The Duster is the first model to reach the UK from Renault's Romanian budget sub-brand. It competes alongside the Nissan Qashqai and the Kia Sportage in the small 4x4 arena, but is significantly cheaper than all of its competitors.
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Latest Dacia Duster Car Reviews:
The Dacia Duster 1.6 Access 4x2 is by no means without fault and it fares badly in comparison to its more expensive rivals. However, when you factor in the Duster's Poundland price tag, you have to...
The Dacia Duster is of a similar size to the Nissan Qashqai, but the list price is thousands of pounds lower than its Japanese rival. However, there are some visible corners that have been cut to a...
Dacia Duster Overview
The Duster comes with a choice of two engines -- a 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel -- and is available with either two- or four-wheel drive. The diesel is the pick of the range, with plenty of low-down grunt, however it's very noisy at motorway speeds. To drive, the Duster is unremarkable -- the steering is vague and there's more body roll than you'd expect -- however, the ride is very good, making the Dacia a comfortable cruiser.
There's plenty of space inside for passengers and the boot is a good size at 475-litres with the rear seats up. The quality of the cabin plastics leaves a little to be desired but this is to be expected at this price.
Background
The Dacia has been around since 2010 now but only made its way to UK shores in 2012. It was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
Summary
The Dacia is by no means a great car but in value-for-money terms it's one of the most tempting motors on the UK market. The Duster has its faults -- it's uninspiring to drive, lacks refinement and the cabin feels cheap -- but the bargain basement price tag more than makes up for this. If you're looking for the maximum bang for your buck, the Duster is peerless.
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