Suavely rugged family wagon

Ready to handle the rough stuff...

The high-riding Duster moves into the tightly contested R195,000 to R240,000 arena dominated by family favourites such as Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Toyota Aurus and Honda Ballade and while the new Frenchy is not going to upset the apple cart completely it is definitely going to appeal to younger, outdoorsy, fun-loving families and cause quite a wobble in this segment.

Unlike the rather dull family taxis it goes up against the Duster has the rugged good looks and attitude of a cocky SUV which immediately elevates it from the more mundane suburban four-door sedans that compete in this segment.

Besides its eye-catching appeal it is also more than capable of coping with quite demanding off-road excursions, particularly if buyers opt for the full 4x4 model which is one of the four variations on offer.

Airbags for everyone

Safety is an issue which families tend to attach much value to and the Duster is armed to the teeth in this department with a host of airbags, ESP with traction control (only on the 4x4 version) and ABS with emergency brake assist - good enough to meet demanding European safety standards.

... Like this...

Standard kit across all models is equally impressive with a six-function onboard computer, power steering, immobiliser, fog lamps, electric mirrors and windows, central locking, height-adjustable steering wheel, manual air-conditioning, radio-CD MP3 with USB port, Bluetooth and satellite controls. On the 4x4 versions touch screen navigation is an extra standard feature.

If you consider that the Duster has more cabin space and the biggest boot space than all the family saloons it competes with then it becomes an even more attractive option.

Duster is available in four versions: Two 4x2 models (Expression and Dynamic) powered by a 1,6 petrol engine that produces 75kW and 145Nm and is good for a top speed of 165km/h, fuel consumption of 7.5 litres/100 and an emissions rating of 180g/km.

A good power-egg

The two more expensive diesel models are powered by Renault's renowned 1.5dCI engine that kicks out 80kW and 240Nm and is linked to a six-speed manual transmission. The diesel option is available as a 4x2 or 4x4 and fuel consumption and emissions are markedly lower on the diesels than on the fossil fuel burners.

The Duster is armed to the teeth with a host of airbags.

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At the recent media launch I drove the 4x4 versions on tar, gravel and along quite a challenging off-road course on a farm near Bot River and enjoyed its comfort, pleasant ride on the tar and its surprisingly capabilities in the rougher stuff....not that most buyers would venture too often onto really rough terrain (in the same way that most SUV owners hardly ever take their vehicles too far away from the smooth and dust-free urban jungle).

Most SUV drivers love their vehicles for the height of its thrones (ensuring high visibility of the drivers) and perceived sense of safety and security they seem to get from a high driving position, particularly so the yummy-mummies on the school taxi run...

Although SUV's in general are a tad bulky for tight supermarket parking lots the Duster is virtually identical in size to Nissan's popular Qashqai and thanks to good all-round visibility and reverse parking sensors, it is relatively easy to squeeze into congested parking bays.

You should have problems getting lost.

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Given the whip the 4x4 is quite eager to trot and it handles with lots of confidence and with not much lean through the twisties. Steering is nicely weighted, the suspension is firm without being thumpy, and the brakes are quite outstanding.

Try the Full Monty if you like

For the extra bucks you fork out for the Full Monty 4x4 you get extra bragging rights such as chrome door handles and exterior door mirrors, a 4WD decal, chrome roof bars, front/rear skid plates, side skirt cover with satin chrome paint, and a full-size spare wheel (space-savers on the other three Dusters).

Most importantly, the 4x4 has what none of the others can boast about - a transmission mode selector which, with a single click of a switch, the driver can select 2WD (in which torque is distributed to the front wheels and is suitable for motorways and surfaces that offer good grip), Automatic Mode ( in which torque is distributed over four wheels, depending on grip conditions when the going becomes slippery) or Lock Mode (in which torque goes to all four wheels in off-road conditions such as rough surfaces, sand, and mud).

Load space is generous.

At our launch drive I engaged 2WD for the tarred stretches of our drive and selected Lock Mode only on the off-road track where it did the job it was designed for simply and efficiently - although some caution is advised at times. For instance, if the vehicle stalls it often kicks out of Lock Mode and it has to be re-engaged, even though a warning light on the dashboard still indicates that it is still in Lock Mode.

Ready to take on the rough stuff

Although an eye-catching boulevardier (down to a spare wheel stuck on the tail gate) the Duster is fairly well armed for rough roads. It is fairly light in bulk-weight and the suspension copes well in trying conditions. Ground clearance is good at 210mm and the approach angle of 30 degrees and departure angle of 36º means it doesn't thump down or get too phased by dongas and boulders.

The Duster has the rugged good looks and attitude of a cocky SUV which immediately elevates it from the more mundane suburban four-door sedans that compete in this segment.

The Duster oozes the kind of ooh la la that will appeal to a wide audience, from its tough-guy in Armani suit looks, spacious cabin and comfortable ride to good passenger protection, numerous fancy features, competitive pricing (which includes a warranty and service plan) and its rock rabbit off-road agility.

With Renault currently enjoying good sales of its Clio, Sandero, Megane, Scenic and Fluence, the suits at Renault are confidently predicting that Duster sales are soon going to become the Big Gun in the French manufacturer's local sales armoury.

The Renault Duster models and prices (inclusive of a five-year/150 000km warranty and a three-year/45 000km service plan), are: -
1.6 Expression 4x2 - R194,900
1.6 Dynamique 4x2 - R204,900
1.5 dCi Dynamique 4x2 -R219,900
1.5 dCi Dynamique 4x4 -R239,900

Specifications

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