What is the Duster's ground clearance? Renault Duster: ground clearance

Ground clearance (from English word clearance) or ground clearance- this is the distance between the supporting surface and the lowest point of the central part of the car. Central part is the part that is enclosed between two planes parallel to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the car and equidistant from the inner surface of the wheels, the projection of the central part onto the supporting surface is 80% of the distance between internal surfaces wheels of one axle.

Ground clearance primarily affects cross-country ability; however, it makes no sense to thoughtlessly increase ground clearance, since in this case the service life of wheel drives is reduced. We need a compromise.

In order to find out the ground clearance of Renault Duster, we will use the official Russian website of the French company. For what? Firstly, this is, as they say, first-hand information, and secondly, if we go to, say, the English website of Renault, we can see completely different data, which is related to the adaptation of the crossover to a particular market. By the way, according to the official Russian website of the company, Duster was specially adapted for Russia.

So, here is the information from the site:

High ground clearance (210 mm for all-wheel drive versions and 205 mm for front-wheel drive versions) and body geometry (approach angle is 30 degrees and departure angle is 36 degrees) provide confidence in winter time on snow-covered roads, and in summer - unhindered movement on bad roads, hilly and mountainous terrain.

Let's say right away that 20 cm is a very high ground clearance. For example, most modern passenger cars (not crossovers) are content with 140-150 mm, and sometimes even less. For the city, especially with good road surface, 15 cm is plenty, but when traveling to the country you need to be very careful so as not to catch the road with the bottom... In the case of the Renault Duster, more than 200 millimeters of ground clearance is more than enough, even if you have there is a house in a remote village. It is clear that for real mud forays it is worth buying a powerful frame SUV, but this is completely different money, and it handles much worse on the road.

Meanwhile, in tests of various automobile publications, completely different figures often appear and they are less than those indicated by the Russian representative office of the company. Here, for example, is one of the latest tests of the AUTOreview magazine, where Renault Duster is tested in company with its twin brother Nissan Terrano, Chery Tiggo 5 and Haima 7. Here the ground clearance is 191 mm, which is clearly less than 210 and 205 mm, respectively. Why?

The reasons may vary. It is possible that the car is equipped with crankcase protection, which, as is known, tends to “eat up” several centimeters of ground clearance. Another possible variant— the calculation method used by journalists is different from that of Renault specialists. Be that as it may, the ground clearance in the Duster is enough for you - it is higher than that of most of its closest competitors.

Image source: http://www.renault.ru/

According to GOST, adopted in 1993, trucks with a gross weight of up to four tons should have a ground clearance of 20 cm. It turns out that Duster crossovers fully meet GOST requirements: the ground clearance of Renault Duster in the new body is 205 mm, and for crossovers - The “old” version had even more meaning! By the way, ground clearance or ground clearance is the distance from the asphalt to the part located lowest. Wheels, levers and sills are not taken into account. Everything looks perfect until we load the car. This reduces ground clearance.

For generation I crossovers, if we talk about the 4x4 version, the lowest point is on the “muffler bank”. It’s a pity that this “can” cannot be flattened. And the single-drive version uses a bracket (see photo). And the lower point of the bracket is located close to the asphalt - even lower than the “can”.

Here are the ground clearance values:

1. Duster, generation I, 4x4 version – 210 mm;
2. Duster, generation I, mono-drive – 205 mm.

Generation II is characterized by the same figures.

Amendments

The figures given above were not obtained with the body fully loaded. We are talking about one technique - the car is loaded until it reaches a “standard curb weight”. But no one can say what ground clearance the Renault Duster will have when fully loaded - it all depends on the weight distribution “along the axes”.

By the way, “curb weight” includes a lot:

• Driver weight;
• All additional equipment, including a spare tire, fire extinguisher, etc.;
• The tanks under the hood are filled to the MAX mark or slightly below;
• The following remain empty: luggage compartment, seats (except the driver's), roof rack.

In general, the situation is considered: the driver is preparing to conquer off-road terrain alone.

How the suspension reacts to load

It would be stupid to leave the reader alone with the numbers 210 and 205, which do not reflect anything. Many people are interested in what ground clearance the Renault Duster will have if there are three passengers and a driver. For Steepway hatchbacks, for example, ground clearance was measured under different conditions:

• 195 mm – in running order;
• 175 mm – when fully loaded.

