How the second generation Duster passes the “moose test”
The second generation Duster has been on sale in Europe for several years now and is one of the most popular SUVs available. Although sales of the restyled version in our country are postponed indefinitely, the car remains the focus of many motorists. Not so long ago, in one of the discussions on the channel, the question was raised about the handling and maneuverability of the Duster, opinions were expressed that it was created for mud and bad roads, and the track and high speeds are not for him.
The fact is that in the new trim levels, the car is equipped with a 150 hp TCE 1.3 turbocharged engine and, in combination with 4 × 4 all-wheel drive, receives excellent dynamic characteristics that were not characteristic of it before. The owners note that with the new engine there is confidence in overtaking. Of course, the Duster does not pretend to be sporty with its angular body shape and sufficient aerodynamic drag, but it has become noticeably faster. This is where it is important that there is a balance, and the stability of the car coincides with its new dynamic capabilities.
Moreover, many people remember the results of the failed moose test of the first Duster. Ten years ago, the Dutch association ANWB, after testing, said that the Dacia Duster, which we sell under the Renault brand, can roll over during sharp maneuvers.
The car turned out to be uncontrollable – when turning, the crossover slid outward, simultaneously hanging two wheels at once – the car actually lost the ability to correct movement. The reasons for this behavior on the road were the rather high body of the SUV and the absence of the ESP system in the first cars. Later, the stabilization system appeared as standard and handling in corners improved markedly.
The second-generation Duster retained its former body shape, wheelbase and relatively comfortable suspension. And how does he cope with the passage of the moose test. This is a difficult test, during which the driver, moving at high speed, must avoid an obstacle that suddenly appears in his path. This is especially important for high bodies, such as SUVs, since the center of gravity of such vehicles is quite high.
Journalists of the KM77 edition decided to test how the new Duster behaves. A standard track was set up at a special training ground for passing the handling test. The testers found the car to be very predictable and stable right from the start of cornering at high speed.
There is no feeling of lack of control. On the contrary, the stabilization system is quite sensitive and begins to intervene quickly, but it does it very deliberately, making it possible to maintain complete control. The maximum speed that the car showed was 72 km / h, although this is not the maximum, it is a fairly good result. At a speed of 75 km / h, the Duster no longer fit into the conventional corridor and knocked down the extreme cones.
For comparison, on the same track, Renault Kadjar accelerated to 81 km/h, Volkswagen Tiguan 78 km/ha, Kia Sportage 74 km/h. But all these cars are higher class than the budget Duster.
It should be noted that the rolls in corners are quite strong, the design feature of the suspension affects, but the car remains under complete control.
ESP does its job, it not only slows down one or more wheels to control the behavior of the car in the event of a temporary loss of traction, but also reduces engine traction, the speed at the exit of the turn drops significantly. The electronics respond quickly to any instability and help keep moving on slippery road surfaces or in situations where one of the wheels loses traction.
What conclusions can be drawn. Do not expect sports prowess from Duster. The design of the car is still more designed for a calm, measured ride than for sharp maneuvering. Body roll is quite strong. The test was carried out on dry and warm pavement, if you add bad road conditions here, then the speed margin for sudden changes will be much less. ESP works well, but as long as the action of the laws of physics is enough, you should not rely on electronics at higher speeds.
The materials of the portal francuskie.pl were used