The small and light Dacia Duster was one of the biggest success stories made by the Renault car-maker. It was introduced to the public at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
Dacia is a Romanian brand and it was bought by the Renault car-manufacturer in 1999. Previously, the Romanian brand built a licensed Renault 12. After the acquisition, the French management decided to build an affordable 4x4 SUV. And the result exceeded expectations.
The Dacia Duster was sold around the world as Renault Duster in Russia or South America or as a Nissan Terrano in India. Its round but the rugged look was appealing for customers. A slightly curved front end, a cabin with room for five, and a flat end were some of the car's external features.
Inside, the cloth seats could have been upgraded to man-made leather. The instrument cluster and the dashboard were inspired by other Renault and Dacia products. Depending on the trim level, it was available with manual or power windows, but no sunroof or climate control. It featured only air-conditioning.
From the technical point of view, the four-wheel independent suspension for the 4x4 model was a good addition, while the FWD version featured a trailing arm system. For the engines, the Duster was available with a 1.6-liter gasoline unit or with a 1.5-liter diesel. For the transmission, the Duster featured a 6-speed manual.
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