In France, I had the opportunity to test the new generation of the Dacia Duster, which has been on sale in dealerships since June. It was a great chance to assess the improvements (or not) of this new model compared to the previous generation. I had previously taken the Duster 2 on a 9,000 km tour through 10 countries and was impressed by the car’s reliability and handling, its connectivity, its limited fuel consumption and its price. This time, we won’t be able to examine the Duster in such detail, but sometimes first impressions are crucial.
The Duster’s exterior design has been completely rethought for this new generation. While the second generation closely resembled the first model, this time the designers started with a clean slate. The front end is aggressive and bulky, and the taillights are shaped like the new Dacia logo. While the second generation “borrowed” some elements from other cars (taillights similar to those of the Jeep Renegade), this generation is unique. In addition, there is nothing cheap about the car’s appearance anymore.
Inside, the Duster feels very solid, and we forgive all its hard plastics thanks to the clever combination of different textures on the door sides and dashboard. The environment is light years ahead of the previous generation, as the model is upgraded in all areas. As for pricing, I did a simulation for the Journey 1.6 Hybrid 140 ch model (not the one I drove, but the one I would buy), and with two options (pearl black paint and the city pack with a prominent blind spot warning), the total came to €30,117.78. Note that this is the top of the Duster range.
The digital instrument cluster is a pleasant surprise, and the infotainment screen is much larger than the previous generation. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to use it to its full potential, I found it easy and intuitive to operate. A rear-view camera is included. The boot is a decent size, with practical rubber protection underneath. Large rear underbody protectors improve 4Look at WD.
How does the new Duster drive? I was eager to find out, given that the previous generation was impressive throughout the 9,000 km I drove it around the Black Sea. Well, I’m sorry to say that the ride was disappointing. The 1.2 TCe 130 ch engine feels weak compared to the car’s rugged charm, and I expected much more dynamics. On top of that, the road sign recognition and the corresponding speed warnings are constant, despite my careful driving. Very annoying.
In short, a very stylish package that doesn’t feel cheap, but the driving experience is average.
