It may not be the first small, affordable or capable small SUV, the Renault Duster is however the people’s car of the crossover era. Bridging the gap between dedicated compact off-roaders like the Suzuki Jimny and small sensible saloons pitched at emerging markets, the Duster made the practical SUV an accessible option for budget-minded drivers, with 2.45 million sold since its 2010 launch as a Dacia and 2012 Middle East introduction as a Renault.
The Dacia Duster (Renault Duster in our market) is the Romanian brand’s most popular model, with more than a million units sold around the world during its 7-year stint. Revealed first in 2010, the budget SUV has been yearning for a refresh and that’s exactly what the brand has given it. Dacia has prepped up a new version of the Duster which has shown its face off ahead of its public reveal at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The popular Renault Duster underwent a facelift a year ago in its home market of Europe, but its launch was delayed in the GCC for whatever reason. A facelifted version has now officially been launched at an event in Abu Dhabi, with some minor but important features, as well as a different grille.
Renault showcased a concept version of the Renault Duster in Johannesburg, South Africa. Aside from the fact that the concept is named Détour, the vehicle pretty much only receives a few cosmetic touches. But what’s surprising is the lack of publicity the vehicle received.
The first time I heard about the Duster was when a Romanian colleague of mine proudly showed me pictures of a new Dacia on the internet, sometime back in 2009. A couple of years later, the Duster was introduced in the UAE with a Renault badge for an incredibly cheap price tag. Fast-forward to the present, and Renault claims that the Duster is a success story. We wouldn’t entirely refute that statement, considering the increasing number of Dusters we have been seeing on the roads. Even a buddy of ours bought a 2013 Renault Duster just a few weeks ago,
The Dacia Duster, better known as the Renault Duster in the GCC, has received a minor facelift for the 2014 model-year.
Almost every car enthusiast would be familiar of the Terrano moniker, an off-road capable mid-size SUV from Nissan, that was offered during the 90’s and early 2000’s, and which is still not entirely extinct. It was later taken off the production lines, giving way for the newer range of Nissan SUVs. However, the Japanese automaker now intends to bring the nameplate back beginning with the Indian market, although in the form of a Renualt Duster-based soft-roader, competing with the likes of Ford Ecosport, and has even divulged the official sketches.
The Renault Duster was surely a surprise package when it was first introduced GCC-wide in 2012, largely because of its minimal price-tag and the fact that it fell into the ‘SUV’ segment in terms of size. DC Designs, an automobile modification company from India, has extensively modified the Duster for the better.
For the 28th edition of the São Paulo Motor Show the French manufacturer Renault has brought to their stands the DCross concept.
The 2012 Renault Duster, quite possibly the cheapest SUV currently on sale in the region, was officially launched in Abu Dhabi, after its debut in Dubai a couple of weeks ago. Interestingly, the Duster is slightly cheaper in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai. The Abu Dhabi dealer is Al Masaood Automobiles.