Practical, frugal and affordable are some of the terms that are used to describe the @renault_sa Duster. Having spent time with the Duster 1.5 dCI Dynamique 4×2, all these good things we’d heard about the Duster proved to be true. We are now getting to see if the same can be said of the 4×4 model and we can’t wait to report back to you. Stay with us. 😉 #renaultduster #renault #duster #suv #city #johannesburg #jozi #gauteng #durban 📸 @benjaminthecreative for @khulekani_on_wheels.

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on Mar 7, 2018 at 9:53pm PST

I have had this fantasy of driving through a forest in Hawaii on an overcast day and the Renault Duster seemed like the perfect car for such an occasion. When one initially looks at the Duster, it does not look as though it would be up to the challenge however, you will be surprised. The Duster is available in two drivetrains, 4×4 or 4×2, and you can customize it even further to match your own personal taste. The model I drove was the 1.5 dCi 4×4 with the option to turn off ESC, not that I was doing any driving that needed that switch to be hit.

The Duster is vehicle that evokes mixed feelings. While its exterior appealed to my inner adventurer, questions quickly arose as to whether it was the right car for the job. You see, while it is probably the most masculine car Renault has released, its looks are not deceiving. I found right off the bat that the fuel consumption was higher than stated, as I was averaging about 7.1-litre/100km compared to Renault’s claimed 5.9-litre/100km. For larger framed occupants the lack of seat movement can be uncomfortable . There are a few adjustments that are possible, but none of these are suitable for long distance driving, especially on rough terrains.

The positioning of some items on the Renault Duster are placed awkwardly, such as the cup holders. These are located underneath the touch screen and behind the gear lever, leaving little or no space to fit anything. The touch screen protrudes over the cup holders and the result is that only a can could fit in that space. The door panels could be wider to fit a water bottle without you having to crush or bend it.

As South African consumers, we often get slated for being brand conscious or brand loyal. Nothing wrong with either. The problem is that this, in certain instances, leads to people passing over a genuinely good deal in the name of brand loyalty. This hasn’t been the case with @renault_sa Duster. Consumers have seen the value inherent in it and have bought it in numbers since launch back in 2015. We can debate the looks till the cows come home but you’ll be hard pressed to find something that matches what the Duster gives you overall. Decent interior space and quality (cruise control, colour touch screen and a reverse camera as standard in our Dynamique 4×4), decent and punchy engine that really gives you a savings at the fuel pumps is impressive. Like anything else, there’s room for improvement but what you get already, might shock a lot of people. #renaultduster #renault #duster #frenchcar #savings #fuel #economy #drive #city #soweto #umlazi #johannesburg #durban #capetown 📸 @benjaminthecreative for @khulekani_on_wheels / @renault_sa via quickpic

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on Mar 8, 2018 at 9:14pm PST

In terms of handling, some improvements will be welcomed. There is a bit of understeer and I found myself struggling to take bends without the car going out the lane and into on-coming traffic; this occurred at low speeds. This happened more than once while taking a gentle bend at just over 60km/h. It’s not all bad though, the Duster does tick a few good features, such as the space. It can carry a lot of luggage and has folding rear seats for that extra storage space when needed. The Duster also includes features such as a 6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and Bluetooth, a reverse camera, object detection which beeps to help prevent any fender benders while parking, one USB port to connect your iPod device.

The Renault Duster is well placed to compete with the likes of Suzuki Vitara, Ford Ecosport, Honda BRV and Hyundai Creta. An improved driving position will place the Renault Duster at even better position.

The Renault Duster is priced as follows

Duster 1.6 Expression 4×2 -R246,900
Duster 1.6 Dynamique 4×2 -R266,900
Duster 1.5 dCL Dynamique 4×2 -R287,900
Duster 1.5 dCL Dynamique 4×2 EDC -R307,900
Duster 1.5 dCL Dynamique 4×4 -R312,900

The Renault Duster price includes 5-year/150 000km warranty and a 3-year/45 000km service plan.