Sam says skip the stick, take the auto

As a fan of the previous generation, I was quite anticipating testing the new Renault Duster. My first test was with the new Duster was in the manual 1.2T Turbo Zen 4×4 MHEV, which did not quite live up to expectation. I drove the auto 1.3T 4×2 Zen too. My conclusion: if I were to buy the new Duster, I would choose the automatic.

The third-generation Duster is built on Renault’s CMF-B platform, shared with models like the Clio and Captur. It arrives with modernised styling, improved technology and more efficient powertrains, while trying to retain the rugged, go-anywhere appeal it is known for. But, is it as fuel efficient and versatile as the previous gen?

The drive

Power comes from a 1.3-litre turbopetrol in the 4×2 and a 1.2-litre turbopetrol in the 4×4. The 4×4 is only offered in the lower Zen specification, not the range-topping Intens, which is reserved for the 4×2. The 1.2-litre engine in the 4×4 features a 48V mild-hybrid setup intended to help lower fuel consumption. The Duster produces 96 kW of power and 230 Nm of torque.

The turbodiesel is discontinued, which is a pity but expected from a European vehicle. I went online to check second-hand diesel Duster prices out of curiosity, and found they had climbed noticeably, which is understandable.

When the previous-generation Duster launched, there was a flurry of buyers drawn to the affordable vehicle for its lifestyle and towing perks. Before long, every second car in a caravan park seemed to be a Duster, thanks in part to its 1500kg braked towing capacity.

The manual’s drive was disappointing. It did not feel like it had enough power to live up to the reputation previously built. Much of this was due to the effort needed to smoothly change between 2^nd and 3^rd gear. This is a significant point for me to raise because my personal vehicle also needs a good amount of effort to drive smoothly, so I am not unaccustomed to this. Even so, in the 4×2, the manual felt unnecessarily awkward.

I found the Duster’s redemption in the automatic. Most of this came down to the calibration of the gearbox, which delivered a noticeably more responsive and powerful drive.

The 4×4 gets dedicated off-road drive modes, accessed via a dial on the centre console. Renault’s 4WD Terrain Control offers five modes, auto, snow, mud/sand, off-road and eco. It has an increased ground clearance of 217mm, higher than the 4×2. Downhill speed control adds confidence on steep descents. Off-road data such as lateral tilt, incline and torque distribution is displayed on the infotainment screen.

Fuel consumption was one of the Duster’s most appealing traits. Admittedly, our best figures came from the diesel automatic, and both vehicles tested this time were petrol. Claimed fuel consumption is 6.5 L/100 km for the automatic and 5.7 L/100 km for the manual, while the achieved figure in the automatic was 7.6 L/100 km. This was largely on open roads, over a fairly long trip, and in Eco mode. The figure could be marginally improved on, but it is likely a fair representation of what can be achieved day-to-day.

At the end of each trip, the Duster displays an eco-score rating the economy of your driving. Rather than simply flagging a low score, you can swipe across for detail on where efficiency is being lost, in either your acceleration or anticipation of the road ahead, information that can be used to actively improve consumption.

You can also set an eco-monitor on the driver information screen that shows in real time whether you are driving within an economical range. The manual also has a gear-shift indicator, though I would not use this often if you want the best performance from the car. It suggests early changes that make sense for saving fuel, but not for building speed as quickly as you might like or even need.

The design

The new Duster is wider and slightly longer than its predecessor. The 4×4 gains a different front bumper design that assists in creating a better approach angle than the 4×2 variants.

The new gen has a more muscular and modern design, making for a tougher stance. Other changes include Y-shaped LED headlights and taillights, a larger grille with the prominent new Renault logo, Chunky cladding and skid plates and modular roof bars with a load capacity of 70kg (4×4).

Practicality carries through to the interior, which favours sturdy materials over outright luxury. Rubber floor mats, with a yellow design detail, are sturdier and easier to clean. Renault also uses more sustainable materials elsewhere in the cabin and exterior, including Starkle, a durable material made with up to 20% recycled content, in the wheel arch guards and underbody shielding.

Storage space is standard, except for the centre cubby, which is oddly long and narrow. It cannot hold much, and whatever you do put in it rattles around noisily. This is a Renault trait I have noticed before and is not unique to the Duster.

Under the transmission is a dedicated space for smaller items and keys. Worth noting is the range-topping Intens EDC 4×2 swaps the physical key for a hands-free keycard.

In the rear, above the charging ports, there is a spot intended to keep your phone secure while it charges, though it is not deep enough, and most phone sizes will actually fall out of it. Below that is a small device whose purpose was not immediately obvious, though following research I saw it is for wrapping a charging cable around.

Rear space was adequate, and I was able to fit three adults comfortably, though only for shorter trips. There were complaints that the bench felt hard and unyielding, though this may simply be a case of the upholstery not being worn in yet. Oddly, there are no drinks holders in the rear at all.

The Duster has a generously sized boot, likely one of the reasons it has become such a popular lifestyle vehicle. It also features boot lighting and an additional netted storage space to the left.

Stepping inside

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connect remarkably easily and reliably. The 10.1-inch touchscreen does tend to catch glare at certain times of day, but on the plus side, adjusting the screen’s brightness is quick and easy, more so than any other vehicle I have tested recently, if they even have that option at all.

The main air conditioning functions, switching on, airflow and demisting, are controlled via physical buttons below the infotainment screen. This is a welcome inclusion as manufacturers increasingly bury these controls in menus causing distraction, a pet peeve of mine.

A wireless charging pad is in a concealed cubby out of sight beneath the infotainment screen. The average sized phone does not fit snugly in there, however. This feature is reserved for the EDC 4×2. Below it are two USB-C ports with two more in the rear, though there are no USB-A ports.

There is also a cubby that can hold a phone upright, handy if you are not using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay for whatever reason. This lower cubby becomes essential once a phone is plugged in via cable, as a phone definitely will not fit in the wireless charging space.

The audio volume control is located on a lever behind the steering wheel spokes, similar in position to an indicator stalk. As an owner, its placement is unlikely to bother you, though it is easy to miss if your salesperson does not point it out at the dealership. I do like this placement of the volume dial, buttons for skipping tracks or switching media source. It requires minimal movement of your hand and draws little attention away from the road.

The clearest difference I noticed between trim levels was that the 4×2 flagship offers push-button start and a hands-free keycard, while other derivatives retain a conventional key. With increasingly less vehicles retaining a traditional key, it is a somewhat unusual exclusion between trims, though the cost difference may justify it.

I also liked the feature where unclipping your seatbelt automatically shifts the Duster into park and engages the parking brake.

Other highlights include a digital instrument cluster with customisable display themes and dial colours, two ISOFIX points, and Renault’s YouClip 3-in-1 accessory system, a set of square mounting points placed throughout the cabin that let you attach compatible storage accessories wherever you need them.

Safety

Renault improved chassis rigidity for better crash protection across the new Duster range. Standard equipment includes

• Six airbags (driver, passenger, side and curtain)
• Tyre Pressure Detector
• Electric Parking Brake

Additional features, reserved for the range-topping Intens EDC 4×2, include:

• Blind Spot Detection
• A Multiview camera with 360-degree sensors for improved visibility and manoeuvrability
• Downhill speed control
• Seatbelt reminders across all seating positions

Ultimately, the new Duster is not the old Duster. There are gains, like its modern, edgy new design, and losses, chief among them the efficient diesel engine. I would not easily be sold on the 4×4 manual derivative, but I would be on the 4×2 automatic, which is something of a shame, given that it is the 4×4’s lifestyle and off-road appeal that draws so many people to the Duster in the first place.

Good to know

The specs

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