Dacia Duster 130 TCE 4×4 – not only cheap, but also good

Karpaten-Clio reissued
Dacia Duster 130 TCE 4×4 – not only cheap, but also good

Dacia also wants to win over more demanding customers in the future. This could actually succeed with the new duster. It is versatile, practical, stable and relatively cheap to buy – but not quite as subtle as the more expensive competition.

There are things that never change – and then there is Dacia. The price war king, who always sacrificed many comfort points for the compulsion to save, has surprisingly overturned the switch towards quality with the new Duster. The new edition of the compact SUV, which now shares the platform with the current Renault Clio, is no longer just cheap, but also good. From the simple screwdriver in the toolbox, it has matured to the Swiss pocket knife, which no longer only cuts, but also shines.

In any case, the new duster has won significantly. Although the dimensions of the new edition deviate only slightly from the predecessor, the proportions now have a more coherent effect. Striking LED light graphics at the front and back, a successful game of smooth surfaces and sharp edges as well as the robust planking give it a lifestyle note. Whether on the horse's paddock or a promenade in the big city – the Kraxler is impressive in both worlds. As a detail, there are still hidden handles in the window frame of the back doors, which give the previously shirt-sleeved Romanian a light coupé touch.

There are enough space in front and back

The Dacia also inherited this with the door handles from the technology donor Renault Clio. The duster offers more space than you would expect in view of the platform. There is enough space for passengers at the front and back, the trunk grows from 456 to 1548 liters if necessary. Unusual for the brand: Instead of torture instrument that has been tortured as back problems, we experienced the driver's seat even on longer tours than pleasant. A gripped leather steering wheel, which can also be put into position, rounds off the positive ergonomics experience.

In addition, there is a clear cockpit that Dacia has set up much fancier and more modern than in the predecessor. The instrument cluster is digital, in the middle of the dashboard there is also a 10-inch touchscreen for infotainment functions and navigation. While Renault sets a powerful computer technology with finely dissolving displays and chic graphics worlds in the Clio on Google, among others, you have to be satisfied with easier infotainment food. In return, you can find your way around clearly in clear menus. We mainly used smartphone apps via Android Auto, which generally works well and wirelessly. If the smartphone is, for example, as a guide, the Journey, which is included in the medium -sized equipment, is on board navigation of the geodate service.

Digital technology susceptible to crashes

Speaking of failures: As with Clio, the slimmed down digital world of the Duster also seems to be susceptible to crashes. At least this was frozen in a reversing camera mode for a whole day and only thawed again after a visit to the Renault Germany workshop. Here, a new start was enough for a “secret” key combination so that the computer technology worked perfectly after a few seconds.

The digital worlds of Dacia stripped off compared to Renault are embedded in a hard plastic landscape in the Duster, which is practically and, despite the absence of chic materials and surfaces. It is now spared from the former sadness and the apparent negligence that shaped the Dacia interior for so long.

Convince driving characteristics

The driving characteristics are also convincing. The steering conveys clear feedback instead of annoying with merciless indifference. You also feel reminded of the balanced behavior of the Clio when it comes to the chassis tuning. However, the Duster is more highly leg, which overall unrequested and sometimes, for example, if you caught a pothole in brisk curves, such as an off -road old school puts on the side. But it is rarely perceived this as unbearably disturbing.

The duster is agile, is also pleasantly binding on the street even when the highway is high, otherwise remains largely unexcited if bumps line the way. In view of its emptying and optimizing ramp and embankment angles, one can also expect a certain level of Kraxel competence, which should lead our all-wheel drive in even higher spheres of the off-road orbit.

However, the 4×4 option is only available if you choose the 96 kW/130 hp mild hybrid petrol engine TCE 130, which is offered in combination with six-speed manual circuit solely. The 1.5 tonner with all -wheel drive does not seem particularly lively when starting. For the sprint to 100 km/h, tranquil 11 seconds, a maximum of 180 km/h. The all -wheel drive system swallows some of the potential liveliness that you should expect at 130 hp. The passage on the highway is neat, which is why you never actually feel underpowered. Efficiency wonders are missing despite mild hybridization. At least we fired an average of 7.5 liters on longer motorway tours. According to the manufacturer, it should be around 6 liters.

Modernized assistance systems

The Duster has experienced a modernization thrust with regard to the assistance systems. Collision preventers, traffic sign recognition with tempowarner, lane holder, fatigue detection – this progress sometimes also makes itself noticeable through moderate intrusive pepse or attacks steering interventions. But the arsenal of the helpers in the Duster can still be expanded, which is why he only got three stars in the Euro NCAP test. What we missed above all on our longer tours was a cruise control that also adapts the distance to the man in front. There is something like that at the Clio.

For this, the Duster with a base price of around 19,000 euros is also cheaper than the 30 centimeter shorter and closer Renault small car, which starts at 19,350 euros. Dacia remains loyal to its inexpensive image with the new Duster. However, the price can be driven significantly. If you don't just want a screwdriver, but a Swiss knife qualities – 130 hp, all -wheel drive and the good equipment Journey – you land beyond 27,000 euros. Either way, the duster is no longer looking at it.

Dacia Duster TCE 130 4×4 – technical data

• Fifth -door SUV; Length: 4.34 m, width: 1.81 m (with exterior mirror: 2.07 m), height: 1.67 m, wheelbase: 2.66 m, trunk: 456-1548 liters
• 1,2-liter trimmed petrol engine with 48-Volt-Mildhybrid system, 96 kW/130 hp, maximum torque: 230 NM/2,100 rpm, six-speed circuit, permanent all-wheel drive
• 0-100 km/h: 11.0 s, Vmax: 180 km/h
• Norm consumption: 6.1 liters/100 km, CO2 emissions: 135 g/km, test consumption: 7.5 liters/100 km
• Price: from 24,650 euros (expression)