The difference here is very noticeable. One should count on a similar “reduction” if we talk about Duster.

Duster ground clearance in AWD version

Owners of cars equipped with AWD with ground clearance are the least fortunate. On the left under the bottom there is a pipe, which is located lower than any part in the 2WD version. See for yourself (see photo).

Renault Duster dimensions are close to the dimensions of the Renault Logan, which is not surprising; the cars have one common “B0” platform. Body dimensions new version Duster has not changed significantly. The manufacturer changed only the external attributes, optics, bumpers, radiator grille, but the body itself was not modernized. Excellent cross-country ability, practicality, capacity and high ground clearance of the Renault Duster make the car a leader in its segment.

The body length of the compact crossover is 4315 mm, the wheelbase is 2673 mm. Thanks to the almost vertical seating position, 5 passengers feel quite comfortable inside the universal Duster. The trunk of the front-wheel drive version is larger (475 liters), due to the fact that there is no rear transmission gearbox or independent multi-link suspension under the bottom of the trunk. In the 4x4 modification, the trunk volume is only 408 liters.

Ground clearance also depends on the drive. For the 4x2 version it is 205 mm, for the all-wheel drive crossover it is 210 mm. Thanks to short overhangs - 822 mm at the front and 820 mm at the rear, high ground clearance, a 30-degree approach angle and a 36-degree departure angle, the Duster has phenomenal cross-country ability. Don’t forget that this crossover is significantly lighter than full-fledged SUVs, which adds advantages to the car on rough terrain.

Dimensions of the new Renault Duster body dimensions

• Length – 4315 mm
• Width – 1822 mm
• Height – 1625 mm (with rails 1695 mm)
• Curb weight – from 1190 kg
• Gross weight – up to 1894 kg
• Base, distance between front and rear axle – 2673 mm
• Front overhang – 822 mm
• Rear overhang – 820 mm
• Entry angle – 30 degrees
• Departure angle – 36 degrees
• Front and rear wheel track – 1560/1567 mm, respectively
• Trunk volume – 475 liters (408 liters for the 4x4 version)
• Volume with seats folded - 1636 liters (1570 liters for 4x4)
• Fuel tank volume – 50 liters
• Tire size – 215/65 R16
• Ground clearance of Renault Duster – 205 mm (210 mm for the 4x4 version)

Separately, I would like to talk about the mass of Duster. After all Various types transmissions and engines have their own weight. The lightest Duster is a basic car with front-wheel drive, a 5-speed gearbox and a 1.6 liter gasoline engine - from 1190 kg. With the same basic engine, but all-wheel drive and a 6-speed gearbox, the weight increases to 1360 kg. The heaviest version of the Duster 4x4 with an automatic transmission and a 2-liter gasoline engine weighs 1394 kg. The diesel version also weighs quite a lot - 1390 kg. Of course we are talking about curb weight.

Let's start with the most important thing - ground clearance, which, among others, is one of the most necessary. This applies to absolutely any car, including the French model Renault Duster, which has high cross-country ability. This does not surprise anyone, since it is the ground clearance that determines how efficiently the car will drive over obstacles and not catch them with its bottom. So, on the Renault Duster model we have chosen, no less attention is paid to ground clearance. Now we will try to understand what ground clearance the Renault Duster model has, and what can surprise the owner of such a car.

What exactly is it?

Ground clearance has a clear definition, contrary to the differing opinions of automotive experts. If you look at the official documentation, the ground clearance is defined strictly as the distance from the ground to the lowest point located under the bottom.

It is because of this that heated disputes arise between many car owners. In fact, some passenger car manufacturers indicate the most minimum distance, while others prefer to hide this information and indicate this value as the distance from the oil sump of the power unit to the ground. In addition, standard engine protection can also reduce the height and at the same time directly affect the level of cross-country ability of the model, and accordingly its specifications.

Interesting fact, ground clearance on the Renault Duster model directly affects cross-country ability, while it also affects the technical characteristics of the car and its dynamics. And many owners of such cars want to improve the performance a little, and learn how to increase the ground clearance if necessary. Many people advise installing spacers to increase ground clearance.

