The All-New Dacia Duster: At a Glance
Dacia’s iconic model has been redesigned with all-new exterior giving it a more assertive and muscular look.
And it isn't just on the outside either, the interior has been totally redesigned for a comfortable, more user-friendly experience.
The exterior styling of All-New Duster is completely brand-new and not one body panel is carried over from the previous generation car. New 17-inch wheels with black wing arch trims give the car a more assertive personality with a more distinctive grille extending to the head lights, making the car look wider.
The model boasts a new lighting signature, including LED daytime running lights divided into three sections and Dacia’s rear lighting signature – four red stacked squares – has been adapted for All-New Duster. The newly designed bonnet features sculpted crease lines that give the All-New Duster an even more rugged appearance. A larger, mass-coloured, scratch-resistant front skid plate reinforces Duster’s adventurer credentials. A higher belt line adds to the impression of robustness and protection while the windscreen has been brought forward 100mm and is more steeply raked, which makes the cabin appear more spacious.
Dacia’s designers worked from a clean slate to create a completely new interior for the All-New Duster, with a more modern, comfortable and passenger-friendly cabin. Careful attention has been paid to the materials, fit and finish, with the grain of the dashboard trim refined by 80%,
The centre console accommodates a higher-positioned (+74 mm), driver-focused MediaNav display for clear, easy access, with one of the market’s shortest viewing distances. The centre console fascia also features new piano key type controls that are more user-friendly and modern.
The seats have been completely redesigned with denser foam for improved comfort and support. The new seat design is more enveloping and provides enhanced lateral support when cornering and incorporates denser foam for improved durability and comfort. The front seat cushions are 20mm longer and the driver’s seat comes with an armrest, lumbar adjustment and a new height-adjustment system which travels through 60 mm (compared with 40 mm previously). The rear seats feature three comma-type head rests for improved safety and driver visibility when there are no rear passengers.
Cabin noise has been halved by increasing the percentage of sound-absorbing surfaces in the cabin and engine compartment from 20 to 50 per cent, reducing noise thanks to improved sealants and plugs and using 0.35mm-thicker glass for the front windows. The car is now fitted with larger-diameter 165 mm bicone speakers for enhanced audio quality.
Storage capacity has been increased by 20 per cent to a total of 28.6 litres. The All-New Duster has the same boot capacity as its predecessor: 445 litres for the 2WD version and 411 litres for the 4WD version.
The All-New Duster also comes with new electric power steering that reduces the effort required to turn the wheel by 35 percent, which is particularly useful when parking.
The All-New Duster also offers a range of equipment that has never previously been seen in the Dacia product range. The list includes a multi-view camera, Blind Spot Warning, curtain airbags, climate control, keyless entry and automatic headlight activation.
On higher trim levels there's keyless entry and start/stop.
Climate control is now available for the first time and the improved layout of the cabin features three rotary controls for this matching the three air vents located at the top of the dashboard.
It also comes with Blind Spot Warning. Four ultrasound sensors located on either side of the vehicle both front and rear detect any other vehicles, including motorcycles and trucks, coming from the rear or the side. A warning light flashes in the door mirror housing if any danger is detected and the new car is now safer thanks to its reinforced vehicle frame, new seat frames, full length curtain airbags and automatic headlight activation.
A Genuine SUV
The all-new Duster carries over the same off-roading credentials that helped to make the previous model such a success. Although visually a much more imposing car, it offers dimensions close to those of its predecessor:
4.3 metres long and 1.8 metres wide
High ground clearance (210 mm)
Approach and departure angles of 30 and 33 degrees respectively for genuine off-road capability
Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist make driving easier on sloping terrain
For off-road enthusiasts, the 4X4 monitor incorporates a compass and notifies the driver of the vehicle’s angle in real time
The car features a multi-view camera which incorporates four cameras (one at the front, one on either side and one at the rear). The system allows the driver to view the area around the vehicle and manoeuvre in complete peace of mind when using the vehicle off road. It is also useful to help with parking and is activated automatically when reverse gear is engaged.
Powertrains, Chassis and Driving Dynamics
The new model comes with a choice of one petrol and one diesel engine at launch. The SCe 115 (2WD and 4WD versions) and the Blue dCi 115 (2WD).
This 1.6-litre petrol engine provides 115bhp with 156Nm of torque at 4,000rpm and in the 4x2 version offers combined fuel consumption of 43.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 149g/km. For 4x4 versions, the combined fuel consumption figure is 40.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 158g/km.
For 4x2 versions the engine powers the Duster from 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds, while for 4x4 models it takes 12.9 seconds.
The 1.5-litre diesel engine provides 115bhp with 260Nm of torque at 1,750rpm and offers combined fuel consumption of 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km.
As standard, all-new Duster comes with a six-speed manual transmission, except for the SCe 115 4x2 petrol model, which has a five-speed gearbox. The 4x4 models use the TL8 six-speed manual transmission which has been developed from the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s high volume TL4 unit. It has a shorter first gear ratio better suited to off-road demands such as hill starts, steep descents or accelerating when towing.
The unit is also very compact and, compared with a heavier transfer box system, it doesn’t compromise cabin space and keeps costs down.
The Duster is built on Dacia’s existing B0 platform, which has proven strength, reliability and built-to-last quality. The front MacPherson strut-type suspension, like that in the Logan and Sandero, has been strengthened to cope with off-road driving. The 4x4s have a multi-arm arrangement at the rear that was specially developed for the Duster, while the 4x2 models have a programmed-deflection H-beam that is also strong, but allows for a larger boot. Both formats deliver a comfortable ride and allow the kind of ground clearance that’s a hallmark of Duster’s genuine SUV character. Its built-in toughness has been tested to the limit over the equivalent of more than 2.5 million miles in the most demanding climates and driving conditions.
UK Specifcations
Dacia’s ethos is to keep things simple and no- nonsense - so the line-up is no different. There are four trim levels to choose from; Access, Essential, Comfort and Prestige.
Core features across the All-New Duster range include new electric power steering, height-adjustable front headrests and seat belts, ECO mode and Stop and Start, gearshift indicator, a Thatcham-approved engine immobiliser, automatic door lock, a tyre inflation kit (4x2 models) and emergency spare wheel (4x4 models), ABS and Emergency Brake Assist, ESC/ ASR (Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control) and ISOFIX points in the rear.
Access trim, available from £9,995 also features 16-inch steel wheels and electric front windows.
Essential trim, available from £11,595, adds 16-inch ‘Fidji’ steel wheels, body coloured front and rear bumpers, air conditioning, height adjustable driver’s seat, DAB radio with steering-column mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity.
Comfort trim, available from £13,195, adds new 16-inch ‘Cyclade’ alloy wheels, front-seat armrest, leather steering wheel, graphite cloth upholstery, rear parking camera and sensors, electric front and rear windows, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, MediaNav 7" touchscreen multimedia system (Satellite navigation, USB and AUX connection points) and a 7-function on-board computer, all as standard.
The top-of-the-range Prestige version, available from £14,395, adds even more luxuries with brand new 17-inch ‘Diamond-cut’ alloy wheels, multi-view camera, blind spot warning, climate control and keyless entry.