Renault Duster test drive since 2012 SUV

Test drive by Renault Duster: they are waiting for the promised one and a half years

The excitement around new dasters evokes thoughts about countries like Uzbekistan or Iran: there the queues for Daewoo and Iran Khodro are standing for years simply because the local government does not let foreign stamps, supporting its import duties. But we have Renault Duster not by order, but by love. The portal Kolesa.ru experienced a new car, deciding to find the reason for the popular craving for the people's crossover.

Initially, we planned to make a comparative Renault Duster test and the Russian Chevrolet Niva SUV. A call to the marketing department of one of the chevy dealers somewhat puzzled me:

- Will you give Shniv for a comparative test with Renault Duster? In a sense, the victory is provided: Renault must wait almost a year and a half!

“You know, it seems to me that dasteers are worth waiting for them.”

One way or another, the car was promised to us, but the comparative test still broke. For other reasons. But without even comparing Renault Duster with a competitor from Togliatti, I realized what a specialist of the brand competing with Renault had in mind.

It is worth noting right away that this material will be exclusively about the behavior of a car in the city; About a week after this test, we again took the top version of the Renault Duster in order to properly drive it on the most real off -road. In the meantime, we get acquainted and drive around the city.

I start to look at the car from the salon, nevertheless, there was enough time before the novelty to the novelty to thoroughly study the appearance of Duster

Recently, we took a long Sandero Stepway test, and against the background of a high version of Sando, the new Renault Duster was a much better car. In all senses. However, about everything in order.



The steering wheel and dashboard Renault Duster are practically no different from the asphalt Renault, but the central console looks much more modern. Two -day radio and air conditioning remote control are no longer perceived by a thawed implant; The windows finally took their places in the side doors, and on the passenger part of the dashboard, a convenient shelf appeared for the average in size of objects like a bottle of soda, piles of A4 format documents or even tablet PC.

The chairs here have a higher back than on Sandero; They are moderately comfortable and soft, and in the top version they are even adjusted in height. But not in the most convenient way: a strange lever that, to raise or lower the chair, needs to be pulled on himself simultaneously with the chair, holding onto the wheel of gymnastics? Well, useful


It is pleasant that, unlike Renault Sandero Stepway, the new Daster has an on -board computer that will tell you how many kilometers you can drive on existing fuel, and at the same time find out the instant and average fuel consumption and average speed.

The radio at the Renault Duster (in all, except for the basic version- goes by default) sounds soundly and even has AUX and USB outputs. I didn’t like it only that the main and only puck-circuly was the handle of accurate tuning of the radio, and not the volume control, which, in my subjective opinion, would be more logical.

There are not as many places in the back row as in more capacious crossovers, and the rear sofa is harsh. The Sandero Stepway salon had almost the same amount of free space. And here we must remember that cars are more spacious and compared to much more.

Finally, the mechanism of the wipers is fixed. Testing Sandero, we more than once cursed on the washer of the windshield, which was not synchronized with the launch of the wipers, and in Renault Duster this problem is no longer worth it.

Of the shortcomings, it is worth noting the surviving heating buttons of seats, hidden at the bottom of the seats, at the very door, moreover, not illuminated in the dark. There are not enough bulbs and in the windows buttons in the dark you can easily make a mistake, opening the wrong window.
 

Clutch, first, let's go. We start moving on the front drive. You can manage the transmission modes of the new Renault Duster here in the same way as in the Nissan X-Trail with a puck with three provisions: 2WD, 4WD and 4WD Lock. This is convenient, especially in that for switching the type of drive it is not necessary to stop, for example, as in the same Chevrolet Niva.

There are no complaints along the pedals, the moves and information content do not cause any problems with Duster control, but the steering wheel amplifier could work more actively. At first it even seemed to me that there was no hydraulic wrap here at all. Which, of course, is not so.

The dynamics of a two -liter engine is enough for the eyes for quick movement around the city, although for Renault Duster is not characteristic. You get little pleasure from a quick ride. However, Duster confidently starts, and the main onslaught falls on the middle and upper speed range.

