Dacia Duster is a clean winner
THE best cheap car money can buy is the Dacia Duster, according to a leading car buying magazine.
Costing from £9,495, the Duster is about the least expensive SUV on the market – but it is far from cheap and nasty.
In fact, the Duster would still be regarded as a decent SUV and good value for money if it cost thousands more.
Taking the accolade of Best Cheap Car in this week’s Carbuyer Awards, the vehicle also clinched the title of Best Winter Car in 4WD guise at just £11,495.
Marketing itself as “shockingly affordable”, Dacia makes its vehicles in Romania as the sister company of French giant Renault.
Leading judge Stuart Milne, said: “You can enjoy all the benefits of an SUV for less than £10,000. That is a bargain, but we would recommend spending a bit more to reap the benefits of the 1.5 dCi diesel engine and the additional creature comforts the Lauréate trim adds.
“Even with that additional spend, the Dacia Duster is still tremendous value for money.”
Mr Milne added: “If you are looking for a car which will keep you motoring through the worst of the British winter, the Dacia Duster is the standout choice. It is tremendously practical and offers plenty of ground clearance and a lofty driving position for the best possible visibility.
“Best of all is its price. You can buy a four-wheel-drive Duster for less than £11,500.” The revamped Duster range is the cheapest SUV on the market. Despite the lowly price tags, the cars are high on quality and are proving to be rugged and reliable too, the only criticism being that they are ultimately less polished and not as lavishly equipped as more expensive rivals.
Now the Duster has had a makeover to address any shortcomings, with a sharper appearance and more equipment.
The new Duster gets enhanced styling, more kit and a completely updated interior, with the MediaNav display moved to the upper part of the dashboard.
The seats have been revised for improved comfort and support, while careful attention has been paid to the materials, as well as to the fit and finish.
Clever stowage spaces have increased the car’s total stowage capacity to 29 litres.
New equipment that was previously unavailable on any Duster includes a multi-view camera system, blind spot warning, curtain airbags, automatic air conditioning, and automatic headlights.