Carried out a test drive of the updated SUV Renault Duster. Journalist Efim Kantor got behind the wheel of a car with a 1.5-liter diesel engine and a manual transmission, who paid special attention to studying the interior of the restyled model.
The Duster never got the reach adjustment of the steering wheel, but sitting in the new driver's seat with an improved cushion and back profile is much more convenient, and it's easier to set it up - you no longer need to bounce, choosing the landing height, it changes, like everyone else, - with a lever.
By the way, honking will now also be more familiar to everyone, except for Gazelle drivers - the horn is turned on at the hub of the new “steering wheel”, and not by pressing the end of the left stalk switch. The new Sandero's white-lit instrument cluster, black 'lacquered' center console and embossed door cards freshen up the interior, but the ergonomics, with the exception of the front seats, are unchanged.
The climate control unit is still low, and in order to look at the monitor of the updated Media Nav media system, you need to take your eyes off the road for a long time. But now you will want to look at this screen more often - the built-in navigation receives traffic signals via RDS-TMC and does not slow down at all - the amount of RAM has been doubled.
In the trunk, the uncomfortable curtain was replaced with a rigid shelf, and the fuel tank cap no longer has to be carried with you to the gas station checkout along with the ignition key - the hatch with a lock opens from the passenger compartment.
And the crossover has become noticeably quieter at speeds up to 100 km / h, and not due to a simple increase in the area of \u200b\u200bnoise-proof mats - they really seriously worked on optimizing the “shumka”, even the seals in the doors were changed.
Yuri Uryukov from the Auto.mail.ru portal went to the Arctic to ride a Renault Duster 1.6 4 × 4 crossover with mechanics in the most extreme conditions and find out how good the “Frenchman” is when operating in winter.
If our expedition were limited to a section of the federal highway "Kola" from the city of Apatity to the coast of the White Sea, then I would say that 1.6 is a waste of money. It seems that he has enough strength (114), and the torque is normal (156 “Newtons”), but as soon as the speedometer needle exceeds the “100” mark, the Duster gets stuck in the oncoming air flow, like a fly in jam.
The gas pedal is about to push through the floor, and the car stubbornly refuses to accelerate. On climbs, in order not to lose speed, you have to go down into gear, while overtaking - at least two. An excuse for the Duster can only be an almost full load: 4 people plus luggage.
The balance of power changes with the end of the asphalt. The budget all-wheel drive crossover earned its first karma points when we turned off the Kola highway onto a regional road in an attempt to find the Polar Circle Arctic diving center in the village of Nilmoguba. They just made a slight mistake and instead of a knurled grader, they ended up on a forest path ...
A frightened hare rushes about in the headlights, Duster rams the branches bent under the weight of snow with his forehead and not a trace of a person around. But excitement took over - straight ahead! With a clearance of 21 cm, we were not particularly afraid to sit on our belly, but is there enough thrust from a frail engine to break through virgin soil?
However, at low speed 1.6 has changed. Yes, on it you have to poke the first ultra-short gear more often than on the same diesel engine, but the car is crawling, trying! We got to the complex where beluga whales are trained on time and without loss.
And in the days that followed, the cheap Duster impressed me more than once with its endurance. For example, around the most beautiful Umbozero there is an abandoned piece of iron from the Beria camp times. The rails were removed by scrap metal hunters a long time ago, a blizzard covered snowdrifts on the way, but there is no detour - there is a forest all around. So, Duster tirelessly jumped on rotten sleepers, dived into gullies and climbed out of them onto the embankment. And so - several tens of kilometers.
Maxim Fedorov from 5Koleso edition drove a four-wheel drive Renault Duster 2.0 with an automatic. During the test drive, the mileage of the French crossover exceeded 5,500 km. How did the car perform on winter Russian roads and did you have any problems with it?
Before, I didn’t really understand why four-wheel drive was like a real SUV, because you can drive a lot where with the front one. But the snowfall that broke out in mid-January completely changed my opinion on this issue. When a month's worth of precipitation fell in a few days of January and the owners of two-wheel drive cars began to drift together, slip, grab shovels and cables, I felt complete permissiveness in the Duster.
