These are the three engine options that significantly upgrade the new Dacia Duster SUV

The all-new Duster is the next chapter in the story of an SUV model that has become a standard-setter in its segment and a distinctly iconic Dacia model that embodies everything the brand stands for, being rugged and outgoing. The Duster was born in 2010, was first revised in 2017 and rose to the top by rewriting the SUV rulebook in its class and beyond.

In its 13-year career, it has won more than 40 awards, while producing 2.4 million units and counting. Its steadily increasing popularity has made it the best-selling SUV in Europe regardless of category. Around 1,000 Duster SUVs are produced at the Dacia plant in Pitesti, Romania, every day, which means that a new Duster rolls out every minute of the hour.

The all-new Duster is built on the CMF-B platform, which plays a central role in Dacia’s industrial strategy. This competitive and highly versatile platform was first used in the latest Sandero and Logan models and then in the Jogger. It provides all the flexibility Dacia needs to optimally develop its ambitious product plan.

With the CMF-B platform, the all-new Duster offers more passenger and luggage space (472 litres) than the previous generation and this is just one of the many improvements. Advanced platform engineering also reduces vibration and road noise, improving driver comfort, while the model is exactly the same length (4.34m).

This development has significantly improved its dynamic behavior. By increasing the stiffness of its anti-roll bars, the vehicle achieves a significant reduction in body roll, which translates into greater stability when cornering or changing direction. The 4×4 version also benefits from this advancement for greater agility on any kind of road.

Increased chassis stiffness is compensated for off-road driving by an all-new electronic torque management system. Damping settings, variable steering assistance, as well as all rubber gaskets resulting in better insulation, have also evolved. They have been reworked to ensure a more precise response to different driving conditions.

Rolling noise is improved by -2dB on average, significantly reducing the overall noise level inside the vehicle and providing a more pleasant driving experience for passengers. The CMF-B platform has also contributed to the all-new Duster’s journey towards electrification as it can accommodate engines that use mild as well as full hybrid technologies.

On the surface, it still has the striking looks that drove previous generations to the top but pushes them higher, stronger and stronger with Dacia’s new, distinctive design. The designers started with simple volumes – the cabin, hood, fenders, etc. They then assembled them into a clean ensemble to give the model a modern, well-crafted style, with purposefully taut, confident lines.

Like the body, so inside, we see that the new Duaster has all the essentials – that is, the features that serve a purpose. A lot of work has gone into the ergonomics, including the 10.1-inch central screen placed in the driver’s field of vision and at an angle of 10° to them. The new automatic gearbox, in combination with the HYBRID 140 engine, is particularly easy to use and both of these are very important upgrade elements for the new generation of the model.

The flattened surfaces of the steering wheel at the top and bottom make it extremely comfortable to handle. The surface of the air ducts is in a Y-shape which also appears around the door armrests. Important are the elements of the model upgrade that have to do with the technology that exists to support the safety of movements by assisting the driver.

Nothing is missing from the relevant list, putting the new Duster with claims against the competition of a category that traditionally attracts the buying public. The new generation of the model is expected to be introduced in our country at the beginning of the summer, with the versions and their prices to be announced shortly before. Until then, what we have “to work on” for those interested, has to do with the available engine versions with which the model will be introduced.

In the “base” we find the three-cylinder 1.0 Eco-G of 100 hp which has the advantage of dual fuel (LPG-unleaded). Higher in capacity and performance, is the -again three-cylinder- turbo 1.2 TCe with 130 hp and the 48 Volt mild hybrid system. This has a 0.8 kWh battery and an electric motor that delivers a maximum torque of 80 Nm with which the accelerations of the model on the go are supported.

A third option is the atmospheric four-cylinder 1.6 Hybrid 140 that produces 140 hp and is combined with two electric motors and a larger battery (1.2 kWh) that is sufficient for purely electric movement of the car for up to 5 kilometers – a distance sufficient for the majority of daily needs in town.