Here's a small example: everyone knows that the higher the clearance, the noticeably better the vehicle's cross-country ability. At the same time, the car becomes more wobbly at high speed and is prone to rollover. If you look at the situation from the other side, then due to the large air resistance it increases significantly.

Why is clearance rate important?

Everything is clear about the ground clearance of the car. The higher the ground clearance, the better and easier the car rides. Many drivers try to improve it themselves and purchase special spacers to increase ground clearance.

And if you often drive on good roads, and at high speed to boot, then the ground clearance generally needs to be reduced. Ground clearance is always measured in millimeters. Available different methods measure it, but in general it is the distance from the ground to the lowest part in the center of the car. Absolutely every owner of a Renault Duster, or any other car, should know this indicator in order to assess whether the car can drive under certain conditions.

Duster's golden mean

The French model Renault Duster must perform two functions: on city roads and highways the car must drive with excellent dynamics and an increased degree of stability, and when driving off-road, the Duster must overcome all kinds of obstacles perfectly.
Was the manufacturer able to find that golden mean and arrange the technical characteristics of the model so that it was truly universal? Of course. So, this begs the next question, how much ground clearance does the Duster actually have? The answer will be ambiguous. The whole point is that this one has a clearance of 210mm, but the same characteristic for the model in the 4x2 version is 205mm.

According to numerous reviews from owners of the French car, it performs well in off-road and city conditions. Based again on these reviews, the car has excellent dynamics due to its high ground clearance and allows the owner not to think about the integrity of the bottom and sills.

But the muffler is located much lower, and there is a risk of damaging it while driving, which is why the question arises of how to increase the ground clearance. After all, if you increase it, then off-road driving will be safe for the muffler. In this case, spacers are used to increase ground clearance.

Conclusion

Renault Duster is a cool example of an urban crossover. Its secret is that the clearance was worked out competently. And so, the car can easily overcome snow, mud, and ford. Therefore, spacers for ground clearance are not needed in principle. At the same time, the “French” has low fuel consumption and its dynamics are noticeable on the highway.

Despite the fact that many crossovers are developed primarily for driving in the city, the Renault Duster model demonstrates good abilities for overcoming off-road conditions. Such characteristics are provided not only by a fairly powerful engine, but also by high ground clearance. At the same time, the ground clearance of Renault Duster varies depending on the modification of the model and the degree of load of the car.

Why is clearance important?

Clearance is the distance from road surface(supporting surface) to the bottom of the vehicle. In some cases, a different calculation method is used.

Ground clearance is important in cases where the car is operated in off-road conditions. How larger size ground clearance, the better the vehicle's cross-country ability. If the vehicle is used primarily on good roads, the ground clearance may be low.

The distance from the asphalt to the bottom is measured in millimeters. According to Russian GOST, for SUVs weighing up to four tons this figure should exceed 200 mm. Duster's ground clearance is 205 mm, which meets the requirements of the domestic standard.

Features of Renault Duster ground clearance

It can be difficult to determine what ground clearance a Renault Duster has. This is due to the fact that the ground clearance changes depending on the version of the crossover. The lowest point of Duster is located:

• on the muffler can in all-wheel drive versions;

• on a bracket in single-drive versions.

In the first case, the distance from the supporting surface to the bottom point is 210 mm, in the second - 205 mm.

Moreover, the clearance size is the same for Renault Duster of the first and second generations.

The figures given are the ground clearance set by the manufacturer. The crossover's ground clearance changes when the vehicle is fully loaded. It is quite difficult to determine how much the Renault Duster's ground clearance will decrease. Therefore, before going off-road in a loaded crossover, you need to take into account the fact of body “sagging”: on average, the latter reaches 20 mm.

Among the features characteristic of Duster, the AWD modification stands out. In this version, the car is complemented by an exhaust pipe that runs along the bottom and significantly reduces the size of the ground clearance.

The distance from the supporting surface to the bottom of the bottom does not always play a key role when moving in poor conditions. In this case, it is also important to pay attention to the geometric cross-country ability. Renault Duster has low overhangs, thanks to which the all-terrain vehicle is able to overcome obstacles at a slope of 30 degrees in the front and 36 degrees in the rear.

The French model, despite belonging to the category of urban SUVs, behaves well in off-road conditions due to the structural features of the body and high ground clearance.

