What we love about the new Renault Duster EDC
I spent last week with Renault’s new Duster EDC and, although I’d been able to experience it at its launch earlier this year, testing a car on home-ground always gives one the opportunity to really get to know it. You get pretty familiar with its capabilities when driving it to and from work every day, on a road you know well, and once my week with the new Duster was up, I was sad to see it go.
Also read: Car Review: New Renault Duster EDC
What stands out?
Well, for starters, if you’re a Duster fan who’s in the market for a two-peddle transmission, you’ll be glad to know that Renault has extended its range to include an automatic EDC derivative. I drove the much-anticipated 4×2 dCi Automatic EDC, which houses a 1,5-litre dCi turbo diesel engine with a power output of 80 Kw and 250 N.m, and delivers 4,8-litres per 100 km. Its 250 N.m of torque gives it more than enough muscle to climb up steep hills without trouble and it’s also great for overtaking on highways.
An adventurous spirit
On the outside, Renault chose to maintain the Duster’s rugged and robust exterior image. I love the element of sportiness it exudes, thanks to satin chrome-branded roof rails and 16″ black alloys. Young families with an active, outdoor lifestyle would suit this car perfectly. Besides being a car that just looks like it would fit in perfectly outdoors, you will find that it ticks a lot of boxes in terms of practicality, capability and efficiency.
The 4×4 Duster derivative is further enhanced through the three transmission modes; 2WD, Lock Mode and Automatic Mode.
The cabin is a happy place to be
It provides a lot of comfort inside and, as a driver who really enjoys spending weekends driving to places outside of Cape Town with friends, I loved how relaxed my passengers were sitting in its cabin. Cruise control comes standard across the range, while a 7″ MediaNav® touch screen plus rear parking camera and optional leather are available on the Dynamique models. Design elements around the cabin are minimalistic but practical and, although there’s a lot of hard plastic material going on in the front, this will prove useful in terms of wear and tear.
Excellent fuel efficiency
I have to mention fuel economy, because I really got a lot of mileage out of its 1,5 dCi diesel engine, so much so that I wondered if there was something wrong with its fuel gauge (there wasn’t). Renault claims its fuel consumption to be 4,8-litres/100kms, but conscientious drivers can easily get around 5 litres/100 kms from the Duster.
Convenient standard features
Standard across all derivatives are some pretty convenient features such as electric windows, rear-park sensors, cruise control and automatic locking after driving off.
Value for money
If you compare the Duster with some of its competitors, especially in terms of its standard features, you’ll find that it is indeed a great value-for-money SUV. Other qualities, its large boot space of 475-litres, make it a great family vehicle.
The new Duster EDC is priced at R299 900 and, as with Renault’s entire product range, it comes standard with a 5-year/150 000 km mechanical warranty, a 3-year/45 000 km service plan (with service intervals at 15 000 km) and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty.
Click here for our full review on the Renault Duster EDC.
Source: Renault South Africa