“And we’re good to go!” These are the words we harken to when everything required to be prepared is done and things are in place for something extraordinary to take place. Something similar is the case with the Renault Duster right now as it gets a makeover for 2022 model year. This car has already withstood compact SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Ford Ecosport, Honda HR-V, Nissan Kicks and the Mazda CX-3 since its introduction in the region almost a decade ago. It was powerful and offered appreciable amount of tech, features and space for a minuscule sum of money. While it was always a jack of all trades, but a master of none, it gets refurbishments, salient ones to make up for a solid synopsis. Say hello to this update as it brings only what was required but fills the gaps to let the car continue to narrate its sweet folk which has led people have penchant for it.
The same butch, upright and minimalistic visual traits are reflected in this model. However, one would award it praise for the fact that it is one of the few SUVs with traditional SUV looks in a race where manufacturers are going all guns blazing to make their Duster opponents look as stylish and youthful as possible. Signature Renault grille highlighted with a chrome strip on the borders and a massive trapezoidal bumper outline for portly visual appeal are its nuances. On the side, flared fenders, 17” diamond-cut alloy wheels and a raked waist line are occult design cues which work for its purposeful posture. The rear however, is vanilla with its boxy shape but gets chrome treatment for the exhaust and a slab of chrome to swathe the bumper for a slightly aggressive look.
The interior ambience has oodles of positives to talk about. Beginning with the chunky multi-function steering wheel, it gets a dual-tone theme of beige and black for the dashboard. Eyes first project the touchscreen infotainment system which houses functions for reverse camera, settings, radio, phone and navigation. Chunky knobs at the bottom of the dash for climate control and some switches below it in a structured manner for additional functions are present.
Where it scores many brownie points, is in the features department. A one-touch button which adjusts the seats and steering wheel according to your preset preferences is a clever touch and likely a segment-first too. The ergonomically designed dash can activate reverse camera when needed for easy reversing and parking. Other features include electronic stability program, blind-spot warning, automatic climate control, rear AC vents and cruise control. Such nifty features are essential for any contemporary vehicle. The most advanced gismos include speed limiter with cruise control and a high-tech remote key using which the engine can start even if the driver doesn’t press the push button start/stop but is away in the nearby proximity. This can also be used to pre-cool the car by switching the AC on to get rid of the scalding summer heat.
Its adequately robust 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with 135 hp and 195 Nm of torque make the car clock the triple digit barrier in a slouch-like 13.2 seconds but are enough for the normal inter-city commutes.
The Duster can be booked by reaching out to your local Arabian Automobiles company showroom in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates. It still manages to carve a fantastic case for itself even when the competition has climbed up so fast. To summarise it, this SUV should definitely be taken a look at when making your decision.