Thanks to the all-wheel drive, you can keep a higher speed: the car was driven from St. Petersburg to Moscow a day after a heavy snowfall, and, despite the not very thorough elimination of the consequences of the winter elements, the whole journey took me 10 hours - just an hour more than in summer. But you need to remember that although four-wheel drive allows a lot, it is not a panacea, and it does not cancel the laws of physics (especially on slippery roads).
For everything during the long test, there were no serious breakdowns, but the car still presented a few “surprises”. The first "gift" was a chirping blower fan. It was assumed that the motor bearing was covered. But after consulting with Renault servicemen, the diagnosis changed: according to them, a fallen leaf could get into the fan through the grille (!) of the air intake, which touched the impeller, causing an unpleasant sound.
The second and, fortunately, the last “surprise” arose, as expected, unexpectedly: on the highway, for no reason, the central lock began to open and close. At the end of the trip, this “glitch” disappeared, but a few days later it reappeared.
Then a day or two of calm, then a new one. It was not possible to systematize the appearance of this malfunction, and since it usually disappeared when it stopped, we were in no hurry to go to the service - it’s not a fact that the “glitch” will manifest itself at the service station. So they handed over the car with a "glitch" - let them sort it out in Moscow.
Journalist Nikolai Nazaykinsky, who works for Gazeta.ru, drove a Renault Duster Dakar Edition 1.5D 4WD. A test drive of the limited version of the crossover took place on the Georgian off-road.
On the first day of the test drive, we had to complete a number of tasks in the Gareji desert, namely, to go through several special sections, showing the average speed set by the organizers.
To be honest, it was not so easy to do this, since the Renault Duster suspension and its ground clearance of 210 mm allow you to drive over rough terrain very quickly, practically not paying attention to deep ruts, large pits and steep bends in the road.
As a result, in order to pass the section with a previously set average speed, we had to stand for several minutes a hundred meters from the finish line, waiting for the required time to “dribble”.
On the second day of our test drive, we headed to the north of Kakheti - the main wine-growing region of the country. If the last day in the desert seemed to everyone an easy walk, then here in the mountains, everything has become much more serious: diagonal hanging on the rise, a dangerous ford across a fast river and slippery icy slopes.
In one of the steep rocky climbs, somewhere in the middle of a special section, there was a sharp turn to the left, which could only be passed by walking. It was there that I safely stalled - I chose the wrong trajectory and literally ran into an insurmountable boulder. Passing back a little, almost rolling down a slope, he tried again to take the obstacle. It didn't work again.
It turned out that if you start the car again, then the all-wheel drive mode switches from the “combat” 4 WD Lock to civilian Auto. In addition, the ESP system is turned on (which we previously specifically disabled), and, by the way, it interferes with the car in such conditions.
As a result, on the third try, by switching the 4WD mode to 4WD Lock and turning off the ESP, I made my way up the steep slope through this treacherous turn on constant gas. Sometimes a feeling of fear told me: “Release the gas, we won’t pass!” But no, in no case should you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, otherwise there will be a premature finish or an interrupted ascent.
Determining the performance characteristics of a Renault Duster 2.0 equipped with an automatic transmission is a laborious procedure. On the one hand, the model is distinguished by practicality and good behavior on the track. But at the same time, it is impossible to consider the car as a full-fledged SUV. Still, it is advisable to use it not for frequent trips out of town. He will feel more comfortable in a metropolis.
Appearance
The exterior of the Renault Duster 2.0 is unique. The unattractive appearance is diluted with single designer inserts in the form of a chrome-plated radiator grille and an extraordinary headlight shape. The predominance of smooth lines only emphasizes the expediency of using the car for a measured and leisurely ride.
Inside the car, things are much worse. The first thing that catches your eye is poor equipment and an abundance of plastic in the cabin. Low quality leather looks unpresentable and dull. The multimedia system deserves special attention. In functional terms, there are no questions about it, but the screen layout leaves much to be desired. The display is tilted down, which greatly complicates the process of setting up the system while driving.