A full-wheel drive 2.0-liter modifications of the Renault Duster are equipped with a six-speed TL8 transmission. Versions with 1.6 have a 5-speed mechanics, while only front-wheel drive options are equipped with automatic.

On our test, the most top -end equipment is Renault Duster Luxe Privilege. One of the most popular sneakers of crossover for everyone is distinguished by a 2.0-liter 135-horsepower engine, a mechanical gearbox and all-wheel drive. Equipment for such cars is maximum. Learn the luxury privilege just look at the side mirrors. Here they are with a chrome coating, in version of Privilege they are painted in the color of the body, and in even cheaper trim levels black.

Do not consider the Franco-Romanian crossovers slow: acceleration to 100 km/h occupies a little more than 10 seconds. But the IACP lever needs to be operated often, and the desired transmission is turned out not every time; It is especially easy to confuse 3 and 5 speed.

The volume of the engine at an acceptable level, only to the very tops the sound begins to irritate. And the wheels are no more noisy than we would like, although the winter tires Nokian Nordman have never particularly stood out for the silence of work. And aerodynamic noises join their noise to high speeds. In particular, this is a retribution for an excellent review in wide side mirrors.

How Renault Duster behaves on the off -road we will tell in the very near future in a separate material, but for now I’ll talk about how the car behaves in the city. I liked the suspension; Shock absorbers do a great job with large defects, but slightly louder than we would like, voiced small joints and bumps. However, with an increase in speed, a road trifle flies almost imperceptibly.

By the way, at Shosseino-Koltseva speed, the new Renault Duster behaves dignity: he does not scour and dutifully obey the driver’s actions.

It is unlikely that anyone will be surprised at the verdict for Duster: an excellent car for their money. Less claims can be addressed only to much more expensive models. The Franco-Romanian crossover collected near Moscow is quite dynamic, moderately comfortable, well-controlled and more than affordable car. Which you just need to wait ...

Renault Duster prices and configuration
The most affordable Renault Duster costs 449,000 rubles. This car is offered in the Authentique configuration with a front-wheel drive, a 1.6-liter 102-horsepower engine and a 5-speed mechanical gearbox. From the options in this version there are immobilizers, a power steering, ABS, 16-inch steel wheels, a driver’s airplane pillow, an anti-theft system, and a crankcase protection. To paint the body in the color of the metalline will cost 6,000 rubles, and order a radio with CD, MP3, Bluetooth and a USB port costs 16,000 rubles. The surcharge for all -wheel drive (for this configuration) will be 50,000 rubles.

In expanded configuration, Expression Renault Duster will cost 498,000 rubles. Unlike the basic version, such cars will have partially painted bumpers, rails, front electric windows, a steering wheel, a radio adjustable in height, and a separate back of the rear seats. To order a passenger’s safety pillow costs 4,000 rubles, air conditioning 25,000 rubles, fog lights 5,500 rubles, rear parking sensors 6,000 rubles, heating the front seats 6,500 rubles. Automatic checkpoint is available in version for 572 300 rubles with a 2.0-liter gasoline 136-horsepower engine, and a 1.5-liter 90-horsepower unit in diesel fuel will rise at 613,300 rubles at least.

Renault Duster Privilege modifications cost from 586,300 rubles (from 1.6, manual transmission and all -wheel drive). To the configuration, among other things, is added an on -board computer, air conditioning, electricrope, heating the front seats and a number of other options.

The maximum version of Luxe Privilege costs from 671,300 rubles (available only with gasoline engines). It differs from the non -human modification by the presence of chromium on lateral mirrors, strong tinting of the rear glasses, leather steering wheel and checkpoint, rear electric windows, rear parking sensors, front side pillows and passenger pillows.

Competitors Renault Duster in the Russian market
Chevrolet Niva
Chery Tiggo
 

Source: Wheel magazine [April 2012]