More Bang For Your Bucks

The new and improved Renault Duster keeps impressing, and it’s affordable to boot.

- Stephen Smith

R255 900. That’s the entry price of the Duster range, and it speaks of the incredible value that this family-sized SUV offers. But it doesn’t tell the whole story of why the Duster has done so well for Renault locally (more than 15 000 units sold in South Africa since launch in 2013), and why it is still one of my best buys in the current car market. I’ve had a few adventures in Dusters – I drove one across Lesotho before they were launched locally, I’ve taken one fishing in the Midlands, and I’ve driven one to the farm on occasion. Every time I’m reminded of what a good country-life car this is, with an unrivalled ‘adventure for buck’ ratio.

This latest test car didn’t get to adventure, but did the tar thing every day, commuting and going back and forth from the hospital as Emily spent some time there producing our second child and getting to grips with her. So this time there are no fun photos of the Duster making use of its off-road potential, or its adventurous spirit, but at least I got to do with the Duster what most of its owners do on a daily basis.

A few months ago, the Duster was given a modernising and aesthetically revitalising facelift, and everyone who bought a Duster just before then must be quietly sobbing into their bowl of oats every morning.