From the Auto ESA offer, this time I chose an example that was created in Romania in 2017, i.e. a year before the end of the life cycle of the first version. Under the hood was a turbodiesel with a cylinder displacement of one and a half liters. It exclusively drove the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Its output was 109 horsepower, which is a fairly solid value for such a small car.
You can view the car in detail in our photo gallery. You can learn more about it by reading the labels.
Although, of course, there are many Dusters around the world with 4×4 drive, according to Filip Kučera from AutoESA, the advantage of the “two-wheeler” is primarily better maneuverability in tight spaces and, of course, lower consumption.
This particular tested Duster had quite solid equipment by the standards of the Romanian brand, which focuses on the lower price segment. In the interior, I found electric controls for all four side windows, as well as manual air conditioning, cruise control, heated front seats and even a touch screen with navigation and the ability to display images from the parking camera. There was also a backrest between the seats. However, she wobbled so much that I was afraid to put my elbow on her.
From the outside, the “off-road” look was complemented by a front protective stainless steel frame and massive side treads. Practical usability was increased by the mounted towing device.
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In the past five years, the car managed to drive 88,000 kilometers and its current price tag is 330,000 CZK.
The fact is that the designers of Dacia cars reached and still reach for cheap solutions. However, some of them are not very pleasing to the driver. And so I discovered that while the electric window controls are on the door armrest, as is usual in the automotive world, the electric adjustment of the exterior mirrors has to be done with a small wheel on the center tunnel. In addition, it is located there exactly under the parking brake lever. The mirrors (in addition, they are quite small) can therefore only be adjusted with the vehicle stationary and the handbrake engaged.
I also didn’t like the too low navigation display and not very comfortable seats. They have a short seat and almost no lateral guidance. On long trips, it probably wouldn’t be “honey” on them. “The interior of the Duster is practical and the equipment offered is also more modest compared to other compact SUVs on the market,” admits Filip Kučera.
The space does not inspire, but the controls are fine
There isn’t much room in the front either. The car is quite narrow and the doors are very close to the bodies of the driver and his passenger. People with a height of approximately 170-175 centimeters can sit comfortably in the back. However, the luggage compartment is quite large. The spare wheel is not under the floor, but under the floor of the car. When you need to use it, you will get really dirty.
But there are elements and places where Duster can surprise. For example, the seat belts are height-adjustable in the front, and the front hood does not need to be secured with a standard wire. It holds itself in an upright position thanks to the gas strut. I also liked the improved look of the door panels with fabric.
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I was also pleased with how well-preserved the car’s paintwork is, on which I also found no damage and the interior was also in very solid condition. The years of use were actually only visible on the felt steering wheel and the chipped rim of the air conditioning outlet on the front passenger side. All controls were fully functional and held well in place.
Of course, Dacia cars do not have the interior soundproofed as well as is usual for family cars of slightly more prestigious brands. Nevertheless, the noise of the turbodiesel did not significantly penetrate into the interior even immediately after starting, and it quieted down a little after a few minutes. It’s worse with the hiss of air flowing around the body at highway speeds.
The Duster, although the pull of the unit is quite powerful, especially when engaged in lower gears, is not a car intended for fast driving and enjoying corners. The right area for him is small areas with holes, undulating surface, for example, with tree roots growing through, and thanks to the higher ground clearance, it is not a problem to even run over a curb or pass through a forest or field road. Of course, if they are not muddy.. Then the limits of the 4×2 drive would be quickly encountered. The car drives over unevenness with more rocking and sometimes it wobbles a bit even in the transverse direction. However, if you drive at a cruising pace, then there will be no danger of the body tilting in the corners.
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Drivers are not assisted by any safety assistance systems when operating the vehicle. However, the car does not make it difficult for him to operate on the roads. It has a solid view diagonally forward, the gear lever did not offer any unwanted resistance when changing “qualts”, and I can’t write anything negative about the brakes or steering either.
Of course, the higher body has to be reflected in the consumption value at highway speeds. There, the on-board computer showed an average of exactly seven liters, which of course is not a super value for a diesel. On the other hand, at a free pace on the roads in a not very rugged terrain, the consumption dropped to only 4.9 liters. I estimate that the average user would drive for around six liters per hundred in the long term.
Competitors considered:
Recommended by Filip Kučera from Auto ESA
Konkurent –Mitsubishi ASX
Mitsubishi ASX
Pros:
more powerful engines
higher security
richer equipment
Cons:
higher prices
smaller luggage compartment
Konkurent –Hyundai Kona
Hyundai Kona
Pros:
more space in front
more powerful engines
more advanced security systems
Cons:
smaller luggage compartment
lower ground clearance
Konkurent Suzuki SX4
Suzuki SX4
Pros:
more advanced all-wheel drive
more comfortable seating in the back
more advanced security systems
Cons:
smaller luggage compartment
higher prices
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