After a rather long, highly anticipated wait, Dacia has finally unveiled the brand-new, third-generation Duster. I have always been a fan of the Dacia Duster (but then again, who isn’t?); the true, down-to-earth people-mover of Europe. It’s not a surprise then, that this affordable and capable family SUV has sold by the bucket loads since its inception back in 2010. In fact, Dacia’s built over 2.2 million Dusters, with a well-deserved 40 accolades and awards won, as well. Thankfully, despite average new car prices continually rising over the last few years, the new Duster bucks this trend by providing awesome value for money, starting at £18,745.
Yet, despite its relatively affordable price tag, Dacia has been able to meaningfully evolve the Duster in more ways than one. Most notably, you’ll probably notice the sharper, angrier, and more aggressive design language in this new-generation Duster. I quite adore this aggressive off-roader look, and especially the new Y-shaped lighting signature on the front, too. There is plenty of neat, clever attention to detail with this new Duster, such as the modular roof racks that could support up to 80kg of weight. Additionally, this new Duster uses plenty of recycled materials, such as the plasticky bits in the wheel arches, underbody shields, and skid plates.
A Tougher, Sportier, And More Comfortable Skeleton
Peel back that handsome exterior, and you’ll find that Dacia has made a tonne more changes underneath, to boot. The Duster adopts a revised version of the brand’s CMF-B platform. Yet, despite this new Duster’s compact 4.34-metre total length, compared to the last generation, they’ve actually been able to add more passenger legroom and a much bigger boot. This new platform also allows the Duster to offer you improved handling and comfort. Dacia had done plenty of tweaking with the damping settings, power steering ratio, and anti-roll bars. In total, you’ll notice 21% (4×2 model) and 17% (4×4) reduced body roll in the new Duster.
Moreover, while it might not sound like a lot to us, this new Duster sees a 2dB reduction in outside noise levels coming into the cabin. Speaking of the cabin, this is no doubt a huge upgrade over those past Dusters that I’ve driven. It is much more refined and up-to-date now, with a modern infotainment system and gauge cluster, and a cleaner layout. You’ll even get a flattened steering wheel, too. Of course, you will find all the proverbial bells and whistles here, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 3D audio system, in addition to over-the-air updates. Last but not least, this new Duster gets a pair of updated engines on top of that.
Empowering A Whole New Generation Of Affordable SUVs
The aforementioned CMF-B platform that I mentioned earlier could accommodate both mild-hybrid and full-hybrid powertrains. So, depending on your specific use case or what you want, there’s a selection of different engines to choose from. For example, you have the HYBRID 140 powertrain, which combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine, alongside two electric motors and a high-voltage starter-generator. In some situations, you could drive in all-electric mode up to 80% of the time. This alone could help you reduce your fuel usage by up to 40%! And, there’s the TCe 130 Mild-Hybrid powertrain, which pairs a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine and a 48V hybrid system.
While it’s not as fuel efficient, this model is cheaper, but it could still yield lower emissions and improved fuel economy, nevertheless. Finally, you may also choose the Dual-Fuel TCe 100 Bi-Fuel powertrain, allowing you to seamlessly switch between petrol and LPG. This engine is an incredible long-distance champion, with a combined range of up to 870 miles on a single tank! Ah, and for all you off-roading fans out there, worry not, as this new Dacia Duster has a clever 4×4 system. With up to 5 driving modes, including those focused on all-terrain driving, like Snow and Mud/Sand, you can easily tackle rough terrain with ease in your shiny, brand-new Dacia Duster.