A strange design decision may seem to be the implementation of a too large gearshift knob. It does not fit into the overall picture, violating the integrity of the interior. You should also pay attention to the inconvenient location of the climate control unit.
photo renault duster 2014 with a gun
Despite these nuances, Renault Duster 2.0 is very spacious inside, so even the rear row passengers will not experience discomfort while driving. A significant advantage is the ergonomic arrangement of individual parts.
Mechanics and automatic
The test drive of the Renault Duster 2.0 AT should determine the level of expediency of the decision regarding the purchase of this vehicle. If you compare an identical model that is equipped with a mechanical variation of the gearbox, then you should be prepared for significant differences. On the one hand, a similar clearance, small overhangs in both cases and a similar power unit should provide identical results when overcoming road sections with poor surface quality, but the design features of the gearboxes prevent this.
The mechanical gearbox is mainly oriented to equip off-road vehicles. Short gears are able to successfully simulate the operation of a demultiplier. Gears in an automatic box are longer, so when shifting gears on difficult surfaces, you can feel a significant drop in traction. All this in combination leads to a loss of progress, our test drive only confirmed this fact. 
Off-road behavior
The first impression at the exit from the asphalt surface is very positive. Potholes and pits are practically not felt, so you can not even slow down while overcoming difficult sections. Due to the high ground clearance, the car does not hit the road with the bottom, so there are no fears associated with possible damage to the bottom. The only thing to take care of in this case is a comfortable fit for rear row passengers, as they will be thrown from side to side.
You should also be careful while overcoming deep ditches with water. You can simply not see the stone at the bottom of the pit, which will eventually lead to damage to the suspension and to the further need to carry out work related to its replacement. To be fair, it should be noted that Test Drive, heavy sections were selected in order to objectively determine the potential of the vehicle.
The car's ground clearance, equivalent to 210 mm, together with short overhangs and a well-shaped bumper, determine sufficient off-road potential. It is also necessary to focus on high-quality suspension. Of the negative points, weak bottom protection can be noted. All mechanisms are securely hidden in a horizontal surface, but sometimes the Renault Duster 2.0 can hit the stones with the exhaust pipe. It is also important to note that standard tires will not be enough for regular off-road use. It is advisable to purchase a higher quality product, since in a different scenario certain problems may arise - the tires quickly become clogged with dirt, which greatly complicates further operation.
Overcoming hills
The design features of the automatic transmission make climbing from a standstill a very problematic task for the Renault Duster. The automatic transmission has four gears, while the manual has six. A four-speed automatic transmission variation in the first long gear at maximum traction speed is capable of accelerating the car to 40 km / h. For this reason, the lowering effect present is practically reduced to a minimum.
It is impossible not to note the interference of electronics in the operation of mechanisms when overcoming hills. It is difficult to disable the ESP system completely. Only the traction control system is disabled.
To summarize, we can draw certain conclusions about the power potential of the model. Some of the nuances of the clutch, the design features of the automatic transmission and the peculiar operation of the electronics make overcoming the hill from a place problematic. For a car at speed, obstacles of this type will not be significant.
conclusions
Conducted test drive Renault Duster showed that the model feels much more comfortable on the paved road. It is ideal for the city, not off-road. To some extent, this is due to the fact that an automatic transmission variation is used.
Even the top modification of the model with a two-liter power unit, all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission is not considered as a cost-effective investment. A significant drawback is the high fuel consumption.
Without a twinge of conscience, we can state: Renault Duster is a bestseller and will remain so for a long time. Because it's done right! Without the marketing department, which is now the main one in the automotive industry. Without catching up pathos. No flattering ads. Without chasing the incomprehensible word "premium".
Yes, the car looks simpler than we would like. Yes, in some places they saved in the interior and ergonomics. Yes, not everything in it is modern and innovative. But what is the price? For once, an honest price, appropriate. Even after all the rises in price, it’s not a pity for money for such a car.
