10 reasons why the Dacia Duster 2018 could be your car

The new Dacia Duster 2018 has arrived, and it comes with plenty of arguments to make it worth considering if you’re looking for an all-purpose SUV at a low price without giving up anything.

That we like the number 10 is obvious; you only have to look at our headline. And that we really like the renovation carried out by Dacia on the new Dacia Duster 2018 will become quite clear as you read this article. Because finding 10 reasons to recommend the new Dacia Duster didn’t take us much thought. The car is convincing, and very soon sales figures will tell us whether it also wins over buyers and manages to reach the top positions among the best-selling SUVs. A Top 10 that in 2017 was led by the Nissan Qashqai, as the SUV with the most registrations in Spain.

Design of the new Dacia Duster: more “eye-catching”

The Dacia Duster 2018 keeps its lines and dimensions: it measures 4.34 metres long, 1.80 wide and 1.69 metres high, with the same wheelbase of 2.67 m. But its design changes enough that it now appeals to many who previously considered it… let’s say not very attractive, not to say ugly. And it’s well known that if there is a category where design carries decisive weight at the time of purchase, it is that of SUVs.

A more horizontal bonnet, new grille, more advanced and more steeply raked windscreen, new body protections, widened wheel arches… It’s not that it looks like a different car, it is one. In fact, none of the stamped sheet metal parts have been kept. Here you can see an interesting video showing the transformation the Duster has undergone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K6UF_I6Y84

In addition to that look, which still conveys robustness but at the same time isn’t associated with an outdated design, the Dacia Duster 2018 can now fit wheels of up to 17 inches. And you can choose from nine body colours, among which the Atacama orange, various shades of grey (platinum or comet), a glacier white, several blues, dune beige or pearl black stand out.

A modern interior that is anything but “low cost”

The biggest advance in the interior of the new Duster 2018 is that special attention has been paid to those details that make life on board more comfortable. Among them, new seats that are much more comfortable and offer greater adjustment possibilities – also for the steering wheel –, higher quality materials – although the plastic used is hard – and also in the feel of all the controls.

Or the new equipment options (such as the card-type keyless entry characteristic of Renault, the push-button start, etc.) are details that raise the level considerably. The windscreen with thicker glass and up to 50 percent more sound-absorbing material also contribute greatly to the improved comfort the new Duster offers.

There are still details that allow Dacia to offer the Duster at a very competitive price, but which won’t cost you much in day-to-day use. Among them, the manual headlight height adjustment, the absence of vanity mirror lights on the sun visors, and the lack of height adjustment for the seatbelts. Or having one-touch up-and-down windows only for the driver.

The fact that the new Dacia Duster doesn’t improve on the three stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests of its predecessor might make you hesitate. Another reading could be that it has held its rating while the test is now more demanding. It is penalised mainly for the result in the frontal collision test, but it cannot be said that the Duster is a dangerous car. Furthermore, as we will see later, it also includes new safety equipment. For now, you can see images of the car in motion and its interior in the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWbDSiycUIY&index=5&list=PL67nJYhRgzx-85RszJ8ABLtMbKGFHyTMt

Notable space and boot

The changes in design, the new panels and trim, or the larger seats barely affect the interior space you will find in the new Duster 2018, which still has a spacious cabin that makes very good use of its exterior size.

The same can be said of the boot, which is accessed through the generous opening left by the tailgate. It has very square shapes and reaches 445 litres in the 4×2 versions (the 4×4 versions lose about 35 litres). When the rear seatbacks are folded down, they fold onto the fixed rear bench, so capacity increases to 1,478 litres, although the loading surface is not flat. It can carry a spare wheel or puncture repair kit, a power socket, load hooks and even a 12-volt socket.

Plenty of equipment options

New equipment arrives on the Duster, both in terms of safety and comfort as well as multimedia systems. The basic Access version serves as the entry level to offer a competitive “from” price, and is only combined with the naturally aspirated 1.6 petrol engine. The best option is to start by considering at least the Essential trim, which already includes fog lights, roof bars and radio with Bluetooth and steering wheel controls. Additionally, it can optionally be fitted with manual air conditioning or the Navigation pack.

The Comfort versions are not combined with the basic engines, but here air conditioning, folding rear seats, electric mirrors, or style details such as the leather steering wheel or chrome door handles are already standard.

All versions come as standard with a new electric power steering with a more direct feel that adapts the level of assistance to speed. The multi-view camera system and the automatic light sensor also arrive as new features.

Prestige top-of-the-range version

It would not be surprising if the most sought-after equipment version of the new Dacia Duster turned out to be the most expensive and luxurious, something that may seem contradictory in a car whose low purchase price is one of its main selling points.

But the new Prestige version will draw all eyes, adding various elements to the equipment of the Dacia Duster Comfort. Among them, blind-spot presence detection, chrome roof bars, 17-inch alloy wheels, specific upholstery, a new automatic air conditioning system, electric rear windows, parking assistance with camera and the Media Nav Evolution system, with a 7-inch touchscreen, navigation and mobile phone connectivity.

