice of some materials that still do not give Dacia Duster the right feeling of safety when you are inside the passenger compartment and travel quickly. Perhaps the 150hp is excessive for such a light car, but which on the other hand is not designed for sporty driving. On the contrary, it gives its best off-road, managing to climb even with mud under the wheels and even among a few too many rocks.
Also on display is the Dacia Duster Extreme Limited Edition version which will arrive in 2022
The most balanced version, it is no coincidence that it is also the best-selling in Italy, is the bifuel version, which can also count on an LPG tank increased up to the maximum allowed by law: 50 liters. Thanks to the 50 liters of petrol, we can plan long journeys without difficulty, with a unique cost / kilometers ratio.
Overall, the changes made meet the needs of the Dacia customer, listened to over the years and satisfied on various aspects: one above all the EDC automatic transmission requested loudly. The only real cons, in our view, is the absence of some technologies for autonomous driving. Adaptive cruise control or automatic braking are not available as options either. Other Duster rival cars are equipped with it and we are sorry not to see Dacia fully attentive to these aspects.
Dacia Duster 2021 in this first contact confirms the goodness of the project, which did not need major modifications, but which has been improved where required. Easy to drive, low fuel consumption and always competitive prices, these are the ingredients for a successful SUV.