Some, of course, having come to the salon, were very upset, expecting to see the embodiment of a fantasized "fairy tale", that is, a Grand Cherokee at the price of a Zhiguli. But those who are used to being, not seeming, got a very talented car made by talented people. I say this with complete confidence, since all three modifications of the Renault Duster were carried out in editorial tests for a total of almost six months.
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During this time, we managed to break through the winter forest and wild virgin snow more than once, conquer a dozen steep ravines at different times of the year, independently get out of a huge mud puddle in which Toyota RAV4 “drowned” a few months later, and “bury” in Karelian traveling on the shores of Lake Onega, a four-wheel drive Suzuki SX4, which could not stand the off-road battle with the Duster.
And in half a day - to help one of the editorial staff move from one apartment to another and regularly take out all unnecessary junk to the dacha in one sitting. All of the above is superimposed on Duster's absolute indifference to the quality of the road surface and very good directional stability on the highway, which allows you to tirelessly drive a thousand kilometers a day.
Comparing the number of consumer qualities with the performance characteristics multiplied by the cost of the car, the editors of the site secretly awarded Renault Duster the title of "People's Car No. 1 in Russia." True, in one particular version - 1.6 MT 4x4 as the most balanced in all respects.
The only version of the Duster, which until recently was out of our attention, is with an automatic transmission. We deliberately ignored it: the fact is that the “two-pedal” Duster was delivered to Russia exclusively in front-wheel drive. And the purchase of such a version, in our opinion, is meaningless - a crossover that is maximally "sharpened" for off-road without four driving wheels automatically turns into an elevated Largus.
And now, finally, the injustice has been corrected - Renault Duster 2.0 AT 4x4 has appeared on our market. Welcome to the long test!
I sat down in the crossover salon with the feeling that I shook hands with an old friend whom I had not seen for a long time. The interior is still the same, at first glance, unprepossessing, with hard plastic, in some places frankly inconvenient functionality, but some kind of native, and most importantly - cozy. All that is needed, hands and eyes quickly find the physical memory.
The leather interior is superfluous: on a hot sunny day, you can’t get into the car, in fact, as well as on a frosty one. Subjectively, something else also interferes, which was revealed by a recent test of the new Renault Logan II, in which the interior almost completely lost its "budget" touch, having improved by an order of magnitude in all respects. We are waiting for the same on the Duster!
There are enough ergonomic “punctures” in the Duster cabin: a horn button on the end of the left switch, seat heating buttons in the “blind” zone, a joystick for adjusting mirrors under the “handbrake” lever, a negative slope of the central glare screen, an all-wheel drive “washer”, which is not reach, but the main thing is the lack of steering wheel adjustment for reach. In Duster, it is sorely lacking - not everyone will be able to get comfortable behind the wheel.
The little that unites the interiors of the Duster and the new Logan is a multimedia complex. By the way, one more spit in the direction of competitors, and any. A full-time multifunctional system with a touch screen, good graphics, a simple and intuitive interface, a navigation system, Bluetooth and USB support costs only 10,000 rubles as an option. This is three to ten (!) times cheaper than similar regular systems from any other mass brands.
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On the back sofa, there is still enough space for a person of average height. In the voluminous trunk only up to the curtain - 408 liters of free space. In the underground - a full-size spare wheel and a functional pencil case with four compartments. Thoughtfully.
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Key to start! It is very unusual, but convenient, to move the tall “automatic” lever, originally from the nineties, on the Duster. The automatic transmission here, of course, is still the same - the ageless DP0, which is also the all-French AL4, which began its life in God knows what years. So obviously you don’t need to expect high-speed feats from the transmission. The main thing is the “automatic”, the main thing is that the gears switch itself.
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What can I say, the 2.0-liter 135-horsepower Renault Duster allows you to start confidently. Due to the light in the first third of the gas pedal, the motor is only slightly late for pressing. Then a good one-second dash forward followed by a moderate pickup... tripping over the shift to second.
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Further - better: uniform acceleration, we bypass the second, third. Throwing the tachometer needle into the red zone, surprisingly, does not put much pressure on the ears. The inclusion of fourth gear is already determined only by the speed scale. Red, brake... and another push before stopping...
