Dacia has unveiled a refreshed version of the Duster SUV for 2021. The revised model will go on sale later this summer, sporting some styling changes and a bit more technology, which the brand hopes will keep the car ahead of other budget offerings like the MG ZS.
Dacia has not yet confirmed the price or the equipment level structure for the new Duster, but we expect the car to stay close to its current value proposition. As such, the base version should be priced around $11,500.
Styling updates include a new radiator grille and some new headlights, which share the same Y-shaped LED daytime running lights as the latest Dacia Sandero. There’s also a new rear spoiler and some redesigned alloy wheels, available in 16 or 17 inches.
Dacia says all these updates have been designed to make the revised Duster a bit more aerodynamic than its predecessor. They combine with some efficiency tweaks (such as lower-friction wheel bearings and new tires) and contribute to a 5.8 g/km reduction in CO2 emissions on the four-wheel-drive model.
The Duster’s interior has received a more notable redesign, with Dacia introducing new upholstery and slimmer headrests, which the company claims are more ergonomic and allow for better visibility. There’s also a new central console, featuring a couple of USB sockets, a 1.1-liter storage compartment, and a retractable armrest.
Buyers also get a bit more standard equipment across the range. Each variant features a trip computer screen, automatic high-beam activation, and a speed limiter. Temperature control, cruise control, heated front seats, and keyless entry are also available.
Dacia has also installed a new eight-inch infotainment system, which can be specified with two levels of support technology. The first, called Media Display, adds a six-speaker stereo, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, and a couple of USB sockets.
The Media Display package also includes wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while cars equipped with Media Nav get an integrated satellite navigation system and wireless smartphone connectivity.
Dacia has not altered the Duster’s engine range much. It still focuses on the brand’s turbocharged TCe petrol engines, starting with the three-cylinder, 1.0-liter TCe 90 (89bhp) and the four-cylinder, 1.3-liter TCe 130 (128bhp). Both units come with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox.
The top petrol in the range is the TCe 150 with 148 hp, sharing the same 1.3-liter unit as the TCe 130. It also has front-wheel drive but is only available with a new six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
There’s still a diesel option in the range: the four-cylinder, 1.5-liter dCi 115 with 113 bhp. It’s available with a six-speed manual gearbox only, but buyers can choose between front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Dacia will also continue to offer the car with an LPG-compatible powertrain, called Bi-Fuel.
It is based on the brand’s three-cylinder, 1.0-liter petrol engine and features front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. The setup now comes with a larger petrol tank than before, and when filled with both petrol and LPG, the Bi-Fuel offers a range of over 760 miles. It also produces a bit more power than its pure petrol stablemate, offering 99bhp.
