Renault Duster
Renault Duster Renault Duster
RENAULT DUSTER PRICES ARE SOUND
Renault Duster is one of the most anticipated new products of 2011 and already in 2012 (it has been sold in Europe since 2010 under the Dacia brand). The crossover is made on the BO platform, familiar from Logan and Sandero. “Duster” is both a new model and a derivative of Logan. The concept of an affordable, reliable, modern car, as well as many technical solutions and even details are borrowed from the ancestor. Other models from the Renault Nissan Alliance contributed. Two versions of the car are provided: front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
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One of the three main differences between the Russian "Duster" is striking, it is worth opening the front door. A light make-up raised the utilitarian and laconic interior of Logan (and the Euro-Duster) a notch higher: the interior design was pretty pretty, partly even with refinement - as much as possible in a budget niche. An additional pocket was invented above the air ducts, and a 2DIN radio was sheltered in the center console. The power window keys moved (hooray!) To the door.
Thin chrome edging turned the monolith of devices and consoles into an elegant design. The stove knobs are now beautiful, with luminous pointers … But I wanted to see comfortable ones! Seriously, it would be better if they were left the same, but they changed their position - now, due to the reverse tilt of the console, they are looking down. Not the best legacy of Logan.
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The second original feature of our "Duster" is a 4-speed upgraded automatic, available for front-wheel drive versions. A good trump card in the battle for the buyer, especially since they will “drop in” with him at the very beginning of sales. For some reason, the ruler indicating the modes has been shifted forward - the lever in the “parking” position is opposite the letter D. Count the clicks or follow the PRND on the devices. But, having shifted the immodest hilt to the left, you will go into manual mode - maybe it will come in handy.
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The gas tank flap is so impressive that it's just right to call it a door. Near the main neck, another one will fit perfectly. (For gas?) The lid is locked - good; the key is locked in an open plug - inconvenient. It is very pleasant that Duster supports the good tradition of Russian Renaults and is ready to work on any gasoline starting from the 91st.
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"Duster 4WD" - most of the time front-wheel drive car. When the front wheels slip, part of the thrust is transmitted to the rear axle through a multi-plate clutch, which is controlled by electronics that receives signals from anti-lock system sensors. All-wheel drive versions have a different rear suspension: instead of an elastic cross beam, an independent multi-link scheme is used.
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And here is the third key feature of the Moscow Duster. At the stage of finishing and adaptation work, specialists from the Russian office of Renault persistently proposed to supplement the range of motors with more powerful ones. Photo Result: 2-liter F4R gasoline, known for other models of the brand.
Immediately there are not so noticeable, but no less important traces of adaptation to the conditions of our country: a battery with a capacity of 70 Ah, a more powerful starter and generator. The most affordable "Duster" are content with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine. Finally, the third engine is a 90-horsepower diesel engine that has successfully passed tests with low temperatures and mediocre fuel.
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The Duster will easily take back three passengers. The relationship with the wide "Logan", a flat back sofa, a decent height of the saloon and raised front seats are a sure thing. Except for the belt locks lying limply on the seat: it was worth providing at least loops, not to mention pockets. And we’ll rejoice that there are four locks, that is, each rider has a three-point belt. And the headrest!
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Outside, the “Duster 4WD” can be recognized by the corresponding sticker (not a nameplate!) On the fifth door and dark headlight masks.
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The backrest of the rear seat can be folded in parts, or it can be entirely - then the volume of the luggage compartment will be 1636 liters. The seat cushion is solid. Duster should be loaded under the ceiling with some caution: there are fastenings for the fixing grid only on the floor.
THREE MAIN FEATURES OF THE RUSSIAN "DASTER": IMPROVED INTERIOR, AUTOMATIC, 2-Liter ENGINE
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One of the options is the rear parking sensors, in which one feels very healthy practicalism, laid down by Logan. There are not two sensors (not enough for accurate operation) and not four (unreasonably expensive), but three. Of course, no one thought to mask them. As, however, and the eye - naturally, fixed. Five points for a rational approach!
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In the front-wheel drive version, it was possible to get quite an extra seat in the trunk, fixing the spare wheel under the bottom. We tried to use it - it turned out easily. But to return the spare tire in place and pick up an invisible hook bracket was only possible in four hands. Which for the first time remained more or less clean due to the zero mileage of the car and good weather.
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All-wheel drive version: a spare wheel takes 67 liters from the trunk (the floor is raised by 120 mm), but how much more convenient when it lies inside rather than hanging outside! In addition, not all of the volume disappears: convenient containers are organized around the wheel.
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If you are not too lazy to look under the car, you will also find signs of all-wheel drive: a silencer in place of the spare wheel and behind it the rear gear itself. By the way, all “duster” are equipped with full-time protection of the power unit (not just any, but from a thick steel sheet) and pipelines under the bottom. It is very good that the manufacturer performed such useful training by checking the “armor” for overheating and passive safety.
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Filling the washer reservoir is just as inconvenient as on Logan. The narrow neck is hidden under the windshield, the cover is not fixed in the open position, the nozzle tube tries to stand in the path of non-freezing liquid. However, a 5-liter volume helps to minimize the frequency of topping up.
WHEN ADAPTATION, I VERY SUGGESTED THE WORKS ON THE LOGAN AND SANDERO: COLD START, RUNNING SETTINGS, PROTECTION OF IMPORTANT NODES
Passive safety devices "Duster" (maximum configuration):
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1 - front inertial seat belts with force limiters
2 - height-adjustable upper belt mount
3 - three-point inertial rear belts
4 - frontal pillows
5 - side airbags in front
6 - head restraints of all seats
7 - damping shock dashboard
8 - cushioning element in the central rack
9 - shock absorbing floor element
10 - pillow control unit and shock sensors
11 - mount "isofix" in the back seat
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All-wheel drive cars inside are distinguished by a washer that switches transmission modes. In auto, the rear wheels are connected automatically when the front wheels slip, 2WD - front-wheel drive configuration for everyday driving, 4WD Lock - forced locking of the rear wheel coupling. The scheme is, perhaps, optimal: save fuel, and defeat off-road.
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We open the fifth door with a rather tight impressive button, in which the lock is built. Not the best solution for dirt roads, although probably the cheapest.
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We summarize: marketers, journalists, engineers made a lot of efforts to make a cheap car look more expensive. The deliberate brevity of the “Logan” in the Russian version of the crossover is partially masked. But, fortunately, “Duster” retained the spirit of simplicity and accessibility, it still does not have a single frankly superfluous element (the gas emphasis of the hood does not count). How much will this spirit be reflected in the price list? We assumed a price of 550-750 thousand rubles, exactly between the closest rivals - Chevrolet Niva and San Yong Aktion. If Renault with a price “guesses”, it will feed its competitors with dust. It will be missed - there is a risk that the Duster will just throw dust in the eyes. And in both cases - in full accordance with his name.
MANUFACTURER DATA
RENO-DASTER: TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE
- To some extent, his prototype in Russia was … Nissan X-Trail. The car was equipped with a dozen sensors, measuring equipment and offered several owners of such SUVs to live a week or two with a mobile laboratory. Take a ride to the country, go fishing, go to work - this is how statistically described the typical modes of the crossover. The obtained data formed the basis of the Russian settings of Duster.
- During the Russian adaptation of diesel modifications, specialists selected the four most disadvantaged gas stations and regularly refueled there. The engines suffered, and in our version, according to the results of the tests, the fuel equipment was modified. The first start-up is especially important for a diesel engine, which is why the engines will be run for a short time on ideal fuel at the plant in the Spanish Valladolid.
