Dacia Duster is even better value than ever
and there’s nothing cheap or shabby about the finish on the new-look interior.
Officially the car is rated at 43.5mpg and we managed to notch up a credible 42 to the gallon without trying and the engine, mated to a five speed manual box, felt well suited to the car.
Emissions are 149g/km and with a 0 to 60 acceleration of 11.9 seconds and a theoretical maximum of 107mph it will handle motorway work with ease – and pull a trailer of up to 1.4 tonnes.
The cabin is roomy, there’s underseat storage on the front passenger side and boot space ranges from 445 to 1,623 litres on the two-wheel-drive model. On 4x4 versions it’s slightly less at 376 litres to accommodate the extra gubbins which drive the rear axle and an emergency spare wheel, in lieu of a tyre repair kit.
Off road the Duster is a capable performer as was demonstrated on a technical course where we put a 4x4 diesel version to the test using its hill descent control and switchable four-wheel-drive set up to the full.
At 14ft 3ins long it is a proper sized SUV and comes with more than eight inches of ground clearance. Wading depth is just over a foot and the Duster has a good approach angle of 30 degrees and 34 at the back.
Skid plates front and rear, a neat black separator between the front wing and the doors and rear lamp clusters that are reminiscent of a Jeep are neat touches that make this the classiest looking Dacia to date.
It’s little surprise that the Duster has found a loyal following in Britain as savvy buyers grew to appreciate its allround abilities – not to mention the price.
The new model with its sharper looks, better interior and impressive performance, can only build on that.
the new Dacia Duster gives you lots of bang for your buck