Dacia Duster 2024 is already the 3rd generation of this car, this time on the CMF-B platform (the same as Jogger). The general concept for this SUV has remained unchanged from the very beginning: it is to be a spacious, functional SUV with a very reasonably calculated price, although not necessarily budget, which is clearly visible in the interestingly designed interior, for the finishing of which quite good – for this segment – materials were used.
LPG is still available, diesel is not, but hybrid is available
Dacia Duster is still offered with a factory LPG gas installation – working with a 1.0 l 100 HP engine (3-cylinder). This is the cheapest option for the new Duster, which is particularly important in the context of this car. The offer, at least in our part of Europe, has dropped the 1.5 diesel, which was available in the previous generation of Duster not so long ago. There are also two new products.
Firstly, it is a petrol engine supported by a Mild Hybrid system in the Dacia Duster TCe 130. This is a 1.2 l unit (also 3 cylinders) that offers 130 HP. The additional electric unit is mainly responsible for supporting the combustion engine in the low rev range, as well as improving its operational culture – for example, when switching the engine off/on in a city traffic jam. The additional battery is relatively large for a “mild hybrid”: it has a capacity of 0.84 kWh. The TCe 130 is also offered with four-wheel drive (4×4).
The second novelty is of course the hybrid drive (so-called full hybrid, HEV). This is the same set (detailed description and test) that can be found in other Renault-Nissan group cars, e.g. in Clio, Arkana, etc. The Hybrid 140 drive consists of a 1.6 l petrol unit (4-cylinder) and a set of two electric motors, one of which acts as a generator, the other is used for driving (e.g. in EV mode). The power of the entire system is 140 HP and this is the only option for the Dacia Duster with an automatic gearbox.
WLTP homologation tests indicate that the most economical variant will of course be the Dacia Duster Hybrid 140 – 5.0 – 5.1 l/100 km. Right behind it is the Duster TCe 130 with a result of 5.5 l/100 km, and finally the Dacia Duster Eco-G with a gas installation: 8.0 – 8.1 l/100 km LPG.
Dacia Duster: Which Engine? Test
During my first test drives of the 2024 Dacia Duster, I drove each of these three cars along the same route, one after the other. This included urban and rural roads, as well as intercity routes (with a speed limit of 90 km/h).
As expected, the most economical was the Dacia Duster Hybrid 140 hybrid, ending the test with a fuel consumption of 3.6 l/100 km. It is worth noting that for about 67 percent of the driving time the combustion engine was switched off, which of course has a positive effect on fuel consumption – especially in the city. It also obviously improves driving comfort – no noises from under the hood. It should be noted, however, that the combustion engine of this 140 hybrid quite often turns to – as it seems – unnaturally high revs (in order to charge the traction battery), which can destroy the previously built image of a quiet drive system. What is worse, this sometimes happens in situations when we are driving completely calmly, e.g. 50-60 km/h – such is the charm of its operation. Also, the reaction to sudden acceleration is not exemplary here, but in my opinion sufficient for a car like the Dacia Duster.
Absolutely slightly (after all, it’s only 0.6 l/100 km), but still noticeably worse in percentage terms (on this scale it’s 17%) was the Dacia Duster 1.2l TCe 130 with the Mild Hybrid system. Still, “burning” at the level of 4.2 l/100 km in such an SUV should be considered a simply sensational result. The mild hybrid system really SIGNIFICANTLY improves the dynamics at low revs, thanks to which it is very easy to drive the Duster with this engine, maintaining it at 1600-1800 rpm – there is no feeling that the engine is choking, or that it is necessary to reduce to such a normal, typical increase in speed. And the culture of switching on the combustion engine – e.g. in a city traffic jam – is very good. The shocks are minimal.
Dacia Duster 1.0 Eco-G 100 with gas installation (LPG) has not only nominally but also noticeably the least power. For such normal, unhurried driving, but also not wanting to be a nuisance, you have to “rev up” the engine to slightly higher revs than in the case of the TCe unit. The lack of an electric unit, which would support the combustion engine in its low revs, is clearly felt here. The final result of fuel consumption (or maybe rather LPG gas) in this case is 6.0 l/100 km. The culture of starting the engine is also noticeably lower than in the TCe.
