He was referring to the French brand’s latest Renault Duster 1.5dCi that caught his attention upon his return from office, perfectly parked under carport in the evening.
He continued: “ It looks fresh and muscular to accommodate my grandchildren. That’s a type of a car that my wife would easily manoeuvre, considering its height and convenience,” he gushed as I took him for a ride around our neighbourhood.
Yes, it is spacious having been modernised to bring in that premium feel and touch.
Yes, it is not your WoW from the outside but the minute you set your foot inside, the whole game changes.
The Duster EDC comes with a new muscular appearance, slight changes were done with the intention to modernize it, offering a more premium feel.
Its new grill and DRL-equipped headlights gives it a more refreshed look. The front and rear do receive larger skidplates, and the sharper beltline does show that Renault did make an effort to make the Duster more stylish.
We took it to the Coast of KwaZuku-Natal for vigorous test and yes, it did hold its own though on the hill it lacked power, a sign that it’s meant for offroad and rugged terrain.
The Duster 4×2 does offer an impressive drive, making one feel that this power boost was a long time coming. Yes, the EDC-paired variation sits on top of its range which means it gets a power output of 80kw and 250Nm of torque. This all powered by its 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that gets paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
It maintain its low fuel-consumption of 4.8-litres per 100km, thanks to its diesel engine, as we wandered the hills and mountains of the Kingdom.
The interior rear bench seat features a 1/3 – 2/3 split-fold function; while the boot gets a loading capacity of up to 478 litres, and 1600 litres when the rear seats are dropped down., enough space for everyone, including our guests who kept enquiring about its features and leather seats.
It also boast the central infotainment system that provides integrated navigation as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
Automatic climate control air conditioning is standard as is cruise control with a speed limiter. The Duster ECD is also equipped with rear park distance control and hill start assist.
Yes, my family member was damn right on its convenience, finish & klaar!
In terms of safety, Duster features your safety basics such as ABS, EBD, EBA, Hill Start Assist, and Rear Park Distance Control. The only snag in terms of airbags, Renault only made the drive and front-passenger airbags. The sooner they attend to this matter the better- unless they have better explanation.
Yes, we dusted off many mis-conceptions to and from KZN as young and old were smitten on its brashness!
The Renault Duster Model range comes standard with a 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. Services take place at 15 000km intervals, and a standard 3-year/45000km service plan applies.
Prices range: Duster 1.5 dCi TechRoad 4×2 – R327 900 and Duster 1.5 dCi TechRoad EDC 4×2 – R361 900
Verdict
Performance 1-10 (4)
Fuel 1-10 (4)
Image SLM (The new Renault Duster muscular design ticked some boxes as we took it to the Kingdom for ‘cleansing’).
