Photography and words done by Brent vd Schyff

With its mega fuel-efficient nature and practicality, the Duster is an unsung hero in the compact SUV game for everyday usage and those weekend warriors out there. We spent a week with it to test it out.

Most times, leading up to race day, I’d spend a fair deal of time, frustration, and money on fuel, lugging about sets of race wheels, fuel drums, and tools in my hatchback VW Scirocco. When the time came when I’d have the Renault Duster 1.5 dCi 4x2 EDC Intens for the week, the transition to stress-free practicality and commuting came with a breath of fresh air. Almost to the point where I started questioning myself as to just why I put myself under this stress every other week. It was a great example of how easy SUV life could be, and the Renault Duster showed that.

About that efficiency

Manufacturers have done that with the SUV, and this Intens version of the Duster is a prime example. It’s nearly impossible to dislike them despite their departure from the enthusiast-focused machines drivers like myself fell in love with. I must have covered almost 700 km in my week with the Duster. Five hundred of which saw the fuel gauge hardly moving. The Duster’s frugal nature, thanks to pairing the 1.5dCi diesel motor with the EDC auto 6-Speed, delivers a stress-free week, not missing a beat. At the claimed efficiency figures of 5.2 litres/100 (We managed 6.2 litres over our time, which is super impressive), It’s the type of car that you set a budget and stick to it, and in this day and age with rising costs coming from every line item on your household budget, especially for families, having a car like that this is reassuring.

A note on the practicality

Multiple trips to my local Air Field to lug 25litre drums of fuel in and out together with tools and race gear that takes up much of the 478 litres of available boot volume at disposal (I had so much more available, and I hadn’t put the seats down just yet), traversing rain-soaked gravel roads and deteriorated highways in something as comfortable made it quite bearable. All this while fitting in multiple consultation visits for work.

The torque delivery is impressive thanks to the low rev range delivery and the suitable gearing; you quickly get up to highway speeds and need to check yourself before breaching those all-important limits; otherwise, you could face some issues with the law. The delivery is that seamless. Granted, I may not have been carrying two passengers most of the time, but on the occasion I did, the capacity of the Duster was more than up to the task.

What’s it like living on the inside?

When stepping inside the Renault, don’t let the material cloth seats detract you away from the experience. The comfort levels are great, given the amount of driving I did; the driver seat remained comfortable throughout. I sure did feel taken care of. The finishes tick the boxes for a car in this segment and speak more to the utility attributes of the Duster and not some prissy city-slicker car (Although  it can do that too). Something that I particularly prefer, even though I know some buyers out there would prefer something less basic. In my view, Renault has nailed the aspect that this is a working vehicle but isn’t basic. It’s a soft touch experience but not too soft. It’s basic but not too basic. That is my view.

Space on the inside is ample, and with the rear seats folded, it becomes even more remarkable for surfboards, bikes and offering up your services as the cousin who can help move. The Duster’s trump card is the 478-litre boots space, meaning that those weekend adventures could cater for multiple outfit changes and all the additional camping gear to be packed that you won’t end up using.

All the creature comforts are there for the long voyage, including aircon, cruise control, and Apple and Android car play, and the standard sound system is good enough to drown out any whining kids from the back. Speaking of which, there are ISOfix mounts for car seats in the rear. Multi-view and reversing cameras come with this model, which does the job.

How does it drive?

The excellent vantage point from the driver’s seat gives you a clear panoramic view of your surroundings while feeling not too disconnected from the road. Road noise is slightly higher than other premium cars, but it’s not a deal breaker. Again, Renault has managed the balance here.

The steering feel is light and somewhat agile, and I’m convinced that this 2x4 version is the one I want for everyday driving over the 4x4 version. Even on the open road, with some weight (approx. 140kg) in the storage compart, and one passenger, the acceleration to highway speeds and cadence over the steeper climbs was smooth and not labour intensive for the 4-pot Turbo Diesel engine.

On the safety feature side, the ABS brakes work well for the car, even under heavy braking with load.

Overlanding ambitions

There’s some question about whether you’d choose the 4x4 over the 4x2 Duster. It might come down to personal preference, but depending on your everyday driving requirements, the two-wheel drive version worked well, and given the vast accessibility of gravel roads in SA, you could easily traverse into the Tankwa with this and do Ouberg 2 pass into Sutherland. Plus, the marginal fuel economy benefit of the 2-wheel drive version versus the 4x4 model might suit your pocket if most of your driving is city bound with the odd weekend expedition.

There is some lightweight capacity on the roof rails where you could easily replace the load bin for a lightweight rooftop tent and go exploring the greater depths or opt for a roof rack instead for additional packing space for fuel jerry cans and storage and an extra spare tyre if you’re that serious about adventuring on a budget. And hey, full disclosure, sometimes it’s nice to know that you can even though you know you won’t.

Again, with the 205mm ground clearance and lightness of the vehicle, your ability to venture is just as good as any 4x2 without having to spend the money that more expensive 4x2 bakkies attract and face it if you’re not loading product into the back of a bakkie, this SUV is way more practical.

The Duster comes with a gross towing weight of 1200kg, so if you were thinking of using it to move dirt bikes around for weekend warrior aspirations, you’d be covered. A camping trailer could quickly be hitched on the rear if the great outdoors is your thing.

In summary

The Renault Intens offers excellent value for money in a world where budgets are squeezed, and everyone deserves to have the economic benefits of fuel-efficient and affordable capabilities cars priced well above this segment have. The Renault Duster 2x4 Intens EDC is that car, and whether you’re considering an upgrade option, you’ll be well taken care of. If you’re on the other side of the fence looking to shift from a more premium brand option, you’ll be just as well taken care of with little compromise. The Duster is a great value-for-money option that should definitely be on your shortlist.

Likes

-       Insanely good fuel economy

-       Practicality on a budget

-       Diesel motor that offers assurance of efficiency and (some) performance

 Dislikes

-  Some may find the interior a bit too basic

Specs:

Price: R422,999

Power: 66kW 210Nm

Fuel Consumption: 4.8L/100km

Max Speed: 155km/h

Warranty: 150 000km 5 years