Renault Duster AWD 3,500km long term review

For the desperate need to extend the ever so short winter, we picked the long Holi weekend for a road trip to the town of Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh. Narkanda is about 60km and 1,000 feet above Shimla in the South Western ranges of the Himalayas. The higher altitude keeps this small town cooler for a longer period and lesser commercialization keeps it off the radar of the less adventurous tourist. So here’s a travel tip – pick a popular hill station and travel an hour or so further.

This time of year, the town is past its peak winter phase but as luck would have it, we were welcomed to a moderate snowfall once we passed Shimla. Snow and black ice make road conditions tricky so being at the wheel of a four-wheel-drive car is essential. You don’t need a full-fledged off-roader with a low ratio transfer case unless you are driving through more than a few inches of snow.

All you need is power to all four wheels, good ground clearance and gentle throttle inputs. The low ratios in the AWD Duster came to good use on some snow laden roads. While the lower ratios compared to the 2WD Duster make it a bit annoying off the block on tarmac, slow crawling on snow with ample reserve torque made the Duster AWD feel at home here.

That said, once on a highway, the Duster AWD has enough power to maintain high triple digit speeds. Even on mountain roads, the Duster can be a fast car when you want it to be. The independent suspension with near perfect damping for our road conditions keep it surefooted at all times. The annoying bit though is the traction control that refuses to stay off for more than half a minute. The Duster AWD picks ability over playfulness and that’s a pity for an enthusiast. Most owners wouldn’t mind it though as the sound of screeching tyres up or down a hill climb can be disconcerting for many.

Logbook

Date Acquired: January 14, 2014

Total km till date: 3477km, 2467km since last report

Fuel consumed till date: 268 litres, 192 litres since last report

Efficiency: 12.9kmpl (Avg), 14.5kmpl (best), 10.2kmpl (worst)

Cheers: Touring ability, ride quality, ruggedness, luggage space

Sneers: Poor rear seat cushioning, quality levels, lack of equipment 

Total Cost: Nil

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Renault Duster AWD 1000km long term review