Dacia Duster, why it's so successful: from price to practicality

Sometimes, there are sales results that even automakers struggle to explain. A significant example is that of the Dacia Duster: in the first half of this year, 18,800 were sold in Italy , compared to a total of 25,000 registrations for the entire year. Therefore, forecasts are for a significant year-end growth, given that in the first six months, the Duster ranked third overall in private sales and the leader among B-segment SUVs (even though its size places it almost on the border with the C-segment). All this despite the fact that it is a model that, although profoundly updated, has now been available for about fifteen years. It is therefore natural that Renault Italy is also questioning the reasons for this success, with the aim of maintaining it unchanged for as long as possible. And it is precisely from the periodic customer surveys that interesting aspects emerge.

In 2018, research conducted among Duster buyers revealed that low price was the primary reason for their choice; the most recent study, conducted on the third generation of the car, saw this motivation slip to fifth place, supplanted at the top of the ranking by appreciation for design. This is a factor that applies to many other car manufacturers, because in the end, people almost always buy the cars they consider most in tune with their tastes, but this previously didn't seem to work for Dacia. And the notion of it being merely a low-cost product has been replaced by the concept of "value for money" : people don't choose this brand's cars for their low price, but because they offer a lot in terms of features at competitive prices. Among these, in addition to space, practicality, and comfort, the engine technology also stands out today, ranging from the popular dual-fuel gasoline/LPG powertrain (with a range of up to 1,400 km, thanks to two tanks) to mild and full hybrid powertrains, all the way to all-wheel drive. Behind the Duster's impressive sales results, therefore, lies a mix of motivations, inspired by the stylistic transformation brought to the brand by De Meo during his leadership of the Renault group, but which extends to a much broader range of features.

To better understand these dynamics, it was useful to get behind the wheel of the latest-generation Duster, the third in chronological order, sampling its performance on a road and (briefly) off-road test drive in the Bergamo Val Brembana. The current range, based on the Renault Group's CMF-B platform, offers three types of propulsion. The base model is the Eco G 100, a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine with a dual-fuel gasoline/LPG powertrain producing 100 hp. This is followed by another 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine (used in the TCe 130), producing 130 hp, powered by a 48-volt system and a 0.8 kWh battery, which can be combined with front- or all-wheel drive. Finally, at the top is the Hybrid 140, equipped with a 1,600 cm3 naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine with 141 HP, combined with an automatic transmission and a full hybrid system with a 1.2 kWh battery, recharged by energy recovery during deceleration and capable of ensuring up to 80% of urban driving in fully electric mode (so much so that it can boast an approved combined consumption of 5 km/l). From this varied range, we had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Eco-G GPL and the Tce 130 4x4 , both equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, once again appreciating their effectiveness and functionality. While they're not the most brilliant cars, as the power and torque figures suggest (though the kerb weight range of 1,308 to 1,346 kg helps), both Dusters move with ease even when the road starts to climb; occasionally, you just need to use the gearbox, perhaps to avoid overtaking. The hard plastics of some interior trims are complemented by an adequate multimedia system, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility; the instrumentation is housed on a 7-inch screen, while connectivity is also ensured by two backlit USB-C ports and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

The short off-road test conducted with the 4x4 version allowed us to appreciate the effectiveness of the four-wheel drive and the Terrain Control system , which offers five driving modes (Auto, Snow, Mud/Sand, Off-Road and Eco); thanks to the 50-50% distribution of traction between the front and rear axles, the good approach and departure angles (31 and 36 degrees), the 24-degree breakover angle and a ground clearance of 217 mm (unladen), we were able to tackle a rather rough uphill scree slope without any worries. Of course, we're not talking about a tough off-road vehicle, which the Duster was never intended to be, but mountain huts or houses remote in the countryside can be reached easily, even when the ground becomes muddy due to rain or covered in snow. Also lending a helping hand in certain situations are the exterior protections made of Starkle , a Dacia-patented material that uses 20% recycled plastic. They are unpainted and scratch-resistant, and are just as practical as the interior, which features washable upholstery and recycled material mats. As for pricing, the Duster is offered in four trim levels (Essential, Expression, Journey, and Extreme), with a price list that starts at €19,900 for the Essential Eco-G 100 and reaches €28,150 for the Extreme mild hybrid 130 4x4 and the Hybrid 140, the latter in the Journey or Extreme trim levels.