Ground clearance of Renault Duster in comparison with other car brands

Having determined what ground clearance the Renault Duster has, you should consider the list of competitors of the French crossover in terms of this indicator. The model in terms of performance characteristics (but not in terms of price and level of equipment) can be compared with the following models:

• Toyota RAV4. Depending on the version, the ground clearance varies from 190 to 197 mm.
• Nissan Qashqai. The ground clearance of the model is 200 mm.
• UAZ Patriot. The distance to the bottom of the Russian SUV is comparable to the Renault Duster.
• Skoda Yeti. The Czech model is slightly inferior to the Duster, since the vehicle's ground clearance in running order is 180 mm.

In terms of this indicator, the French crossover is superior to the Mitsubishi Outlander (officially considered an SUV). After rejuvenation Japanese model The geometric characteristics of the body have been improved (departure and approach angles) and the ground clearance has increased: the latter is 5 mm larger than that of the Duster.

The competitor of the French model in terms of ground clearance is the Volkswagen Tiguan. According to the factory specification, the figure is 200 mm. However, in reality the distance from the supporting surface to the VW Tiguan suspension arm is 163 mm, to the bottom of the muffler - 221 mm and to the crankcase protection - 181 mm.

Ways to increase ground clearance

Despite enough high level ground clearance for Renault Duster, in certain situations there is a need to increase the indicator. This can be achieved in various ways.

To the number budget options Vehicle upgrades include:

• Installation of tires and rims of larger diameter. Such a replacement is possible within the design parameters of the body.
• Replacing shock absorber springs. In this case, products with a large number turns. It will also require the installation of long-stroke shock absorbers, which significantly increases the cost of upgrading the crossover.
• Installation of interturn spacers. The latter are mounted between the body and the spring.
• The use of spacers is best option for those who are going to increase the ground clearance on the Duster with their own hands. If a large-scale modernization of the crossover is planned, the suspension design is redesigned to increase ground clearance. This option allows you to increase the distance between the supporting surface and the bottom by 2-3 times. However, this approach involves replacing wheels, shock absorbers, springs, and hubs. Low pressure tires will also be required.

Types of spacers to increase ground clearance

Increasing ground clearance on a Renault Duster by installing spacers occurs by reducing the spring compression rate. As a result, the shock absorber stroke is reduced.

Duster tuning is carried out using the following types of spacers:

• Polyurethane. This type of spacer is mounted between the strut support and the body. Due to the fact that polyurethane and the metal from which the reinforcing bushings are made have different densities, deformation of the car body is possible when driving off-road.
• Aluminum. Spacers made of this metal are highly durable and provide optimal magnification ground clearance. After installing the elements, the vehicle’s movement pattern does not change, the same level of comfort is maintained and body parts are not deformed.

• Rubber. Mounted on a spring. Rubber spacers are also highly durable. The parts are not subject to oxidation or deformation and do not reduce the comfort of the crossover.

How to install spacers yourself

Increasing the ground clearance of Duster using spacers is carried out in the following stages:

• unscrew the fastening nuts and remove the wheel;
• the nut securing the rod is unscrewed;
• using a jack, the lever is slightly raised;
• using a puller, the spring is compressed and the nuts securing the shock absorber to the steering knuckle are unscrewed;
  the shock absorber and spring are removed;
• The standard spacer is removed and a new one is installed.

The parts are assembled in the reverse order: the shock absorber and spring are installed, the position of the lever is restored, and the nuts that secure the rod and wheel are tightened. The procedure is repeated on both axes.

When installing spacers, you should remember that after installation is completed, a small (0.2-0.3 mm) shrinkage of the part occurs. The clearance will increase by the thickness of this component.

The spacer size must match the crossover's factory specifications. It is allowed to install parts on the Duster that increase the distance to the road surface by no more than 40 mm. Otherwise, the suspension angle will change, which will accelerate the wear of vehicle components.

Bottom line

There are several ways to increase the ground clearance of Renault Duster. In order to save on consumables and labor, it is recommended to use it for a spacer. This option is optimal if you are tuning an all-terrain vehicle yourself.

Spacers, like others Consumables, require regular replacement. On average, parts wear out completely within six months of active use.

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