A 3200km round trip to Kerala proved just how versatile and well-engineered the Duster is.
That’s not all that makes the Duster a great travelling car. The boot swallowed no less than five suitcases, the USB port played no less than 1,750 songs, and the air-con didn’t allow us to sweat, not even in Karnataka’s intense mid-day heat.
And of course the engine’s fantastic fuel economy was a huge plus. A full tank (brimmed) is around 62 litres, and the worst range I managed on a full tank was 750km and 11.9kpl. Not bad at all for a fully loaded SUV being given the stick most of the time. In fact, on the return journey to Mumbai, I was alone and 800km to a tank was easy. And it was pedal to the metal since I was alone with no passengers to alarm.
Accompanied by my old friends Mick, Robert and Bruce on the stereo, I made a long, solo journey with little of the fatigue that sets in on road trips in lesser cars.