New Renault Duster Review - 1.5 dCi EDC 4x2

The previous Renault Duster was well-loved around the globe. The French marque sold over one million since 2011 thanks to its no-frills charm and value-for-money aspect. At the time of the first Duster coming to SA, its biggest competition came in the form of the Ford EcoSport.

These days, however, there are a number of brands offering pocket-friendly, practical cars that suit the lifestyle of the more outdoorsy type. So, can this new Duster slug it out with the best of them? Let’s dive in and see, shall we?

Sophistication comes standard

We had the keys, or rather the keyless fob/card type thing that is only available on this range-topping Duster, to the 1,5 dCi Prestige EDC and right from the get-go we were taken by this compact SUV.

Just from looks alone, I can tell how much the Duster has grown up. It looks more sophisticated and it also feels that way when you climb inside too. From the driver’s seat, the cabin is comfortable and feels more upmarket. From here, the driver has easy access to the touch-screen infotainment system that comes as standard on this model as well as on the Dynamique versions. This system allows for Bluetooth connectivity, USB connections, streaming services, navigation and more.

New Renault Duster's interior is a significant step up over the previous generation model

Other impressive standard features on this prestige model includes the key card that locks the car when you walk away and unlocks it when you get close to the vehicle and a multiview camera system that allows you to switch between angles of the car when parking (I most enjoyed the front-facing camera).

Safety first

This vehicle will more than likely do lots of family duty, so keeping your loved ones safe would be a top priority when it comes to looking at a potential new car. The entire Duster range comes fitted with the usual fare of ABS with EBD and EBA and driver and front passenger airbags.

The Dynamique and Prestige versions have rear park distance control, while hill start assist comes as standard on the Dynamique 4x4 and Prestige versions.

Frugal fuel consumption 

On the road, I enjoyed the combination of the 80kW/250Nm turbocharged diesel unit and the six-speed dual-clutch auto ‘box.

Renault claims a 0-100 km/h time of 11.9 seconds and a top speed of 169 km/h. I didn’t test any of this, but I did find that in ‘eco’ mode, it was rather sluggish, but take it out of ‘eco’ and it gets a tad zippier. The best part about this combination though has to be the fuel consumption. We received the vehicle with a full tank of fuel and despite our best efforts, we couldn’t even get the fuel down to half a tank. Renault claims an impressive figure of 4.8l/100km.

What are the other options?

The range is made up of five variants - a 1.6 Expression 4X2, a 1.5 dCi Dynamique 4x2, a 1.5 dCi Dynamique EDC 4x2, a 1.5 dCi Dynamique and the 1.5 dCi Prestige EDC 4x2. Prices range from R249 900 to R334 900 and includes a 5-year/150 000 km mechanical warranty, a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty and a 3-year/45000 km service plan applies.

Okay, let’s wrap this up

Look, I just want to say, this is a friggin’ great vehicle. In fact, I’m pretty sure we’ve sold one to my mom.

Measured against its predecessor, this new Duster is very, very impressive. And yes, I insist that you go check it out if you are in the market for a vehicle like this one because, in my honest opinion, it’s better in many ways than its closest competitors (hi, Ford EcoSport).

While the other vehicles in the range perhaps offer slightly better value, my pick, if I had the cash for it, would be this top-of-range version. I get it, you don’t really need keyless entry and the multi-view camera system or any of the other nice-to-haves that this car offers, but do you know what? I want it. It’s my money and it’s my car to live with - hypothetically speaking. And I can just hear the chorus of “But it’s a Renault blah blah blah”. Yes, it is. And it’s 2019. Move along with the times please. And with that, I bid you au revoir.

Renault Duster 1.5 dCi EDC 4x2 Specs: