Road test! The Renault Duster, aka...The Hustler?

By Ané Theron

Did you think you’d have to pay over 350K to for a compact SUV that gives you exactly what you want? Think again: Renault’s new flagship Duster 1.5dCi Prestige EDC 4 x 2 is offering value by the bucket load.

Styling

Does the new Duster look like a budget SUV? Definitely not. Renault’s designers have tweaked the Duster with a heavy hand, and the end result is a more rugged-looking and aesthetically pleasing result. The updated chrome trim of the grille, alongside a raised waistline and signature C-shaped daytime running lights all contribute to its rugged, yet refined look. Gone is the boring rear-end; we now see Jeep Renegade-like, square, 3D-effect tail lamps. Those 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels look almost too good to go go bundu-bashing with…

The Drive

The Duster’s practical nature is echoed in the way it drives: It was never created just to look off-roady, it truly is suitable for our dilapidated South African roads full of potholes and the poorest, rock-strewn gravel surfaces we can throw at it. While you probably wouldn’t think of taking your 4x2 Duster anywhere rougher than a grassy riverbank, let me assure you: You can, as long as you’re not expecting it to crawl across mountain tops - better leave that to the 4x4-version. Soft suspension means that even those pesky city speed bumps don’t make much of an impression on the Duster, and its high ground clearance means you can park wherever you fancy. As with all capable crossovers, steering is very light. This means it feels just as comfortable parking it in front of your favourite restaurant in town, as it does traversing the Prince Alfred Pass.

Performance

The trusty 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine cuts the right balance between being small enough for frugal consumption and large enough for decent (enough) overtaking performance. At the coast, the engine (80kW/250Nm) feels considerably peppier, despite Renault’s claim that their turbocharged engines aren't all that affected by the somewhat oxygen-poor air at the reef.

Space and Comfort

Renault’s revamping of the interior has been done with much thought and attention to detail. As with the ride quality, practicality and good ergonomics are still at the heart of everything, but with some luxurious finishes thrown in. The knurled aluminium rotary knobs have an Audi-esque air about them, and the layout of the buttons is much more sophisticated than the outgoing Duster’s ever was, and within easy reach of the driver.  There is an abundance of clever storage spaces everywhere, my favourite being the secret drawer underneath the front passenger’s seat (exclusive to the Prestige model). While it’s not very spacious, it’s a handy place to stow a wallets or phone. The cubby-hole is also quite tiny, but the most important stowage area, the boot, is a very generous 478 litres. The rear set bench features a ⅓ - ⅔ split-fold function if longer items (such as surfboards) need to come along.

The black Renault key card (also exclusive to the Prestige) has no designated space in the cabin to slot into, though, which means you have to carry it in your jeans pocket or handbag, and being constructed of black plastic (which gives it powers of invisibility), it caused me regularly rummage through my purse for it, as it simply wasn't having any of this auto-locking and unlocking business (it’s suppose to unlock as you approach the vehicle and do the opposite as you walk away). Nobody knows for sure, but it didn’t function as it was supposed to - perhaps it was manhandled by a journalist before me.

Technology

The standout feature of the Prestige model is without a doubt the MultiView cameras that afford you “eyes” on every side of the vehicle. This makes it child’s play to maneuver into a parking space without scratching those handsome-looking rims.  You can choose which view you need; just press the corresponding ‘button’ on the touchscreen for it to display exactly what (and most importantly, where) you need to see. 

The latest Renault MediaNav infotainment system is ultra user-friendly and comes with standard Satnav, which is just as easy to operate (standard in Dynamique models too). You can also stream music via your smartphone, or listen to music on a USB memory stick.

Safety

Apart from ABS, EBD and brake assist, all Dusters gets traction and stability control as well as two airbags, and Dynamique models have rear-parking sensors added, as well as hill-start assist to prevent the car rolling backwards. Blind-spot assist is also standard fare in the Prestige.

Fuel Consumption

It’s not often that the manufacturer’s consumption figure is so close to one’s real-life consumption figure, and we cleared the trip computer history time after time to make sure that our findings were accurate. Renault is proud of their 4.8 litre per 100 km (on average) figure, and we never went over the 5.2 mark, even in traffic. This means that a 1000 km journey on one tank is doable, if you don’t drive it like you stole it. For assistance with this character flaw, the Duster’s trip computer will give you a score out of 100 for how economically you drove. My partner and I found ourselves trying to beat each other’s scores every time we journeyed somewhere.

Price

The Prestige model is the top-of-the-range Duster, and I think that the R334 900 price tag is justified, considering the amount of standard tech and level of all-round quality. I would have liked to have side airbags too, but hopefully with the release of the next Duster, this will be included. Leather seats are an option at R10 088 and metallic paint will set you back R2 522.

There’s also nothing that says you have to buy the Prestige model. The Dynamique models start from R282 900, but bear in mind that this de-tuned engine is slightly less powerful with 66kW and 210 Nm of torque. The least expensive model in the line-up is the 1.6-litre petrol Expression model, priced at R249 900, but there’s no such thing as a touch screen inside and it’s not big on all those other lovely comfort features that make the Duster a real value proposition.

In case you missed our launch report, here’s a recap of the Duster’s pricing:

NEW Renault DUSTER 1.6 Expression 4X2	R249 900
NEW Renault DUSTER 1.5 dCi Dynamique 4x2	R282 900
NEW Renault DUSTER 1.5 dCi Dynamique EDC 4x2	R316 900
NEW Renault DUSTER 1.5 dCi Dynamique 4x4	R321 900
NEW Renault DUSTER 1.5 dCi Prestige EDC 4x2	R334 900

Verdict

It’s time to rethink those large, thirsty SUVs and downsize to something practical that is well-priced, frugal, functional, but also fun. The Duster is surprisingly easy to live with and has plenty of personality.

Expert rating

4 out of 5