Fifteen years after the launch, the Dacia SUV is still at the top of the sales. Here are the reasons why it is so appreciated on the Italian market
Sometimes there are commercial results that the car manufacturers themselves struggle to explain themselves. A significant example can be that of Dacia Duster: in the first half of this year, 18,800 were sold in Italywhen the enrollments had been 25,000 in the entire 2024. The forecasts are therefore of a significant growth of the year, given that in the first six months the Duster was at Third place overall in sales to private individuals and leader among segment B SUVs (although its size place it almost at the limit with the C). Despite the fact that it is a model that, although deeply renewed, has been available for fifteen years now. Natural, therefore, that Renault Italy also interrogates itself on the reasons for this success, with the intention of keeping it unchanged as long as possible. And it is precisely from the investigations periodically conducted between customers who emerge interesting aspects.
Low cost farewell
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In 2018, in fact, the research carried out among the buyers of the Duster had brought out how the low price was the first reason for their choice; The most recent study, carried out on the third generation of the car, instead saw this motivation slip in fifth place, supplanted at the top of the ranking by appreciation for design. A lever that applies to many other car manufacturers, because in the end you almost always buy the cars that are considered most similar to your tastes, but which previously did not seem to work for the Dacia. And the fact that it was merely a low cost product was replaced by the concept of “Value for money”: The cars of this brand are not chosen for their low price, but because they offer a lot to competitive figures in terms of content. Among which, in addition to space, practicality and comfort, the technology of motorizations also emerges today, which ranges from the welcome Bifuel Petrol/LPG power supply (with an autonomy reaches 1,400 km, thanks to the two tanks) the Mild hybrid and the full one, up to all -wheel drive. Behind the flattering sales results of the Duster, therefore, there is today a mix of motivations, which is inspired by the stylistic turning point impressed on the brand by De Meo during his guidance of the Renault group, but which widens to a much wider range of characteristics.
To the road test
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To better understand these dynamics, it was useful to get back at the wheel of the latest generation of Duster, the third in chronological order, tasting their behavior on a road route and (briefly) in off -road vehicle organized in the Bergamo Val Brembana. The current range, articulated on the CMF-B platform of the Renault group, provides three types of propulsion. At the base is there The ECO G 100 with bifuel-benzine/LPG feeding of the 3 -cylinder turbo engine from one liter of cubic and power of 100 HP; Then continue with another supercharged 3 cylinders (used on the TCE 130), but 1.2 -liter and with 130 HP, electrified with a 48 volt scheme and 0.8 kWh battery, which can be associated with front -wheel drive or wholemeal one. Finally, the Hybrid 140 is placed at the top, equipped with a 4 -cylinder aspirated 1,600 cm3 with 141 HP, associated with the automatic transmission and a full hybrid scheme with 1.2 kWh battery, recharged by the recovery of energy during slowing down and capable of ensuring up to 80% of urban driver in fully electric mode (so much so that it can boast a mixed consumption approved by 5 km/l). Of this articulated range we had The ability to put us behind the wheel of the Eco-G LPG and the TCE 130 4×4both equipped with a six -speed manual gearbox, once again appreciating their effectiveness and functionality. Although it is not very bright cars, as is understood by the power and pair of the engines (but the mass contained in a scissor between 1,308 and 1,346 kg in terms of travel in this sense is helpful), both dusters move with ease even when the road begins to rise; It is enough, sometimes, to resort to the gearbox, perhaps to disengage in the overtaking. The hard plastics of some interior finishes are reflected an adequate multimedia system, with 10.1 -inch touch screen and compatibility with Apple Carplay and Android Auto; The instrumentation is collected in a 7-inch screen, while connectivity is also guaranteed by two retro-clay-off USB-C sockets and the wireless charging plate of smartphones.
Bergamo paths
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The short off-road test conducted with the 4×4 version made it possible to appreciate the effectiveness of all-wheel drive and Terrain control systemwhich provides five driving modes (cars, snow, mud/sand, off-road and eco); Thanks to the distribution of 50-50% of the traction between front and rear axle, the good attack and output angles (31 and 36 degrees), at the corner of Dosso of 24 degrees and a height from the ground of 217 mm (empty), we were able to face a rather rough uphill cyit Of course we are not talking about a hard off -road vehicle, that Duster has never wanted to be, but the mountain huts or the houses spers in the countryside can be easily reached, even when the bottom becomes muddy for the rain or covers snow. To help, in certain situations, are also the external protections Made of Starklea material patented by Dacia that takes 20% of recycled plastic, not painted and resistant to scratches, practical as much as the interiors, covered with washable saddles and associated with mats in recycled materials. As for prices, Duster is offered in four set-ups (Essential, Expression, Journey and Extreme) with a price list from 19,900 euros of the Essential Eco-G 100 and reaches 28,150 euros of the Extreme Mild Hybrid 130 4×4 and Hybrid 140, the latter in the Journey or Extreme set-up.
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