The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dacia dusts off competition to win prize
A NEW name in British motoring was named Scottish car of the year last night.
The Dacia Duster drove off with the title at an awards ceremony held in Glasgow.
An audience of more than 200 motoring industry executives attended the dinner.
The winner was selected by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, including The Courier’s motoring editor.
A budget four-wheel drive, starting at under £9,000, the Dacia Duster was praised for its exceptional value for money.
Dacia — part of Renault group — beat competition from established marques including BMW, Vauxhall, Porsche and Hyundai to take the top accolade.
Association of Scottish Motoring Writers president John Murdoch said: “Manufacturers continued to surprise us with bold new products while at the same time improving safety and efficiency.
“When the economy is tough and the motoring public are feeling the pinch and tightening their belts, the private buyer wants real value for money — and the Dacia Duster certainly delivers on that score.
“Our choice may not set radical new standards in any one area but we believe it’s the sum of its parts which add up. Using proven technology, this is a car with huge appeal to the canny Scottish buyer spending their own money and we believe it’s completely unrivalled in terms of its mix of ability, space, ning costs and pricing.”