In general, Duster does not like fuss in any of the performances, especially with an “automatic”. As soon as you move from a dynamic-torn mode to a balanced one, the delays and jerks of the old transmission are noticeably smoothed out, the shifts become comfortable and soft. And all the complexes about the presence of only four steps in the transmission disappear. Duster becomes a full-fledged participant in the city stream, keeping up with any of the neighbors.
track. Here again, the main thing is to compare the capabilities of the machine with expectations. At the click of a finger, the crossover, of course, will not “shoot” - the transmissions are long, and the “automatic” is not the most agile. But having made an allowance for a pause in reactions in advance, you can safely go ahead. Pulls a two-liter Duster well.
It is not possible to transfer the car to the “accelerated” mode - the transmission does not provide a sport mode. But there is a winter mode that allows you to start off from second gear and switch at lower speeds - it’s even smoother and more comfortable. But the manual mode of the "automatic" is more likely for show - it does not affect the dynamics, and there is no "honesty" in it: the selected gears are not fixed, leaving for an increased one when the speed limiter is reached. Indirectly, this is a disadvantage for off-road driving, which we will check in the next test.
Brief specifications
Renault Duster 2.0AT 4x4
Another virtue of Renault Duster is directional stability. Actually, on the 4x4 automatic transmission version, it has not gone away. The crossover clearly, without hanging out, goes in a straight line and is effectively directed into turns. Only now the hand of the driver should be strong, muzhik. The operation of the hydraulic booster is more of a safety net: at low speeds, you turn the steering wheel with effort, and in parking lots you get the feeling that there is no hydraulic booster at all. In addition, all the flaws of the road are transferred to the steering wheel: a good pothole in a turn completely knocks the “steering wheel” out of your hands. However, Duster keeps course properly.
Renault Duster. The most valuable
We tested the Duster in frost and snowfall, having wound 5500 km on the odometer. It's time to calculate the pros and cons of the most popular crossover in Russia
Renault Duster 2.0AT 4X4. Price: 1 070 690 rubles. On sale: since 2015
Did you know that two-thirds of crossovers sold in Russia do not have all-wheel drive? The logic of buyers is easy to understand. They argue something like this: why overpay a decent amount for all the leading ones, if the car will be used mainly for driving on asphalt, it is better to spend this money on more useful things. And you can't argue! But if you came to the same conclusion, having opted for the Duster, think carefully - do you really need it? After all, this car is interesting primarily because it is the most affordable foreign car with a four-by-four transmission. I will say more: all-wheel drive is the most valuable thing in the Duster. Take it away and what's left? A nice-looking crossover (especially after restyling), which is far from the most spacious interior in the class, cheap finishing materials, problems with ergonomics (the French love to be “creative” in this regard), a noisy heater fan, sills that always stain your pants, an ancient 4-speed automatic and high consumption of a 2.0-liter engine ... At the same time, even in the top-end configuration, it remains a state employee, although it costs more than a million rubles. But in simpler versions, the lack of an alternative with a 4x4 drive that is close in price crosses out all the shortcomings of the model.
The engine start function by timer is integrated into the media system: here you can set the time and frequency of starts
Before, I didn’t really understand why four-wheel drive was like a real SUV, because you can drive a lot where with the front one. But the snowfall that broke out in mid-January completely changed my opinion on this issue. When a month's worth of precipitation fell in a few days of January and the owners of two-wheel drive cars began to drift together, slip, grab shovels and cables, I felt complete permissiveness in the Duster. The car effortlessly coped with the winter nightmare of public utilities. Snow is not snow, a snowdrift is not a snowdrift - a ground clearance of more than 20 cm allows a lot. While others are barely dragging themselves in the slush, you just step on the gas - and go! Moving along snow-covered roads, when you have not two driving wheels, but four, is an order of magnitude more comfortable. And safer. Thanks to the all-wheel drive, you can keep a higher speed: the car was driven from St. Petersburg to Moscow a day after a heavy snowfall, and, despite the not very thorough elimination of the consequences of the winter elements, the whole journey took me 10 hours - just an hour more than in summer. But you need to remember that although four-wheel drive allows a lot, it is not a panacea, and it does not cancel the laws of physics (especially on slippery roads).
