There's no denying that the Renault Duster offers a fair deal for the price tag. Coming in at under R400 000, there are very few vehicles that offer a 4x4 drivetrain for less money. If you exclude the single cab Mahindra Bolero and the 2-seater Mahindra Thar, you only get one SUV-like offering that can take you and your friends off-road with a 4x4 drivetrain at a price that beats the Duster 4x4. The Suzuki Jimny starts at R326 900 which makes the R391 900 price tag of the Renault Duster 4x4 Dynamique rather palatable.
Yet, you will get detractors that will claim that the Renault Duster is nothing more than a B-Segment SUV that is pretending to be an off-road capable machine. We set out to the De Wildt 4x4 trails to see how much the Duster 4x4 could handle and if it was as capable as they claim.
Related: Is the latest Renault Duster good for new drivers?
One 4x4 model
The Renault Duster range may have recently been expanded to include the TechRoad models, but all of these offerings are in the more popular 4x2 drivetrain layout. Renault has identified that there is a lower demand for dedicated 4x4 models and as such only offer a single model with a 4x4 drivetrain. Both the TechRoad and Dynamique models have been renamed, Zen and Intens, respectively, since then.
You will get the go-anywhere capabilities in the Renault Duster 1.5 dCi Zen 4x4. As such, you only get one engine, the 1.5-litre turbodiesel (in 80 kW trim) and only get a manual, 6-speed gearbox. Renault has stated that there are no immediate plans to include an EDC alternative or a petrol model in the near future.
The Zen offers you a little more is the style and tech department, featuring 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, complementary body styling and interior trimmings as well as the addition of a reverse camera and smartphone mirroring with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While only available with a 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine and 4x2 drivetrain, you get the choice of a 6-speed manual or a competent EDC gearbox.
How does it fare?
It says 4x4 on the back and the brochure will say the same, but how competent is the Duster 4x4 though? In order to answer this, we took to a few obstacles at the De Wildt 4x4 park outside of Pretoria to reacquaint ourselves with the product in front of us.
Keeping in mind that we were on road-biased tyres and didn't touch the pressures, I was once again pleasantly surprised with the Duster 4x4's capabilities. I've spent a fair amount of time behind the wheel of the first generation Duster but sadly, nowhere near enough at the helm of the updated second generation, a vehicle that has been with us since October 2018.
It reminded me of how simple and effective the recipe is. There's minimal fanfare and the bells and whistles are reigned in, providing exactly what you need and only a handful of features you believe you want. Yes, you will get touchscreen infotainment with CarPlay and Android Auto. There's blind-spot monitoring and park distance control with a reverse camera, but the fanfare of lane keep assist and the likes is omitted to help keep the price friendly.
On the 4x4 model, you will get surround-view cameras, offering a view of both the front and the rear, as well as side cameras which made navigating some of the tighter turns and obstacles that much easier. You also get a 4x4 Monitor to help you keep track of the roll and pitch of the vehicle, as well as a compass heading - very Pajero if you ask me.
Powertrain
I was once again reminded of how enjoyable the K9K 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine is. The low-down torque delivery and slick-shifting 6-speed gearbox make this a dream to drive. Minimal control inputs are required to get it off the line and simple throttle modulation will get you up even the most daunting inclines. Due to our road tyres, some of the inclines with loose surfaces required more momentum than others, but at no point did the engine seem strained or out of its depth.
Not only does this engine provide 80 kW of power and 260 Nm torque, but it will return a fuel consumption of only 5.2 l/100km on the combined cycle. The best part is that this isn't some far-fetched manufacturer's claims, this has been proven to be accurate repeatedly. Some have even managed to record figures of 2.9 l/100km with some hypermiling and open roads.
Drivetrain
Admittedly, the Duster 4x4 does not have a low-range feature. What you will get is the option to select 2WD, Auto and a 4WD Lock function that will lock the drivetrain into a 50/50 torque split up to a speed of 40 km/h, where it will revert back into the Auto mode.
As we were to find out, the Auto mode was smart enough to allow us to tackle most of the off-road course without necessitating a shift to the 4WD Lock mode. The Auto model will monitor the slip from the individual wheels and transfer the torque accordingly, providing drive to the wheel with the most grip. Some of the higher-end alternatives sometimes struggle with this feature but we found it to work like a charm in the Duster.
The short first gear did an amicable job of replicating a low-range and most of the course was negotiated with the selector in first. A welcomed addition is the reprogramming of the Hill Descent Control that is now capped at 10 km/h - hardy quicker than a walking pace. A little cover of the brake and the Duster took to the declines with aplomb.
The rest of the stats are equally impressive on paper as they are out on the courses. You get a 30-degree approach angle, a 34-degree departure angle and with a ground clearance of 210 mm, only the most rugged berms raised cause for concern - the Duster ate it up and went back for seconds.
Verdict
I always try and ask myself; if it were my money, and I was in the market for such a vehicle, would I park it in my garage? The answer is a resounding Yes. The Duster offers everything you need and some of what you want and when you consider the practical, no-frills nature of the Duster, combined with its reliability and 478-litre boot, it's easy to see why this model is so popular.
Coming in at R391 900 and backed by a 5-year / 150 000 km warranty and 3-year / 45 000 km service plan, the Duster is a solid investment for those that want all the fun, but don't want to break the bank.
*Pricing correct at time of publishing and subject to change without notice
