The first test drive with Dacia Duster facelift put us face to face with a car located “at a crossroads”. The SUV produced in Mioveni is more mature than ever, but the brand’s officials will have to decide soon in which direction Dacia will go in order to remain relevant.
Changing the Dacia logo, total and irreversible – also indicates a radical change of direction for the Dacia brand. Information from the Mioveni manufacturer’s area indicates a repositioning of the brand, both by increasing quality and by accessing the upper segments of the market – with the launch of Bigster in 2025. However, for the models in the current range, this is not entirely obvious. Dacia Logan and Sandero are a big step in the right direction, first of all through a very successful design. In four days we will see if Dacia will continue on this path with a palpable increase in quality with the launch of Jogger, its new family model with seven seats.
There are question marks about Duster. The SUV of the Romanian brand is a sales champion, but its attractiveness has decreased recently. This year’s facelift brought rather cosmetic changes, at a time when customers were expecting something as revolutionary as the brand’s new logo. At the front, the Duster has adopted optical blocks and a grille similar to those of the Logan / Sandero range, while at the rear the optical blocks have received a new Y-motif.
The first Dacia Duster facelift test drive: What’s new in the new model
Inside, the visible change is the replacement of the screen of the old multimedia unit with that of a modern infotainment system, also shared with the Logan / Sandero range. The position of the screen is still below the driver’s field of vision, which causes him to look away from the road. In addition, the materials on the board (except for the seat upholstery) remained unchanged, with some discrepancy between the youthful image and the perceived quality.
This was OK for a model that was bought a long time ago for its unbeatable price. With the facelift, however, Duster raised prices, and the imminent repositioning of the brand will exacerbate this problem. This means that Duster has reached a crossroads, where Dacia will have to choose the next direction. Once customers will no longer have the price as a benchmark, but their preferences, Dacia will have to take a visible increase in quality seriously.
Beyond these changes, Duster remains the same competent SUV, on asphalt as off-road. The high ground clearance (217 mm for front-wheel drive versions and 214 mm for 4 × 4s) allows it to tackle difficult terrain. Here you will feel at home, thanks to the very good passing abilities, always appreciated by the model’s fans. In the case of all-wheel drive versions, the 4 × 4 Monitor system provides clear information on the center screen on the inclinations, direction and altitude at which Duster evolves. At the end of the trip, the system provides a summary of the characteristics of the road traveled.
The Multiview Camera video cameras complement the driver’s eyes with great inspiration. Even if the system does not compose a 360 image as in the case of the more sophisticated models from Renault, it allows a precise positioning of the wheels off-road by displaying the images provided by the side cameras on the central screen.
How to drive the new Duster: Is the EDC automatic transmission worth the money?
When driving on the road, Duster remains silent, even at highway speeds. The driver’s comfort is ensured by the new sliding armrest, which also hides a generous storage compartment. Steering accuracy has been increased by recalibrating the assistance characteristics at medium and high speeds. In addition, for those who do not want to change gears manually, Dacia has equipped the new Duster with an EDC dual-clutch automatic transmission, but only available on the 150 hp TCe engine with front-wheel drive. This ensures a smooth change of steps, but in some situations “hunts” the right gear through frequent changes, not always inspired.
The Eco-G 100 engine on LPG has been substantially refined. As with the Sandero and Logan models, the switch between the two modes is made from the new button on the left of the steering wheel. The useful capacity of the LPG tank was increased by 16.2 liters, which translates into a total autonomy (gasoline + LPG) of 1,235 km. However, the most important change was made in the on-board computer, which can now display the level of the two tanks, but also separate consumption information for each of the two types of fuel.
When driving, the LPG engine is unexpectedly lively, despite the power of 100 hp. At no time did I have the impression that the Duster is underpowered, the Eco-G unit being especially recommended for those who do not need the 4 × 4 system. For those who have a bigger budget, I would choose at all times the all-wheel drive system to the detriment of the EDC gearbox, even if it is 450 euros more expensive (in the case of the TCe 150 engine).
Conclusion: The first test drive Dacia Duster facelift
The first test drive with Dacia Duster facelift shows us a mature car, which has grown on all levels, even if only marginally. There is no doubt that Duster is better than ever, but we can no longer talk about a leap, but rather a timid step, which preserves Duster’s chances of success for the last period of his life cycle. The new model is expected on the market in 2024 and will have to offer at least as much “wow” factor as the new Logan, which left a gaping mouth at launch.
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