During Dacia’s presentation of its 2023 sales results in Portugal, we had our first opportunity to see the new Dacia Duster.
Although its launch is still a few months away - it goes on sale in May, with order books opening in March - its brief stop in Portugal allowed for an initial, static in-person viewing.
Pricing has not been confirmed yet. Even so, the brand’s representatives say figures will be announced soon, and the early signals could be encouraging.
First impressions
Dacia has kept the overall proportions of the previous generation, but paired them with the sharper lines of the brand’s latest design language. Styling is always subjective, yet the consensus seems clear: the Dacia Duster is moving in the right direction.
The new look is not entirely unfamiliar because the 2024 Duster closely follows the Bigster concept revealed in 2021. As with Dacia’s current line-up, the new Duster is built on the CMF-B platform.
Better inside (again)
If the changes are obvious on the outside, they are even more pronounced in the cabin. With each new generation, Dacia uses the opportunity to upgrade an interior that began as fairly basic, steadily bringing it closer to what competitors offer.
The central screen is now 10.1-inch and sits at the top of the dashboard, angled slightly towards the driver, which greatly improves access and usability. In the previous model it was positioned much lower. The on-screen graphics also look noticeably more modern.
The very practical rotary knobs for climate control have been left behind with the last generation. However, the Romanian brand has kept physical controls, now in button form - not as easy to use, but still preferable to relying solely on the screen.
The cabin appears spacious and functional, with plenty of storage areas. As expected, most surfaces are still made from hard plastics, though Dacia has used different textures to make them more pleasing to the eye.
Electrification arrives on the 2024 Duster
Thanks to the new platform, there are several new developments on the powertrain front.
For the first time, the Dacia Duster will no longer be offered with a Diesel engine. In its place comes a 140 hp hybrid. It is not the only electrified option either: the Duster will also be available with a 48 V mild-hybrid system.
The bi-fuel ECO-G engine - which accounts for six out of every 10 cars sold by Dacia in Portugal (2023 data) - looks set to be among the most in-demand choices once again. With two 50-litre tanks, one for petrol and the other for LPG, it claims a range of up to 1300 km.
To find out more details about the new Dacia Duster, follow the link below.
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