Rugged all-new 2024 Dacia Duster unmasked
As test cars hit public roads, we look beyond the camouflage of the 2024 Dacia SUV.
Dacia is gearing up to reveal the reinvented, third-generation Duster, which will be one of the most affordable and capable SUVs on sale. Due in 2024, the new Duster will swap from the ageing B0 platform to the CMF-B architecture used by its crossover cousins, the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke. As well as promising substantial gains in rolling refinement and packaging, the new mechanicals will also accommodate the Duster’s first hybrid powertrain.
The Duster will be reimagined with greater emphasis on its activity-focused potential, to strengthen its edge over electric newcomers like the chunky Jeep Avenger, Mini Aceman and Ford Explorer. While Dacia has yet to preview the new Duster, the first images of a prototype testing on public roads give strong clues as to its design. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
LET’S OFF-ROAD
The new Duster will follow its forebears in serving as one of the market’s most capable and affordable 4x4 SUVs. Certainly, the prototype’s short overhangs, raised ride height, thick-walled tyres and brawny silhouette suggest off-road ability will be a priority. There are currently no four-wheel- drive cars based on the CMF-B architecture, so it remains to be seen how Dacia will add a driven rear axle without adversely affecting cost and packaging. Product boss Julien Ferry previously told Autocar the new car will “keep the recipe” of its forebear but “update it”, suggesting the capacity for instantly switching between 2WD and 4WD modes will remain, as will a ‘crawler’ first gear and standard-fit hill descent control.
NEW DESIGN ERA
The third-generation Duster will be much more significantly restyled than the second, taking heavy inspiration from the well-received Bigster concept and pioneering a raft of features that could become hallmarks of the new-gen Dacia line-up. Most obvious at this stage are the new-look slatted front grille and LED headlights. The Duster is also expected to wear a prominent cladding package, nodding to its outdoor character. Note also the chunky, functional roof bars and unwrapped wing mirrors (top right), which suggest a new matt bronze colour will be added to the options.
PUTTING THE ‘U’ IN SUV
Speaking at the Paris motor show last year, design boss David Durand told Autocar the Duster will get a spacious interior and a modular roof storage system that could feasibly accommodate a tent for overnight stays. He said: “This is a good car that allows you to do anything else. I love to say that we have Jogger owners with carbonfibre mountain bikes that are more expensive than their car. But they put all their money in that, then they have the perfect car to go everywhere with it, and this is the spirit we want to push for our cars.” He added: “We are developing accessories, everything that can help. Making Dacia the best brand to support those activities. Being a way to do things.”
MORE FUNCTION THAN FORM
In keeping with Dacia’s ethos of providing “all the things you need, nothing you don’t”, the new Duster’s cabin will take its lead from the Jogger and Sandero in placing more emphasis on utility than style. It won’t be quite as extreme as the barebones Dacia Manifesto concept but will draw inspiration from that show car in featuring sustainable, durable materials and mouldings; smartphonebased infotainment; innovative storage solutions; and potentially Dacia’s new YouClip mounting bracket, which can host a raft of associated accessories.
DUSTER HYBRID
The CMF-B platform paves the way for the next-generation Duster to adopt the Renault Austral’s full-hybrid powertrain: a 1.2-litre three-pot petrol engine mated to an electric motor for 196bhp, 148lb ft and, more importantly, a WLTP consumption rating of around 60mpg. A Captur-derived PHEV is possible, too – with a combined 158bhp from its EV-assisted four-cylinder petrol and a roughly 30-mile range from a 7.5kWh battery – and no doubt a mild hybrid of some sort will open the line-up. Notably, today’s Duster is the only Renault Group car on sale in the UK with a diesel option, and all cars based on the CMF-B platform use a petrol engine – so its successor looks set to ditch diesel for 2024.
New grille and headlight treatment are visible despite the camo
Ride height, roof rails and rear skid plate point to its utility focus