Driving impressions of the Dacia Duster 2024/2025
Putting aside the drivetrain for a moment, I have to admit that the suspension of the new Dacia Duster is surprisingly well tuned. It is springy, absorbs bumps quite well and provides a reasonable level of comfort. Masurian roads are exceptionally demanding in this respect…
The soundproofing of the Dacia Duster 2024/2025 is better than the previous model, but it is still not a quiet car. Around 95 km/h, there is a whistle somewhere near the roof rails, which disappears quite quickly, but at 120 km/h you have to clearly raise your voice when talking to passengers. This is nothing unusual in cars from this segment, but it is possible that some people expected parameters from higher-class cars here…
The seating position is fine, although the lack of adjustment options for the front of the seat means that taller passengers (above ~1.80 m) may lack some support under the thighs. The steering column adjustment range is OK.
Overall, I rate the quality of the interior finish as a plus, especially since the steering wheel rim is surprisingly – for this segment – pleasant to the touch. I would only point out that it is completely hard under the left elbow, which may not be very comfortable for some drivers in the long run. However, I would like to point out again that this is nothing unusual in this segment, even if we look at smaller cars (yes, I am talking about the Toyota Yaris).
Dacia Duster 2024/2025 has cruise control, but it is not active. This is a software limitation (the front radar is present), so it is possible that someday there will be an equipment version that will be richer with this element.
Reversing camera… there is, but the quality of the image presented really reminds us of the era before the first keyboardless smartphones. On the other hand, Android Auto and CarPlay work wirelessly (a plus for keeping the Dacia system menu buttons). In the cabin, I found a total of 4 USB C ports, as well as one 12V socket.
As in other Renault-Nissan group cars, in Dacia Duster you can very quickly activate a previously set and saved profile of the driver assistance and safety systems. This applies most obviously to speed warning. All you need to do is define in advance what and how to set and after each activation of the drive system, double-click the button to switch between everything on (default) and the personal setting.
Inside, you’ll find numerous mounts for accessories, such as phone holders, cup holders, flashlights, etc. The set of available options is very large, as are the configuration options.
Luggage capacity depends on the drive version (VDA specification):
- Dacia Duster Eco-G 100: 453 l
- Dacia Duster TCe 130 4×2: 517 l
- Dacia Duster TCe 130 4×4: 456 l
- Dacia Duster Hybrid 140: 430 l
The smaller boot capacity of the 4×4 version is of course due to the presence of a differential between the rear wheels, as well as their independent suspension. In the other drive versions we have a torsion beam, which allows the boot floor to be led much lower.
Which engine for Dacia Duster?
The starting point should of course be to determine the prices of the individual drive versions. The Dacia Duster price list starts at ~80 thousand PLN for the Essential equipment with the 1.0 Eco-G engine with a gas installation. This is the cheapest option for Duster and with this equipment you cannot buy another engine. Only the Expression version is available in all drive versions and here it looks like this:
- Duster Eco-G 100: ~88k PLN
- Duster TCe 130: ~95k PLN
- Duster TCe 130 4×4: ~106k PLN
- Duster Hybrid 140: ~111k PLN
Higher equipment versions (Extreme and Journey) are approximately PLN 6,000 more expensive.
Looking at the above, as well as the fuel consumption results obtained in the test, the following conclusions can be drawn:
- Putting the issue of costs first (and second and third, too), the Eco-G 100 version with a factory gas installation has no competition. At the current price of LPG, it will be difficult to “burn” the difference in purchase price over the hybrid Duster within a reasonable time and mileage.
- If we intend to use the Duster mainly in the city (note, the list of Polish cities does not end with Warsaw) and we care about the highest possible driving comfort, the hybrid version with 140 HP seems unrivaled. After all, it is the only one with an “automatic” as standard, and fuel consumption in such a usage scenario will be incomparably lower than the other drive versions – even twice as much as the gas Eco-G.
- If we are looking for a Duster with four-wheel drive, we have no choice but to choose the TCe 130 4×4 version 🙂
- Dacia Duster TCe 130 4×2 seems to be a reasonable choice for those who, for various reasons, do not want (or are afraid of future prices or do not see the point) to have a gas installation in their car. Thanks to the Mild Hybrid system, Duster in this version is the most dynamic (not only in the 0-100 km/h sprint), and significantly cheaper than the hybrid, and very economical: 4.2 l/100 km in my test.
This makes the range of engines for the new Dacia Duster seem really well-tailored. Some may miss diesel, but with such a frugal 1.2l TCe unit, it would not offer adequately lower fuel consumption.
The Antyweb editor’s trip to the presentation of the Dacia Duster in Mazury took place at the expense and invitation of Renault Polska. The brand had no influence on the content or prior insight into the above article.
Source: antyweb.pl
