Renault Duster AWD 7500km long term review

As adventurous as you might want to be, a 4WD car still had to do its on-road duties well. The Duster AWD is a pain in the City due to its short gearing but take it for a long distance highway run and the Compact SUV comes into its own. This month, we took the Duster to Lucknow, about 550km from Delhi for a quick weekend trip. 

While the distance seems like a full day drive, the open and less trafficked highways of Uttar Pradesh help you get to the Nawabi City in about 7-8 hours of easy driving, six hours without a stop and a tank full of fuel. High triple digit speeds in the Duster for hours is completely manageable for extended periods as the independent suspension irons out all road imperfections to give you a tireless driving experience. There is no need to slow down for undulations and small potholes. 

There are a few things I’d like the car to have though – climate control and a better paint job. When cars half the Duster’s price can offer Climate control, it’s annoying to fiddle with the aircon nobs to get the temperature right all the time, especially now in the peak of summer. The paint of the Duster after three months is starting to look a bit dull. What I’ve noticed is it is way too susceptible to cleaning marks and light scratches. Constant upkeep will be required to keep the Duster shining through a year or so down the line. 

The efficiency is impressive at cruising speeds. I got figures as high as 15.5kmpl on my drive to Lucknow but regular use thereafter brought that figure down to a 13kmpl average. This month, the Duster was also our able tracking car for a long list of photoshoots. A large boot to carry all equipment and the steady ride has made Preetam a happy man behind the Lens. Keeping pace with faster cars is easy when you don’t have to bother about the road surface, again bringing to light the ideal suspension setup we’d like to have in a car. 

At the price of the Duster AWD, there are more than a handful of options from sedans to SUVs to MUVs, but none has the versatility of the Duster. It may not be the most luxurious, feature rich or attractive car at its price, but it sure is the most capable for our conditions.

Logbook

Date Acquired: January 14, 2014

Total km till date: 7500km, 3523km since last report

Fuel consumed till date: 539 litres, 271 litres since last report

Efficiency: 13kmpl (Avg), 15.5kmpl (best)

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

Sneers: Paint quality, no climate control

Total Cost: Nil

Also Read:

Renault Duster 1,000km long term review

Renault Duster 3,500km long term review