The engines of the Dacia Duster 2018: a safe bet

This is where we find the fewest changes in the new Duster, but there wasn’t much need for them either. In the petrol engine range the Duster offers the 1.6 naturally aspirated 4-cylinder with 115 CV, with a 5-speed gearbox.

For consumption, performance, and also because it is offered in more trim variants than the basic Access, in petrol – and also as an alternative to diesel – the most recommended engine is the modern 1.2 TCe, also 4-cylinder but now with direct injection, turbocharger and 125 CV of power.

With a 6-speed gearbox, it can also be combined with 4×4 traction, and it homologates very notable performance figures: 177 km/h top speed, 10.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and an average consumption from 6.2 l/100 km. A smooth, very pleasant engine with good responsiveness.

Among the diesels, there are two options: the 1.5 dCi with 90 or 110 CV. Both homologate the same average consumption, 4.4 l/100 km, but it will be easier to use less fuel with the more powerful engine. The latter offers more pulling power and allows longer periods of driving in higher gears. Moreover, the 110 CV dCi greatly improves acceleration (no less than two seconds faster from 0-100 km/h, reaching 11.8 seconds). And as an alternative to the six-speed manual, it can be had with the always effective and recommendable EDC dual-clutch gearbox, and even with 4×4 traction.

Eco version: a Duster with LPG available

Dacia already offered an LPG version in the Duster range, and continues to offer this “ECO” variant in the new Duster 2018 range. The pity is that precisely because of its ecological character the Duster LPG is still built on the naturally aspirated engine; an LPG Duster with the 1.2 TCe engine, even with its power reduced slightly to 115–120 CV, would be a real treat.

But for now that’s what there is, and at least you have this alternative if, besides saving on fuel, you’re looking for a car that benefits you with the advantages that derive from being able to display the “ECO” label that the DGT grants to cars that can run on LPG on the windscreen. You know: discounts or exemption from road tax, and parking in regulated parking zones or on certain toll roads. Or being able to keep using the car when traffic is restricted to the city during high-pollution episodes.

That said, you should bear in mind that the performance of this LPG version of the Duster, as well as the driving feel, do not make it a car designed especially for long journeys. Its limited torque means you must use the gearbox constantly and keep the engine revving high, and it has only 5 speeds. It homologates a top speed of 172 km/h and an average consumption of 8.8 litres of LPG per 100 km, with performance on LPG closer to the 90 CV dCi. It adds an LPG tank of about 30 litres that doesn’t steal boot space since it occupies the spare wheel well, and would provide about 300 km of additional range on top of what the petrol tank, which keeps its 50 litres, allows.

Extensive accessories catalogue

In addition to the optional equipment available, Dacia offers an extensive catalogue of dealer accessories that allow you to personalise the Duster or extend its range of use. Among them, the bumper guards, side steps, the wheel arch extension kit and the chrome roof bars stand out.

A roof light kit is also offered. Inside, style details such as illuminated door sills, or practical elements such as the modular Easyflex boot protection, non-slip and waterproof.

In addition, Dacia has specific transport elements such as a practical detachable towbar requiring no tools, a roof box or a bicycle carrier.

With the new Dacia Duster you can also go 4×4

With its ground clearance – no less than 210 mm – and favourable body angles (30 degrees approach and 34 departure thanks to the short overhangs, with a breakover angle of 21 degrees), the Dacia Duster remains a true “all-terrain vehicle”. But if you are looking for a car to make the most of its possibilities off the tarmac, the 2018 Duster also brings interesting news.

The 4×4 traction system receives some improvements. However, you can only fit it if you opt for the more powerful engines, the 125 CV TCe petrol and the 110 dCi diesel, in both cases with the two higher trim levels. Moreover, the 4×4 versions have three useful aids: hill descent control – which automatically applies the brakes to control the speed on descents –, hill start assist, and the new 4×4 information display, which in addition to a compass also shows in real time the inclination the vehicle reaches when crossing obstacles. You can see the Duster 2018 in action on a 4×4 course in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG1FXnxWa40

The price factor: a Duster from 10,860 euros

Dacia has already revealed the final prices of the Duster 2018 range for Spain, with an official starting price of 10,860 euros for the Access version with the 114 CV naturally aspirated petrol engine.

This represents an increase of around 500 euros over the current Duster tariff price. That said, with the new Duster just around the corner, Dacia is offering the last units of the previous Duster still in stock from 10,000 euros.

With the same proportion across the rest of the versions – it will depend a lot on possible discounts – with those 500 euros of increase for the entry variant, the price still positions the Duster as one of the cheapest SUVs in its category. And even given the improvements, it raises its value-for-money ratio compared with the previous model. Furthermore, it keeps a 3-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty, higher than that of most of its potential rivals.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadDacia Duster24 versions · from 19,990 €