Today’s all-terrain vehicles are often synonymous with bulk, but Duster is an antidote to that idea. With a length of 4.31 metres and a width of 1.82 metres, Duster is very compact.
Its Megane-size proportions ensure that it is as at home in built-up areas as it is off the beaten track. While it clearly belongs to the world of all-terrain vehicles, Dacia Duster displays attractive lines.
Duster is unmistakably a 4×4. From the front, it exudes an impression of toughness: the wide wheelarches, the imposing lines of the chrome grille and the sump guard clearly emphasise the 4×4 DNA of Duster. Seen from the side, the high ground clearance, clearly defined wheelarches and protective mouldings encourage the driver to tackle even the toughest roads and tracks.
With the optional Look Pack, owners of Duster can enhance the vehicle’s good looks. This pack includes 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels, roof bars, extra-tinted rear glass, and satin-finish chrome exterior mirrors, front and rear skid plates, and sills. A comprehensive range of accessories (including broad door protectors and styling bars) will complete this unique look.
Inside, the elevated driving position provides a better view of potential hazards and improves the driver’s ability to anticipate problems. The interior echoes the core values of the Dacia brand: the dashboard is modern, uncluttered and functional. Its design varies according to version, and several areas can be modified with different colours or surface finishes. Duster introduces a new brown trim, while a Leather Pack (seats, steering wheel, gearlever knob) is also available. Particular attention has been paid to its ergonomics to ensure that the controls are conveniently positioned and that driving data is easy to read: the well-placed, intuitive 4×4 control button is a perfect example of this.
Duster was designed to cope with all types of road and track, all over the world. In order to meet these wide-ranging needs, Duster will be available in both 4×4 and 4×2 form. The 4×2 version has been designed for customers who want good ground clearance and a reassuring elevated driving position, as well as loose-surface ability, but who don’t have a real need for all-wheel drive.
The strengthened underside of Duster is suitable for loose-surfaces and all-terrain use thanks to:
* ground clearance raised by 210mm,
* short overhangs (822mm at the front, 820mm at the rear),
* big clearance angles (30 degrees for approach angle; 36 degrees for departure angle).
Duster is a vehicle that is easy to use. It is lightweight for its size: 1,160kg in 4×2 specification and 1,250kg for the 4×4 version1. Combined with compact dimensions, this ensures Duster is particularly agile.
Duster has been developed on a platform derived from the Logan family, with a MacPherson-type arrangement with wishbones for the front suspension. In 4×4 configuration, the rear suspension is a MacPherson-type multi-arm system; for the 4×2 version, the programmed deflection, flexible H-beam permits greater carrying ability in terms of volume. Both systems allow significant suspension travel for improved traction and comfort.
Duster 4×4 is equipped with a new six-speed gearbox with a very short first ratio (5.79kph per 1,000 rpm). This simple solution allows the vehicle to travel at very slow speed on uneven terrain, and improves performance as you pull away from standstill with heavy loads or on steep slopes.
The 4×4 control located on the lower part of the centre console allows drivers of Duster 4×4 to easily adapt the vehicle’s configuration to their needs. This control permits three modes:
* In AUTO mode, the front/rear torque split is calculated automatically as a function of available grip. This mode has been developed to provide the best compromise between road holding and traction, no matter what the level of grip may be. In normal conditions, the torque is transmitted through the front wheels only. If traction is lost, or when grip is at a premium, some of the torque is transferred to the rear axle. This split is performed by an electromagnetic torque converter supplied by Nissan.
* In LOCK mode, the driver electronically locks the transmission in 4×4 mode. In this mode, throttle control and braking are also adapted for 4×4 use. This mode is recommended when grip is low (snow, mud, dirt, sand) and at low speed.
* In 4×2 mode, the transmission is locked into two-wheel drive. This mode is suited to driving on good roads and reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
A 100% DACIA 4×4 WITH ALL THE BRAND’S ACCLAIMED ADVANTAGES
Duster, the sixth vehicle in the Dacia range, stay’s true to the philosophy and values of the brand. Duster offers unbeatable interior space for its price, as well as low running costs thanks to thrifty fuel consumption, low maintenance costs, high levels of safety and reliability in all conditions. Duster perfectly embodies the brand values of reliability and affordability, while at the same time shaking up the market, a role that has helped forge Dacia’s reputation.
Unbeatable space for its price
Although Duster’s price is comparable to that of a city car, its exterior and interior dimensions are more akin to those of compact cars in the next segment up.
Duster can comfortably seat up to five adults and offers both front and rear occupants the same amount of space as the Dacia Logan saloon.
Duster’s boot capacity – up to 475 cubic metres VDA (depending on version) – is also very competitive given the vehicle’s compact dimensions. With the rear benchseat folded, Duster offers an impressive carrying capacity of up to 1,636 cubic metres VDA (depending on version).
Reliable, economical, low-emission engines
Duster will be available with a choice of three powerplants for both the 4×2 and 4×4 versions: one petrol engine (1.6 16V 110hp) and two diesel engines (dCi 85 and dCi 110). The strengths of these engines have already been demonstrated under the bonnet of many Renault group vehicles. These engines are a perfect fit for the criteria of cost, reliability and easy maintenance that are hallmarks of the Dacia brand.
Combined with Duster’s low weight, they offer low fuel consumption and impressive ecological credentials. The dCi versions emit from 135g of CO2/km for the 4×2 version (which qualifies it for the Dacia eCO2 signature) and from 145g of CO2/km in the case of the 4×4 version.
Economical to buy and run
Servicing and maintenance costs have been significantly reduced thanks to extended service intervals for oil changes, and brake pad and tyre replacements. The useful life of the air filters has been extended to 90,000km/four years for petrol versions, while that for diesel it has gone from 40,000km to 60,000km.
Safety, an essential priority
Duster benefits from Renault’s acclaimed expertise in the area of safety, Dacia’s 4×4 features Bosch 8.1 ABS, as well as EBV electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist.
Dacia Duster is the brand’s first vehicle to feature ESC as an option on certain versions, as well as CSV understeer control and ASR traction control. This option also allows torque to be transferred away from a spinning wheel in 4×4 mode to improve traction when diagonal wheel spin occurs.
On the passive safety front, Duster is fitted, as standard, with two front airbags (depending on market) and three-point seat belts with load limiters for the front seats, to which pyrotechnic pretensioners can be added. Depending on the version, two lateral head/thorax airbags are fitted in addition to the driver and passenger front airbags.
Dacia fundamentals: reliability and strength
Like all the vehicles based on the Logan platform, Duster has been engineered to deliver the brand’s hallmark strength and reliability.
Particular attention has been paid to anti-corrosion protection thanks to several measures:
* wax-injected underbody and opening panel hollow sections,
* mastic sealing of exterior joints,
* additional wax treatment of underbody mechanical components,
* stone chip protection for underbody, sills and wheel arches.
The 4×4 running gear uses tried and tested components, sourced from the Alliance (Nissan rear axle and coupling, new six-speed TL8 gearbox derived from the TL4 gearbox that has been well-proven in the Renault and Nissan ranges).
In order to underline its high build quality, Dacia Duster is backed up by a three-year or 100,000km (60,000 mile) warranty in the majority of its European markets.