Top Gear has just released the new Dacia Duster. You can read the full test report in TopGear Magazine 228; now the highlights.
Test object: Dacia Duster
Performance: Mild Hybrid 130 and Hybrid 140
Location: area Malaga, Spain
Weather conditions: Weather where you shouldn't forget to apply sunscreen, about 29 degrees
How much does that cost?
Hello, take it easy. Don't you first want to know how the new Dacia Duster drives? Or that it is now on a new platform that it shares with the Renault Clio or the Dacia Jogger? And that it is now also for sale as a hybrid with automatic transmission? Or that the protective parts on the outside consist of 20 percent recycled plastic?
No, how much does the Dacia Duster cost?
Due to all the inflation and taxes, it is no longer an SUV costing less than 14,000 euros, but the new Duster is still cheaper than a Volkswagen Polo, to name just one thing. The new Duster will cost you minimum 25,590 euros. Then you have the version with 100 hp that runs on both petrol and LPG. With two tanks full, you can drive 1,000 kilometers. This version has 16-inch steel wheels and doesn't even have navigation, but it does have air conditioning.
And which version do you want?
You won't miss the navigation system, because everyone has a phone with GPS these days. And steel wheels suit him best. One level higher will cost you about 2,000 euros extra and then you get a screen behind the steering wheel and a navigation screen, plus larger wheels. We suspect most buyers do. Even if only for the residual value. For the hybrid you immediately pay 32,840 euros and for the mild hybrid with 4×4 you pay 34,890 euros.
And how does it drive?
We have not yet been able to drive the version with 100 hp, but we found the version with manual gearbox and 130 hp to drive very well. The hybrid with 140 hp is always available with an automatic transmission, which is a bit less pleasant to drive. The automatic transmission quickly starts to rev and also feels a lot slower than it really is. A manual gearbox also fits the character of the car better.
Furthermore, it is slightly stiffer than its predecessor, which you especially notice at speed bumps. According to Dacia, the new Duster handles better as a result, but we didn't think it was necessary. Not that it is very relevant in the Netherlands or Belgium, but the Duster is very good at off-roading. The majority of the motorisations are front-wheel drive.
And the new Dacia Duster looks nice, right?
The old one was so cool because it didn't try to be cool, but the new one was designed as a 'rough guy' from the start. The casual coolness is therefore lost, but it is certainly a successful design. The interior (which also looks nice) is full of hard plastic, but with Dacia you expect and accept that. In fact, it will be a wish of the average customer.
Should you leave an Opel Corsa or a Toyota Yaris for this larger Dacia Duster? Maybe not – at least not in the Netherlands. Underneath its rugged appearance, the Duster is still very much a tool. So you sacrifice something when it comes to refinement and finish for features that you do not use here. On the other hand: you drive something cooler than your neighbor.
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