The Dacia Duster is a family of subcompact crossovers built jointly by Renault and its Romanian subsidiary Dacia since 2010. It uses the same simple B0 platform as the Logan and Sandero, and in many markets outside Europe it is sold with Renault badges.
Dacia Duster at a glance
| Maker | Dacia (Renault Group), Mioveni, Romania |
|---|---|
| Production | 2010–present, now in its third generation |
| Class | subcompact crossover SUV |
| Platform | Dacia B0 |
| Debut | Geneva Motor Show, March 2010 |
| Length | 4.31 m (first generation) |
| Width | 1.82 m (first generation) |
| Ground clearance | 210 mm |
| Luggage space | 475 litres, over 1,600 litres with the rear bench folded |
| Drive | front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive |
| Badged | Dacia in Europe, Renault in Russia, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Australia |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Dacia Duster.
History of the Dacia Duster
A concept from ice racing
The Duster appeared first in an ice-racing version prepared for the Andros Trophy and shown on 17 November 2009. The production car was revealed on 8 December 2009 and launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. It was the third Dacia model on the Logan platform, after the Sandero, and it measured 4.31 metres long and 1.82 metres wide with 210 mm of ground clearance. The luggage space was 475 litres, or more than 1,600 litres with the rear bench folded and tipped forward. Renault designers said the old Renault 4 had some influence on the shape.
Four-wheel drive
The four-wheel-drive versions use Nissan’s all-wheel-drive system with three driver-selected modes: Auto, where the rear axle engages when the front wheels lose grip; Lock, where both axles turn at the same speed; and 2WD, which locks the transmission into front-wheel drive for fuel economy. Bosch 8.1 ABS with brake assist was standard, and stability control with traction control was optional on some versions. Euro NCAP gave the standard European car three stars in 2011.
Facelift and later updates
The facelifted Duster was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013 with a new chromed grille, redesigned headlights, restyled roof bars and 16-inch wheels, a renewed interior and a new 1.2-litre turbocharged TCe 125 engine. In 2016 the car received a new steering wheel and a Blackshadow trim level. A double-cab pick-up, the Renault Duster Oroch, was launched in South America at the end of 2015, and a single-cab Duster Pick-Up followed in 2020.
Markets
In Europe the car went on sale in March 2010 from €11,900 for the two-wheel-drive version and €13,900 for the 4×4. From June 2010 it was also sold in Ukraine, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon and in some African countries with Renault badges. In 2014, 40 per cent of Dusters sold worldwide were Dacias and 60 per cent Renaults. The first generation was built in Moscow at the Avtoframos plant from 1 March 2012 at about 80,000 cars a year, and in South America at Curitiba in Brazil. In CIS countries and India the first generation was also sold as the Nissan Terrano. The Renault Duster is widely used by Ukrainian government bodies, which bought some 1,500 in 2024 alone.
Design and features
- Cheap four-wheel drive: a Nissan-developed system with Auto, Lock and 2WD modes at a price far below rival SUVs.
- High ground clearance: 210 mm, with a soft, strong suspension tuned for rough roads.
- Big boot for the class: 475 litres, over 1,600 litres with the rear seats folded.
- Simple B0 platform: shared with the Logan and Sandero, which keeps parts and repairs cheap.
Dacia Duster versions
- First generation (HS, 2010): the original five-door with front- or four-wheel drive.
- Facelift (2013): new grille, headlights, interior and the 1.2 TCe 125 turbo engine.
- Renault Duster Oroch (2015): four-door double-cab pick-up for South America.
- Duster Pick-Up (2020): single-cab commercial version.
- Nissan Terrano: restyled first-generation car for CIS countries and India.
The Duster uses the platform of the Dacia Logan and is the SUV stablemate of the Dacia Sandero. More Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Video: Renault Duster
Video by 16valvulasvideos on YouTube.
Sources
- Dacia Duster, English Wikipedia: history, dimensions, four-wheel drive, markets
