My Dacia Duster turbo: Why I've become a fan after a year of driving it

One thing I’ve come to appreciate about the Duster is its simplicity. It doesn’t have fancy screens, high-tech gadgets, or unnecessary features.

BHPian PJ1987 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

30,000 km Update – A Duster Convert!

I recently crossed 30,000 km in my company-provided Dacia Duster. Back when the Renault Duster was available in India, I never even considered it as an option when we were looking to upgrade our car. I just didn’t get the appeal. But now, after spending a year with the Duster, I finally understand why it has such a loyal following.

Learning to Love the Gearbox

In my previous post, I had criticized the gearbox. To be fair, this was the first automatic I had properly driven, apart from a short test drive of the MG Astor. I didn’t really have a point of comparison. Initially, I struggled because I was unknowingly driving it the wrong way—my mind and muscle memory were still tuned to a manual.

Once I adapted, I realized that the Duster’s DCT is actually very good. The only quirk is that if you floor the accelerator from very low RPMs, there’s a slight delay in response. But once I adjusted my driving style, I found the shifts to be smooth and seamless.

I never saw the point of using manual mode in an automatic before, but after trying it out, I fell in love with it. Now, I often shift to manual just for the fun of it!

A Manual Purist Turned Automatic Fan

I used to be a die-hard manual gearbox fan. Whenever my friends talked about buying an automatic, I would argue that they were missing out on the "real" driving experience. But after covering nearly 30,000 km in an automatic, I get it.

Long drives used to leave me with knee pain (a side effect of being on the wrong side of 30, I suppose). But with this automatic, I genuinely enjoy long trips. Last month, I drove from Adana to Ankara and Adana to Trabzon, and despite the long hours, I didn’t feel any discomfort. I think I’ve officially converted—I now see automatics as just as enjoyable as manuals.

The Beauty of Simplicity

One thing I’ve come to appreciate about the Duster is its simplicity. It doesn’t have fancy screens, high-tech gadgets, or unnecessary features. Initially, when thinking about my next car, I wanted a big touchscreen, a 360-degree camera, a panoramic sunroof, and all the latest tech. But after driving the Duster, I’ve realized that I don’t actually need all that.
This car has only a basic radio/USB player (without a screen!) and a reversing sensor. And you know what? That’s more than enough. There’s nothing complicated that can break down. The car is solid, reliable, and well-built.

Back home in India, I drive an i20 Active, which has a reversing camera, a decent media screen, and all the reasonable tech a 6-year-old car had at that time. The only feature I truly miss from that car is auto-folding ORVMs, but even that isn’t necessary in Turkey, where the streets are wider. Give me a good car with a reversing sensor and auto-folding mirrors, and I’m happy.

Ride and Handling

The Duster is genuinely fun to drive. It handles bad roads well, with a suspension that soaks up bumps without any harsh jolts. The car remains stable even at high speeds (I manage to hit 195 km/h on the speedo regularly) and it felt solid.

In one year, the only issues I’ve faced were three or four punctures (luckily, all happened while I was at the office, so they didn’t ruin any trips). Other than that, the car has been trouble-free.

Final Thoughts – Should You Consider the New Renault Duster?

With the new Renault Duster launching in India this year or next, I strongly recommend people give it a serious look. It’s a mechanically solid vehicle, and if it retains the same qualities as the one I’ve driven, it’s worth considering.

But overall, I’m really impressed with the Dacia Duster. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think my next car will be an automatic!



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