Anyone rented a 4x4 Duster for Mk pistes?
 

How was it?
If nothing else the angles look good.

We haven't (yet), however we rented in Iceland for a 5 week trip, and chose a Tucson, knowing that the angles and clearance were marginal at best. It did OK, and forded the access routes into Landmannalaugur (from both directions) OK, as well as being adequate for the main F roads. However it was too low to get very far into Þórsmörk.

The point of this being that we saw a fair number of Dusters, had a look at one more closely, and decided that the next time we'd try one. They do look capable.

PS: we rented the Tucson rather than a bigger vehicle because the latter were twice the price, which was already not cheap(!).

Thanks.
I think we rented a Tucson somewhere once. Sounds familiar.
According to this:
https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/com...ster-2013-suv/
Duster has another 1.5" of clearance.
On gnarlier pistes that and angles are what matters.

Was out last week in a well used Prado TX. 3 x the price.
A lot of scrapes and thuds down MA6, Jebel Timouka.

(Both are auto diesels - a new thing since I last drove a small 4x4).

Not sure how helpful this is, but the Agents Rurals (forestry police) use them here, and they have to get along some pretty rough old donkey trails that larger 4x4s struggle with

Here in Southern Spain the Duster is very popular in the farming communities and spend most of their time on pistes similar to Maroc. I would think you would be happy with it :D

https://fireandice-apandemicescape.b...nd_80.html?m=1Yes - we were working our way into Þórsmörk and it was slow going to avoid dinging the underside. After covering around 20 km from the "main" road we realised that unless the track improved we were not going to get anywhere soon. A Prado with a lift showed up in the other direction. We said hello and exchanged pleasantries, then asked how the track was further on, the driver said that it was much the same and that we needed 35 cm minimum clearance. The Tucson has 17 cm! We stayed to enjoy the surroundings for a while and then headed back...

Made it to the lighthouse at the point on the alleged "Worst Road in Europe" however...

- tried adding a photo but I am clearly incompetent. Here's a link to the post - the photo of the "worst road in Europe" is the last one in the post.

https://fireandice-apandemicescape.b...nd_80.html?m=1

Hi I owned a 4x4 duster for three years......they are very capable off road vehicles . They have a six speed box 1st being a crawler gear . Tons of engine braking for coming down hills . It's heavier then the 2wd version so fuel consumption is a little worse . Also it gets a spare wheel so the boot is slightly smaller . The 1.5dci has tons of poke too . I drove it off piste in maroc , mostly flat piste tbh and I think it stayed in 2wd.......it is selectable btw . It would have to b seriously bad terrain to bog down in one......but that's going to depend on ur driving skills I would suggest . We used to go lamping with mine and u wouldn't believe some of the terrain it went thru......again it depends on u having a look before u go wading in. I wouldn't hesitate to hire one........

I just took one round the backstreets in Marrakech.
Seems nice enough; clutch is a bit heavy but not driven a manual for years.
There is a rotary switch on the dash to go from FrWD to 4WD and '4WD Lock'.
Not sure what '4WD Lock' means unless '4WD' has some slippery coupling for road driving. Afaik, part time doesn't have a central diff, but maybe I am behind the times.
There is no Low Range; as mentioned by chris, 1st is unusually low. Can't say I noticed it was that low but you'd hope it'll do the trick and spare the clutch. Looking forward to renting one later in the winter.

Out of curiosity I looked it up, the "4WD Lock" locks the front-rear power delivery 50/50 up to 60kph, the auto 4x4 mode is FWD and the rear only kicks in if the front is slipping

Chris,
The Duster is usually sold with a crap temporary tyre repair kit rather than a proper spare wheel and tyre. You can probably pick up a proper spare at the local wrecker or,better still get the renter to arrange it for you if they will bier

I can't speak for other countries but the 4x4 version comes with a proper spare in the UK.....hence the smaller boot capacity......well my 2016 version did anyway .

In relation to the selectable 4wd button......the manual explains what to select and on what terrain .

We rented one. Didn't get much done but pretty impressive for what it was.
Lightness makes such a big difference and great value for money too.
A Prado costs double with just 60% of the fuel economy.

Long version.

https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre...03/dust20.jpeg

https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre.../03/dust26.jpg

https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre...03/dust22.jpeg

https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre...03/dust39.jpeg

https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre.../dustsnow.jpeg

Looks like fun! :thumbup1:

We got a 2023 model this time for 10 days down towards WS.
110hp for the same weight and same 45mpg. Very nice.
More here:
https://sahara-overland.com/2023/11/...-in-morocco-2/

https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre...1/dust225.jpeg

https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre...11/dust24.jpeg

Hi Chris and everyone!

Would you take the Duster to a more sandy trail like MS7 from Mhamid, going North of Erg Chigaga?

Good question Vincent.
I am heading back to that area on the weekend.
We are doing loads of desert tracks between Foum Zguid and Chebbi and have specifically hired a Prado over a Duster (or my moto) for the Low Range so as to reduce transmission strain plus the need to rely on momentum to get through.
This is how damage gets done; OK in your own car (with recovery gear), don't fancy it alone in an unequipped rental.
Lifted 2023 Prado price down to €110 a day, I noted.

We took a Suzuki Ignis and Citroen Berlingo around the north side of the Erg in September on the Amazigh Challenge.

They both got there although the berlingo smashed its radiator and had to be towed to FZ. I would think a Duster will be fine

It's always the radiators in a 2WD. You have to go too fast (momentum) to avoid the tedium of getting stuck. The front nose dives into a ditch / over a small dune and the radiator gets mashed.
We watched Merc sedans do it one after another on a small dune in RIM.

The Ignis 4x4 is a great little fridge on wheels, so not surprising that made it ok :innocent:

If we're diverting the conversation into off-road capable "normal" cars, a Citroen C15 with a back seat would be fun to try ... my old Clio has deteriorating electrics which I think may be due to dust ingress, but outside of that it's been good with mild off roading.

I always fancied a C15 - great little gravel car; good angles, big engine, wheels a bit small.
Still see the odd one out there.

This one was only a 2wd version, but slightly modified for the chaos

My thoughts on Prado TX, fyi.
Duster would have probably done what we did, but no 'probably' with the TX.

https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre...03/tojo30.jpeg

Nice photo!