Simon Davis

upholstery. All the surfaces are either plastic or soft-touch plastic, but then you wouldn’t expect luxurious materials in a car that costs as little as £9,495. SPACE AND PRACTICALITY The Dacia Duster offers all the space an average-sized family really needs. There are five seats, plenty of headroom, a decent amount of legroom in the back and a 475-litre boot. With the rear seats folded down, cargo space in the boot is increased to 1,636 litres. Thanks to a low boot lip, loading and unloading those heavier items in and out of the Duster is made easy. Children will find the three rear seats more than comfortable enough on those longer journeys. BEHIND THE WHEEL Surprisingly for a car that is so basic, the Duster composes itself well. It does have heavy steering and the controls don’t provide a good level of feedback but through the corners there isn’t a huge amount of lean and its handling feels predictable. It rides well over bumps and is comfortable at motorway speeds. VALUE FOR MONEY If all you’re after is a means of getting from A to B, the Duster is hard to beat. It is basic, not terribly well equipped and by no means the most exciting car to drive, but it does the job of being a car well. It’s far cheaper than alternatives like a Nissan Qashqai or SsangYong Tivoli. IN A NUTSHELL Families looking for a robust workhorse for the school run, dashing to the shops or even long-distance travelling will find the Duster an appealing proposition.