Renault Duster AMT Long Term Review
The Renault Duster AMT might lack the fun due to lazy shifts but adds significantly to convenience of driving in traffic
The facelifted Renault Duster joined the MotorBeam long term fleet a few months back and Javeid has been driving it. It’s equipped with the Easy-R AMT automatic gearbox which means everyone else in the team pretty much stays away from this compact SUV, afterall, we love our stick shifts. Last week, I planned a trip with my friends to Shillim (ahead of Lonavala) and took out the long term Ford Figo.
The Renault Duster, in spite of its age, doesn’t look dated anymore
Just after leaving the house, I encountered a bad pothole and even though speeds were less, the Figo’s front left tyre immediately deflated. A quick 10 minute workout to swap it with the stepney and a quick visit to the near tyre repair shop resulted in the punctured tyre deemed useless, it had multiple cuts along the sidewall and couldn’t be repaired. As desperate times call for desperate measures, I was left with no option but to swap the Figo with the Duster and boy what a right decision it was. Because en route, I encountered such bad roads that the Figo’s other tyres too would have given way. Most of us question the compact SUV category, believe me, that very day changed my perception completely.
The interior is a much better place in the facelifted model but many things could have been better
You see, road builders have been cheating the public since a long time by making sub quality roads and every year as soon as the monsoon arrives, roads in Mumbai are akin to the craters on the moon. It’s at such a time that you realise that a car with a good ride quality and high ground clearance is the need of the hour and somehow under the Rs. 20 lakh price bracket, no other vehicle feels as indestructible as the Renault Duster (Tata Safari Storme aside). The ride quality of the Duster is just phenomenal and it glides over most roads, heck, you can even drive over a series of potholes without having to worry about the tyres getting punctured or cut. While the Hyundai Creta too has a good ride, it can’t match the French vehicle in the handling department, so if you are looking for ride and handling balance, look no further than the Duster.
The AMT is the choice, only and only if you want an automatic, not for enthusiasts
The facelifted model does look better than its predecessor but all those tweaks on the exterior haven’t uplifted the car’s persona much although the blackened alloy wheels do give it a sporty feel. Step inside, the improvements are much better, the cabin no longer feels cheap and build to a cost although it still doesn’t feel premium enough as expected at this price. It definitely could do with more equipment considering how hatchbacks costing half the price offer more features.
The Renault Duster is quite frugal even with an autobox, returns 13 km/l
The biggest USP of the Duster is the ride quality and rugged feel that it offers
However, the bigger gripe I have with the Renault Duster is the lack of storage space, the one atop the dashboard is good but not enough and there is no cubby hole near the handbrake so where do you keep your phone? Certainly not in the cubby hole right under the dashboard because that’s for toll chain and receipts and maybe house keys. The glovebox too isn’t that big and I definitely need more storage space because the cubbyhole above the glovebox is keeping sunglasses. While the doors feel tough and rugged, build quality isn’t that great as I can hear rattles from the front left of the dashboard. Also, the seat somehow comes ahead everytime you brake hard, it doesn’t fix itself to the bottom of the mount and our car’s rear seat belts are missing!
For this price, Renault should have considered a dual-clutch automatic
NVH levels have definitely improved on the Renault Duster, it feels so smooth to drive and while I was staying away from the car because of its AMT gearbox, it proved to be quite a boon because with the pothole ridden roads of Mumbai-Pune, traffic was at its all time peak, so driving in stop-go traffic was a breeze although the brakes have too sharp a bite, more so when coming to a complete halt. The gearbox is just too jerky when you floor the pedal and you can feel like you hit a wall everytime there is an upshift at full pelt.
The brakes aren’t great because bite at stopping speeds is too sharp
That said, if you aren’t the kind who will drive the Renault Duster at its full steam, you won’t care two hoots about the AMT box and its inherent lag. Just drive the car sedately and the gearbox will seldom bother you. But for the enthusiasts out there, Renault should have considered the dual-clutch automatic because people will be willing to pay for it in a car that costs this much. Maybe the next generation of the Duster will address these issues, till then, there is nothing that offers driving feel and comfort like a Renault Duster, just not the AMT though.
The Duster’s biggest win is the balance between ride, handling and steering feel
Further Reading –
2016 Renault Duster Facelift Review
2016 Renault Duster Facelift Video Review
Renault Duster 2WD Review
Renault Duster AWD Review
Renault Duster Long Term Review
Renault Duster vs Nissan Terrano
Renault Duster vs Ford EcoSport
Renault Duster vs Ford EcoSport Video
Renault Duster vs Nissan Terrano vs Ford EcoSport
Mega SUV Shootout
Renault Duster vs Hyundai Creta vs Mahindra XUV500
Renault Duster AWD vs Tata Safari Storme vs Mahindra Scorpio
Maruti S-Cross vs Ford EcoSport vs Renault Duster
Renault Duster vs Hyundai Creta vs Mahindra XUV500 – Video