Starting from the key in cold weather worked every other time
In addition to all-wheel drive and price, the updated Duster has other points of attraction, such as useful winter options. Among them - windshield heating, as well as regular engine start by timer or remotely - none of the competitors have this! The last function was developed specifically for Russia and integrated into the new media complex - there is a separate menu for programming the engine start time, and everything is clear with it. But to start the engine remotely, I had to rack my brains: there is not a word about this in the instructions, and when you press the 2S button on the ignition key, which is responsible for starting, absolutely nothing happens. I had to call Renault, where they explained the startup algorithm to me. We read and remember: press the door lock button (the turn signals “blink” twice), and then immediately the 2S button (the turn signals are on continuously for a couple of seconds). If everything is done correctly, the motor will start, and after 10 minutes it will automatically turn off. The disadvantage of the function is the need for mandatory visual contact with the machine. Yes, and in severe frost, the system often failed: the engine refused to start from the key the first time, and the start was also not guaranteed from the second or third time.
For everything during the long test, there were no serious breakdowns, but the car still presented a few “surprises”. The first "gift" was a chirping blower fan. It was assumed that the motor bearing was covered. But after consulting with Renault servicemen, the diagnosis changed: according to them, a fallen leaf could get into the fan through the grille (!) of the air intake, which touched the impeller, causing an unpleasant sound. It is impossible to take out the “intruder” without dismantling the blowing system, so we were advised to try to cure the “disease” on our own by running the fan at different speeds. The advice turned out to be effective - the crackling stopped. Until the next leaf fall? The second and, fortunately, the last “surprise” arose, as expected, unexpectedly: on the highway, for no reason, the central lock began to open and close. At the end of the trip, this “glitch” disappeared, but a few days later it reappeared. Then a day or two of calm, then a new one. It was not possible to systematize the appearance of this malfunction, and since it usually disappeared when it stopped, we were in no hurry to go to the service - it’s not a fact that the “glitch” will manifest itself at the service station. So they handed over the car with a "glitch" - let them sort it out in Moscow.
The seat heating button has to be turned on by touch: a more inconvenient location still needs to be looked for
Well, "on the road" general impressions about the driving performance of the car. The Duster is pleasant to drive: it pleases with a peppy response from the 2.0-liter engine, a distinct steering wheel and stability on a straight line, although the crossover (and its driver) does not feel so confident in high-speed corners. For its class, the car is very quiet - the noise from the engine and tires becomes annoying only at a speed of over a hundred. Suspension "Duster", although it does not shine with softness, it forgives a lot. So, if you accidentally gape and do not have time to slow down in front of a pit or a speed bump, nothing bad will happen - the car will jump a little and drive on. The reverse side of this "medal" is shaking when driving through bumps. By the way, for 5500 km (with a total mileage of more than 13,500 km), the suspension is not “tired” and still absorbs shocks well.
Renault Duster. Most valuable
Renault
Duster
Test drive Renault Duster 2.0 AT 4×4..
Our life consists of everyday little things that in one way or another affect our well-being, mood and productivity. I didn’t get enough sleep - my head hurts; drank coffee to improve the situation and cheer up - he became irritable. I really want to foresee everything, but it just doesn't work. Moreover, everyone around, as usual, gives advice: gluten in bread - do not come close, it will kill; a chocolate bar in your pocket is a direct path to tooth loss. We collect the most popular questions about health, nutrition, diseases and give answers to them, which will allow you to better understand what is good for health.
Video clip description:
This is the second part of the review of the new Renault Duster 2015, including crossover sea trials. Igor Burtsev tells his impressions of the dynamics of the updated Duster engines: two-liter gasoline and diesel 1.5.
The first part (detailed review of the interior of the new Renault Duster) can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57XxSM...
New Renault Duster review and test drive on Romanian mountain roads by russian auto blogger MrBURTSEV.
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