The first test of the new Duster in Ukraine and the first surprises and incomprehensibility (104 photos)

Renault Duster in Ukraine is one of the few bestsellers that has held and holds leading positions. Both before 2014 and in 2024, Duster was bought and is being bought. Moreover, even after a full-scale invasion, it is not so easy to just come to the salon and buy this car - you either have to wait or order. Because usually these cars are “sold from the car carrier” on the way to dealers. Does the same fate await the new generation? TopZhir had a week to find out…



As we already wrote, the new Renault Duster (in EU countries Dacia Duster) debuted in Ukraine at the end of November 2024. Moreover, for most auto journalists, bloggers and, in fact, customers, its appearance came as a surprise. Because over the past three years, the official importer of Renault in Ukraine has not really entertained us with new products. Moreover, there were practically none. Facelift, restyling, however, not completely new models. And at the end of last year, the importer announced not only the new Duster, but also the Renault Taliant and the compact crossover Kardian (this is a separate conversation, and separate test drives a little later).





To our great regret, it so happened that we took the Duster 2025 for a test drive (at least for Ukraine it will be fair) the day before the funeral of an old friend and comrade who died in the damned war. Since he is from Khmelnytskyi region, it was decided not to postpone the test, but to go in a new Duster. One way it is about 400 km, and when we picked up the car, it had only 15 kilometers on it. That is, a completely new car.



First impressions

In my opinion, when creating the new product, designers and marketers decided to expand the audience. That is, to attract the attention of those who did not even think about buying a Duster. Did it work? 10 out of 10. From the outside, the new generation Duster looks incomparably more modern and more expensive than it actually costs. If at the beginning of production it was called “scandalously affordable”, but hardly anyone considered it good, now you can’t say that about it.



Now Duster doesn't look "alien" in a hotel parking lot or anywhere else in the city. However, it hasn't lost its off-road qualities, because, as before, it can be all-wheel drive, and the ground clearance of 209-217 mm (depending on the version) gives a clear understanding that no one has canceled off-road. Simply put, this is no longer a car for foresters, agronomists or cops!



What are the new logo and hidden rear door handles worth? Probably, greetings from the Italian Walter de Silva?



From the not obvious, what else is worth saying: finally (finally!) the developers have at least somehow covered the thresholds, getting dirty on which was considered a "good tradition". Now, let it not be ideal, but the doors do cover them!









Gas tank hatch. Owners of previous generations know that this was one of the main places for "dust and debris collection". And now, finally, the tank lid has become more or less normal and covers the neck and the interior from dirt.





And functional roof rails have appeared on roof





Configurations, modifications and prices

First, about prices. Here is a price list for the relatively old and new Duster III generation for comparison. As you can see, there is a difference.





I will note right away that in the case of the Duster of the previous generation, the price list indicates “leftovers”. There are no all-wheel drive versions and a diesel with an EDC automatic transmission. And here the nuances begin that have caused a lot of misunderstandings:

If all-wheel drive – only with a manual transmission and only for a mild 130-horsepower 1.2-liter hybrid

If automatic transmission – only a 1.3-liter gasoline engine with 150 horsepower and only with front-wheel drive

If diesel – front-wheel drive and mechanics



Are you serious? I understand that a lot of Dusters (mostly in the “base”) are bought by corporate clients and the state (police, civil services, etc.), but how is it that a diesel is only with front-wheel drive and on the “handle”? I clarified – there will definitely not be a diesel on the automatic transmission, but with a manual transmission and all-wheel drive, as I understand it, it may be. But the story with the hybrid and on the “stick” is not very clear either… By the way, I looked at Dacia in Poland. There is a 140-horsepower hybrid with an automatic transmission! There is also a 1-liter 100-horsepower with mechanics.

It should be noted that Ukraine is one of the few countries in the world where the new Duster 2024-2025 is available with a diesel engine. Thank you for that. However, it is still unclear why only with front-wheel drive and only with mechanics, after all, just as it is not clear why the hybrid is only on the handle.

In the cabin

If we ignore the rather strange modifications/configurations (there is hope that they will be expanded), we can state that the new Duster has received a wonderful interior. It is radically different from its predecessors and in all respects the cabin has become more practical, more comfortable and more interesting.



Personally, the first thing that caught my eye was the high door cards and rather narrow windows. They create the feeling that you are getting into a Land Rover Defender or something similar. In addition, it creates a kind of feeling of "protection", and the embossed hood only reinforces the feeling of "off-road". Does this negatively affect the view? In my opinion, not at all. The mirrors are quite large, cameras, parking sensors, etc. are provided.



For the first time, we have a 7-inch digital instrument panel (almost everything you want to see is displayed here - from the radio station to the compass or energy distribution, only for the hybrid), and in the central part of the dashboard - a new 10.1-inch multimedia display, which supports wireless integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and displays images from four all-round cameras.












On the same touchscreen in the lower part there are virtual "hot" keys (heating the steering wheel, seats, rear window, etc.). This is really convenient, because unlike many modern cars, the new Duster does not require fiddling with menus, because everything you need is available from the "first touch". I will also note that there is wireless charging.



