Yahoo Autos 2024 Dacia Duster Is a Cheap but Stylish Off-Road SUV
Dacia, owned by Renault, has revealed a new Duster, which appears to carry on the same cheap-but-capable mantra of the outgoing model.
The new Duster looks far more distinctive, however, with expressive lighting and a tough stance.
The Duster comes with two different hybrid powertrains as well as an unusual one that can run on gasoline and liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
It may share its name with a 1970s Plymouth muscle car, but the Dacia Duster is a very different beast. This compact SUV from the Romanian Renault subsidiary has been a massive success in Europe since its launch in 2010, with 2.2 million units built so far, as it has carved out a reputation as an affordable off-roader. The new 2024 Duster looks to maintain that status while adding a healthy dose of style to the mix. Unfortunately, it won't be sold in America.
Fresh Design
The outgoing Duster wasn't ugly, but it certainly looked anonymous. The new design is chiseled and assertive, with bold Y-shaped graphics in the headlights and taillights. Front and rear skid plates protect important powertrain components and the all-terrain character is enhanced by beefy wheel arches. The Extreme trim (show in these photos) features copper accents.
Dacia describes the black trim as a "belt" that shields the vehicle from dents and dings, wrapping from the bumpers around the sides and up the front edge of the front doors. This trim is fashioned from a new material developed by Dacia called Starkle, which contains up to 20 percent reused polypropylene. It is left unpainted, reducing the vehicle's carbon footprint, and Dacia says the lack of paint makes scratches less noticeable. Around 20 percent of all of the plastic in the Duster is recycled, and Dacia touts the eco-friendly merits of the lack of decorative chrome and real leather (also a convenient way to keep costs low). Even the user manual uses less paper than before.
Inside, the cabin blends Dacia's down-to-earth, low-cost feel with modern elements that prevent it from feeling like a dour econobox. The use of straight lines and sharp angles brings a visual robustness that is backed up by a washable fabric upholstery on the Extreme trim and rubber floor mats, 20 percent of which come from recycled materials.The air vents borrow the Y-shaped motif from the headlights, and the 10.1-inch central touchscreen is angled toward the driver and supplemented by a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster.
