Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC. Picture: Ray Leathern.

Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC review: In DUST we trust

Perennially underestimated, we take the Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC to the rugged Swartland to check it hasn’t lost its sense of adventure.

by Ray Leathern

07-10-2023 17:43

in Business

Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC. Picture: Ray Leathern.

My immediate preoccupation, however, is not with the R435 999 Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC’s future providence. Rather, it’s the breathtaking vista that’s got me all googly eyed. Mottled clouds fill an electric sky that’s about to storm, as I sit on the almost invisible Ondergeskikte road beneath Piekenierskloof Pass.

A small little slipway you probably never knew existed at the top of the tarmac pass leads you onto it. A beautiful sliver of gravel draped along the side of the Roggeveld mountain range has an uninterrupted view almost to the West Coast ocean.

ROBUST & RUGGED

Sat up here, I’m filled with the silly notion of hiding in plain sight. If some sort of disfiguring contagion were to overrun the Swartland, I get the sense I’d be safe here. The Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC would too. Just 240 km and a few hours from the city, there’s beauty to tickle every ocular rod and cone out here in the Swartland.

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We’ve just come via sleepy Riebeek Kasteel, through a warren of dirt roads past the working-class towns of Porterville and Gouda. Without wishing to disparage rank-and-file Cape Town tourists, there’s freedom and ruggedness to this landscape that might be lost on regular day-trippers. A fine location then for the Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC to paint its picture.

RENAULT DUSTER INTENS 4X2 EDC

As we know, the highly popular Duster is of Romanian descent, rebadged by the French and running sturdy Japanese mechanicals. In philosophy, this Renault-Nissan cross-pollination displays a rare kind of purity. The Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC, as previous iterations have done, represents the essence of an adventure SUV. Simple, pared down and no frills. An updated multimedia infotainment system brings some welcome colour and convenince to the dashboard. Otherwise, it’s business as usual for the dust-loving SUV.

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Bumping along corrugated tracks, up steep hills, down gravelly dales with long views and distant summits, the Renault Duster feels up for anything. There’s not so much as a sqwink from the dashboard or a judder in the nicely finished cabin. And any harsh vibrations from 1.5-litre diesel motor paired to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic are appreciable subdued.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

Except it’s not just some affable country bumpkin whose talents only lie in soaking up rough roads. Earlier, on-road, the torsion beam rear suspension showed great sophistication and there’s a wealth of response and economy from the 80 kW/250 Nm turbodiesel four cylinder. Renault claims it will consume 4.8 l/100 km on the combined cycle, but ours settled on a very useful 5.2 l/100 km. Our route completely ignored the N7, took us to the base of Roggeveld mountains. It was as good a test of any tjorrie you’ll find. And the Duster handled every scenario with aplomb.

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As we turned right off Piekenierskloof Pass onto the Ondergeskikte road below, we really left the day trippers in their Springbok Atlas busses behind. Navigating kilometre after kilometre of stunning mountain scenery with the Swartland spread out in front of us like a picture, we had to suppress the urge to stop at every panorama. Adorned with gravel hairpins and demanding off-camber 90-degree turns – it’s a stern test of any 4×2 vehicle. Thankfully the Renault Duster’s standard-fit sat-nav helped guide the way ahead.

HOW TOUGH IS THE DUSTER 4X2?

We explored the tricky route no problem thanks to 210 mm ground clearance. That said, the 4×4 model would have undoubtedly made lighter work of some rougher sections. Traditionally, less than 20% of Dusters sold are 4×4, so the 4×2 EDC has unequivocally cornered the market. Anyone who reckons the two-wheel drive Renault Duster is only a sniff more practical than a Sandero Stepway, should think again.

VERDICT

As the sun began to set and thunderstorm clouds greyed over our dusty Swartland adventure, we can confirm that Renault may have only slightly altered its styling, but the Duster’s robustness, clearances and excellent mechanical refinement keep it a cut above the rest.

THE FIGURES

Best for: Frugal, nimble, practical and the type of family car you don’t mind getting dusty.
Not so sure: A little noisy on a cruise. A few niceties you’ll go without, like lane-keeping assistance, etc.
Renault Duster Intens 4×2 EDC
Engine: 1 499 cc 4-cyl turbodiesel
Power: 80 kW, 250 Nm
Gearbox: 6-speed dual-clutch auto
0-100 km/h: 11.9 seconds (claimed)
Economy: 5.2 l/100 km (tested), 4.8 l/100 km (claimed/combined)
Tyres: Bridgestone Turanza 215/60 R17
dB measurement: 87.5 ave
Price: R435 999