The roll-out of the all-new Renault Duster marked a big milestone as it became the French carmaker’s first local model with a new energy powertrain.

The pioneering powertrain comes in the form of a 1,2ℓ turbo petrol engine with 48V mild hybrid technology, which produces 96kW of power and 230Nm of torque. It is offered alongside the 113kW/250Nm 1,3ℓ blown petrol mill that also serves on the Renault Captur.

A big setback, though, is the omission of the 1,5ℓ oil-burners, which has gone out of production.

Three models

Built in Romania alongside the Dacia Duster, the Renault-badged crossover/SUV is offered in three models locally. The 1,3ℓ models, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that sends the twist to the front wheels, are available in Zen and the top-spec Intens.

The mild hybrid, which features a 0,84kWh battery, is only offered in the Zen spec. It is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and comes standard with four-wheel drive (4WD).

The hybrid is claimed to only sip 5,7ℓ of petrol per 100km and the 1,3ℓ models 6,5ℓ/100km.

Bold new design

The all-new Renault Duster is a big visual improvement on the outgoing model. Exterior highlights include Y-shaped LED headlights, Renault branding on the front grille, Duster branding on the front door-mounted inserts, modular roof bars, flush rear door handles, cladding around the wheels and side protectors. Many of these have been made from recycled materials.

At the rear there are Y-shaped tail lights, sporty spoiler and Duster branding on the tailgate, while the dual-tone alloys wheels are offered in 17- or 18-inch.

The 4WD gets a metal skid plate and unique bumper design with better approach and departure angles.

Well-appointed cabin

The bold exterior design is continued inside through the Y-shape air vents and a good selection of finishes around the cabin. Standard equipment across the range includes 10-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, automatic wipers and e-shifter gear lever.

Standard safety features include six airbags, ISOFIX anchors for rear child seats, rear parking distance sensors, reverse camera and tyre pressure monitor. The Intens gets 360° camera and multi-sensors and blind-sport detection.

Lots of space

Leg room for the rear seats has increased by 33mm, while the 4WD has 30ℓ more boot space than before at 444ℓ. Boot space in the 4×2 models have decreased by 6ℓ to 472ℓ.

The all-new Renault Duster comes standard with the YouClip system: eight fixing points throughout the cabin on which accessories like a smartphone can be attached to.

The 4WD’s Terrain Control system features five driving modes: Eco,
Auto, Snow, Mud and Off-Road. The latter locks the system in sending power to all four wheels up until speeds of 60km/h.

What’s the verdict?

We got to sample the 4WD Duster in various conditions. It felt rock solid even at higher speeds traversing the farm roads through the Cape Winelands, while it conquered the dunes of Atlantis with ease.

Despite the loss of the diesel engines, the Renault Duster’s four-wheel drive capabilities still give it a unique edge in the segment. It does come at a premium though, as the line-up’s entry is almost R100 000 more than before.

Vehicle pricing

Duster 1.3T EDC 4×2 Zen R489 999
Duster 1.3T EDC 4×2 Intens R519 999
Duster 1.2T 6MT 4WD MHEV R549 999

Pricing includes a three-year / 45 000km service plan and a five-year / 150 000km warranty.

@farmersweeklysa Renault South Africa launched their all-new Duster 1.2T Hybrid Zen 4WD model. What’s your thoughts on this? #FarmersWeeklySA #Nampo2025 #agriculturetiktok #farmtok #renaultduster #suv ♬ original sound – Farmer’s Weekly SA