New Dacia Duster debuts at Geneva on upgraded platform

GENEVA -- Dacia’s first full revamp of the Duster small SUV since it was launched in 2010 was shown to the public at the Geneva auto show on Monday. The new Duster now rides on a version of the Renault-Nissan CMF-B platform and gains full- and mild-hybrid drivetrains.

The Duster has moved somewhat upscale as a result, with a base price in France of just below 20,000 euros, several thousand more than the current generation. That is undercut most notably by the China-built MG ZS, which is about 18,000 euros in France, and just 14,000 euros in Spain.

Deliveries will start in the second quarter.

The Duster has been a sales hit for Dacia – the brand says it is the best-selling small SUV in the retail channel in Europe -- and executives expect global sales to total about 200,000 annually.

The CMF-B platform allows for a number of improvements to the Duster. Cargo capacity is 6 percent more, at 472 liters for the front-wheel-drive version, although the length remains the same at 4341 mm. Aerodynamics have benefited from a 30 mm lower height, to 1660 mm, and a smaller frontal area.

Larger cladding – using Starkle, a plastic with 20 percent recycled material --  gives the Duster a more aggressive look, emphasizing Dacia’s new image as an outdoor-focused brand. Four-wheel-drive remains an option, a rarity among small SUVs.

Interior upgrades include a standard seven-inch digital instrument panel, and a 10.1-inch central touch screen standard on higher trim levels. Base models get just a 3.5-inch display.

The Duster will also have numerous opportunities to showcase Dacia’s new YouClip system for interior accessories. It comes standard with seven YouClip pre-installed positions, including one on the right side of the steering wheel for smartphones, and one on the central tunnel on the front passenger side to hold handbags and other small objects. Two YouClips are standard in the luggage compartment, while two optional on most trim levels are positioned behind the front seat headrest for tablet computers to entertain rear passengers.

Dacia, which develops cars based on a build-to-cost model, has been by design the slowest Renault Group brand to add electrified drivetrains, but the Duster now includes a version of the E-Tech full hybrid system, as well as a 48-volt mild hybrid option.

The new Duster range starts with the 1.0-liter three-cylinder 100-hp ECO-G gasoline engine, which can also run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Renault said that thanks to a 50-liter gasoline tank and 50-liter LPG thank, the new Duster can travel 1,300 km on a single refueling. 

A new engine for Dacia is Renault’s 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo engine, with 130 hp, coupled to a 48-volt mild hybrid system with a 0.9 kilowatt-hour battery. 

The Duster will also be available with an E-Tech full-hybrid powertrain, which is offered on the Jogger and Renault models including the Clio and Captur. The system is based on a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 94 hp, which is coupled to a 49 hp electric motor for total power of 140 hp. The battery has a capacity of 1.2 kWh.

Dacia said the full-hybrid powertrain cuts fuel consumption by 20 percent in a mixed-driving cycle and by 40 percent in city driving, where the car can be run in full-electric mode for 80 percent of driving time. The car also starts in full-electric mode.

The new Duster comes standard with eight advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning. Also standard is what the company calls FOTA, or firmware over-the-air, update capability.