New Dacia Duster: That's The SUV You Really Need

Dacia Duster | Test Drive

Words Marco Mancino / Photos Daniél Rikkard

Dacia initially accustomed us to look in its direction when it mainly meant a low price for a car suitable for everyday life, but over time it has been able to offer more, all while remaining in an extremely value/money range from a budget point of view. Substance over appearance, a mantra completely revolutionized with the arrival of the third generation of Duster, the model that not only represents the main volume of its sales, but the one that most identifies the company.

The Duster has always been the crossover that knew how to get everyone to agree, borrowing the experience of the Renault group and declining everything in a car with few frills and that was not ashamed of rigid plastics or a look that was anything but inspired. History has however rewarded the efforts of the brand, confirming that despite the compromises that would have been made – however perfectly acceptable – with a limited expense you would have taken home a car ready for all sorts of commutes and also rather reliable, especially for the intensive use to which it would have been destined. Now the Duster changes skin and does so with a design that without distorting the lines of the two previous generations, plays with edges and traits that draw inspiration from those iconic designs made contemporary as in the case of Suzuki with the Jimny and Land Rover with the Defender. Yes, the new Duster knows how to stand out.

It has a Hot Wheels look, courtesy of those generous 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 20% recycled plastic profiles. The lines are clear and thanks to thin light clusters and the constant reference to the “Y” shapes – both for the exterior and in the passenger compartment – it is coherent, fresh and looks good in traffic, its natural habitat and main playground. It seems like we are looking at a model from a much higher segment, but in reality it is the Dacia we would have expected, only evolved and with a look that everyone agrees on: wow! Specs in hand, the length (4.35 m) is similar to before, but inside there is more space and the luggage compartment is still very generous: 594 l, which become 1,696 with the rear seat folded down. There is obviously a lot of hard plastic, but it is never annoying to your sight or touch. The practicality for life on board, especially in our (top of the range) Extreme trim, is also evident in the extensive use of rubber mats: indestructible and ready for the most intense uses.

The dashboard is well assembled and houses a larger and more precise touch display than before. Then there is a row of piano buttons, convenient for managing the climate and positioned above the induction charging plate and the manual gear lever, a 6-speed that I prefer to the automatic I tested on the Jogger some time ago. It’s just a shame that the shape of the central tunnel bothers the right foot, which, having to deal with a positioning of the three pedals offset from the driver’s seat, requires a bit of getting used to. The Duster is always 100% focused on the things that are really useful for life on board and despite the lack of adaptive cruise control, we do have lane assist, emergency braking and a blind spot sensor, all driving aids that can also be configured via the custom menu and recalled from a very convenient button to the left of the steering. Then there are parking sensors and trust me when I say that you will notice them, since they have an exaggerated volume. Luckily, they can be inhibited with a simple click.

There are many aspects that make you love this Dacia and wonder why others shouldn’t do the same, a bit like the real gem for outdoor lovers, namely the hooks scattered here and there in the passenger compartment and on which you can quickly hang the various gadgets offered by the brand such as a smartphone and cup holders and a practical torch, a must when you happen to look for the coins that ended up under the seat. Yep, the seat that despite a rather thin cushion does not tire on long distances, a situation in which you appreciate how the 3-cylinder of our Duster is capable of grinding out hundreds of kilometers while drinking very little petrol. The 131 horsepower of the 1.2 are in fact lively in the city and on b-roads, rewarded by a weight that remains well under a ton and a half (1,379 kg). This is why by fiddling with the gear lever and the third pedal, you will know how to get out of trouble and complete an overtaking without too many worries.

The Duster offers a steering that is all in all precise, excellent visibility guaranteed by the maneuvering cameras (rear, front and side) and an elasticity that does not make you feel the lack of different driving modes. No time for tricks: you start it and you drive it; that’s how you do it. And then you look at it in a way you would never have imagined possible, because the Duster not only continues to be damned functional, but it is also beautiful to look at. And I repeat, I said beautiful and not just nice.

At this point it is legitimate to imagine the part in which a huge increase in price shatters everything said so far. But no, because it still keeps having a starting price of less than 20 thousand Euros. The entry level LPG with a 1-liter engine at €19,900 is proof of this. Moving up the price list there are the 131 horsepower Mild Hybrid variants like the one of our test which starts at €22,900 for the Expression trim and €24,400 for the Extreme. At the top there is the 141 horsepower Full Hybrid, with prices starting at €26,400. Then all that remains is to indulge yourself with all the gadgets designed to enrich life on board and, drawing from the lifestyle pages of the Dacia accessories catalog, even the outdoor activities as well. I repeat, the new Duster is a fantastic surprise, indeed one of my favorites of 2024.