The interior of the new Renault Duster has another interesting feature - 8 mounting points for YouClip accessories, which allow you to install a cup holder, smartphone holder, hook or flashlight.



Compared to the previous version, the model has received 66 improvements that increase the wear resistance of paint, fabrics and plastic elements.







Speaking of the seats, they are better than the predecessor, but you definitely shouldn't expect an "anatomical orgasm" from them. Just normal seats, at least after 400 km one way, your back and legs didn't get very tired (on the previous generation model, you would definitely be tired).









On the plus side, I liked the seat upholstery. It is not "rag-like", but quite durable and pleasant to the touch.



Another pleasant surprise was the ceiling. In our case, it is dark gray, not beige, which adds elegance and comfort.



With the space in the cabin, everything is +- as before, so there is nothing new in this regard, at least if we talk not about numbers, but about real sensations. The trunk volume also remained almost unchanged and is 542 liters for the front-wheel drive version and 472 liters for the all-wheel drive.



Among the innovations is the luggage compartment lighting. Now it is also an adjustable flashlight. In addition, there are many hooks, etc., plus a lot of sockets and charging modules for gadgets.









But what was surprising was the jack, which was not covered in anything. Yes, yes, everything looks exactly like in the photo (although it was previously hidden under a false panel). Why is that a rhetorical question.



And one more question: where did the muffler go? Can't you see it? And it is there. For one reason or another, the engineers moved it under the floor of the rear left passenger. Why - presumably, this is due to the design features of the hybrid version, and so that everyone has the same - they did it that way. But this is not certain.





On the way to the destination

How much does it cost, how much does it eat - these and other questions were asked by almost everyone during the 7-day test. But the most popular question: what is it??? NEW DUSTER??? And with exactly this intonation. Duster owners, Renault fans, the police, just passersby... but everyone did not pass by. And this is not surprising, because in fact this is the first new generation Duster that most people saw in our lands in real conditions, and not on a car carrier or in a car showroom.

As a pre:

According to the sensations, the first few hundred kilometers the car drove not very cheerfully, but on the way back to Kyiv it became a little livelier. Perhaps the thing is that it was not run-in. One way or another, but the dynamics are more or less adequate. In a word, normal. If we talk about the declared indicators - 11 seconds to 100 km/h.



We forgot about the main thing: in our case we are talking about a mild hybrid with a 3-cylinder 1.2-liter engine with a capacity of 130 hp. I liked the clarity of the gearbox, but like all Dusters with a manual transmission, the first gear is very short. And even if it were a diesel, you could drive in 2-4-6 mode, in the case of a gasoline engine – not an option (it chokes).



I liked the suspension. As before, it “swallows” potholes and bumps very well, but does it more quietly (not least thanks to improved noise insulation). According to subjective sensations, the chassis has become more “knocked down” and in some ways even resembles the VAG manner.

If before driving a Duster at more than 140 km/h was completely uncomfortable and even scary (at least for me), now the new model can easily reach a speed of 160, while the interior is relatively quiet and there is no feeling that it is about to take off. And the engine speed, despite the high speed, is surprisingly low – 3100-3200 rpm. By the way, you will have to get used to the tachometer. I think the photo shows why…



How much does it consume:

As for consumption, at a speed of 150-160 they amounted to 9-9.3 liters per 100 km.

If you drive 100-110, you can get by with 6 liters. And in the city or mixed cycle – about 5 liters.

By the way, only in the city do you understand that this is a hybrid (albeit a mild one, but nevertheless). At traffic lights and in heavy traffic, the ICE turns off at low speeds (at very low ones) and during stops, while the start-stop works smoothly and imperceptibly – for this, definitely 5+.



In the future, we plan to test the diesel modification, but given our experience, we can assure you that on a front-wheel drive handle, it is quite possible to fit into 4.5 liters in the combined cycle. As for the 150-horsepower gasoline engine, which we remember from the Renault Arkana, here it will be about 8-9 in the city and 7-7.5 on the highway (again, given our own experience).

Off-road

Frankly speaking, we had neither the opportunity nor the time to drive the Duster 2024 in mud or snow. In the end, it was not possible to make a comparative test drive of Duster of different generations. However, this is in the plans, and we will definitely conduct such an experiment. But we note:

The model's safety system includes 8 driver assistance functions, including assistants for starting and descending on a slope. To adapt to different driving conditions, 5 modes are provided, including “Snow”, “Dirt”, “Sand” and “Off-road”.



In conclusion

The new Duster has undoubtedly changed for the better and, despite a relatively small increase in price, has received a powerful force of innovations, systems and equipment that owners of previous generations of the model could only dream of. At the same time, it has retained what it has always been valued for: high ground clearance, excellent geometric cross-country ability, accessibility and a very capacious trunk.

You can find out more about the cost and equipment of the new Duster on the Renault Ukraine website

Pros

Bright and modern appearance

A lot of equipment and systems that were not there before

High ground clearance

Excellent geometric cross-country ability of the car

A lot of space for small items in the cabin

Adequate price change taking into account a completely new level of equipment

Cons

A very limited choice of modifications by engine/transmission/type of drive

And this disadvantage is the biggest and the most essential













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