The Dacia Duster has been real game changer for the UK car market. There's nothing else quite like it available – the entry-level model costs less than some superminis and sets a new standard for value for money. That's why we named the Dacia Duster the CarBuyer Car of the Year 2013. It's actually quite hard to believe that you can really get this much car for such a small amount of money. Dacia has managed to achieve this by using engines and parts from parent company Renault to keep manufacturing costs low. However, while it does represent amazing value, the entry model does without many standard features and accessories, like a radio and electronic stability control, and is very basic.
If the lack of such ‘luxuries’ doesn’t bother you, then the Duster is generally well put together and will easily cope with the rough and tumble of family life. You can choose between an efficient two-wheel drive or pretty capable 4x4. You get more space than you’ll find in the rival Nissan Qashqai, while even the top-of-the-range Duster Laureate model undercuts the Qashqai by around £3,000 (and does come with a radio and electronic stability control fitted as standard).
With many of the major manufacturers now looking into developing similar budget spin-off brands, the impact of the Duster and its equally cheap supermini stablemate, the Sandero, has been substantial and could be a sign of things to come.
Drive
3.6 /5
Appearances are deceptive - the Dacia drives like a smaller car
Don’t be fooled by the its rugged, truck-like appearance – the Dacia Duster drives much more like a mainstream family hatchback than an off-roader. It's very comfortable, soaking up bumps well and proving very easy to control while on the move. The brakes are strong and effective, while the manual gearbox moves relatively smoothly through the gears with little fuss. No automatic gearbox option is currently available due to the budget nature of the brand, though. The Access is fitted with a decent 1.6-litre Renault petrol engine, while the Ambiance and Laureate models come with a 109bhp 1.5-litre diesel that's pretty fast but can get a bit noisy if pushed hard. The driving position is nice and high up, with large mirrors adding to the generally good all-round visibility. The seats are supportive and comfortable, and, while entry-level Access models can’t help but feel basic they are by no means cheap and shoddy. The higher-spec Ambiance and Laureate both sport much better interiors, meanwhile, with height-adjustable leather seats.
Comfort
4 /5
Comfortable but by no means luxurious
Despite its budget origins, the Duster is well suited to longer journeys, with a comfortable ride, high driving position and overall user-friendliness. The suspension is soft, so absorbs all but the very worst bumps on UK roads, and the compact SUV does offer lots of space for passengers, while also having a decent-sized boot to store your luggage. There's plenty of room in the back for even six-foot occupants to fit in comfortably. You do get quite a lot of body roll when driving through corners but, with electronic stability control not coming as standard, it's probably not the best idea to push the handling to its limits anyway. Base-level Access models don’t come with many accessories or much equipment, but go up a level to the mid-range Ambiance and you get a CD radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity fitted as standard, while the price remains remarkably low.
Reliability
3.8 /5
Safe for occupants and great on-the-road support
Dacia's in-roads into the UK market are still too recent for it to feature in the 2013 Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but we can look to parent company Renault for an idea of how reliable you can expect the Duster to be. The bad news is that Renault's had a spotty reliability record for quite some time, but the good news is that it seems to be improving, rising six places to rank 21 in the Driver Power manufacturers rankings. That's still not great, but it's likely that Dacia will benefit from that extra push towards improved durability. The parts in the Duster are all tried-and-tested across Renault's other ranges and any major problems will already have been addresses, thanks to it being available across the rest of Europe since 2010. The Duster also comes with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty and roadside assistance package, which can be upgraded to both a five-year and a Kia-rivalling seven-year or 100,000-mile option, which shows some serious confidence in the quality of the product, which bodes well. The Duster had stuck something of controversial note in terms of safety. In an era where five-star rated cars are the norm, the budget SUV only managed to get three stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests. Now, this isn’t actually as bad it might seem - it was tested in 2011, and the overall rating is low because the entry-level model lacks a lot of the standard safety equipment like electronic stability control, and it scored low on pedestrian protection. Because a car can only be scored according to its lowest-rated category, it gets three, but in adult protection the Duster actually scored four stars and was even awarded the top five stars for child protection. So it's safer than the rating implies and stability control is available as an option on Ambiance and Laureate specs, which are still more affordable than most cars.
Practicality
4.8 /5
Class-leading space and reasonable off-road ability
You’ll be hard pressed to find a car as practical as the Duster for this kind of money. It has 475 litres of boot space with the back seats in place, which expands to an impressive 1,636 litres when you fold the 60:40 split-folding rear seats down flat. That's more space than you’ll get in the equivalent Nissan Qashqai. The car's low lip on the edge of the boot also helps make loading large, bulky objects easy. And you can easily sit three adult passengers across the comfortable back seat, without the need for an clumsy jostling or fighting for space. The Duster's compact SUV dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre through busy city streets and very easy to park, even in tight parking spaces. If you do decide to venture off road, all Dusters have a reasonable ground clearance, with the four-wheel-drive models proving very capable indeed, thanks to there being three 4x4 driving modes available.
Value for money
5 /5
Outstanding, unrivalled value for money
This is where Dacia has got everyone else beat. You simply won’t find a car in the UK that's better value for money. The starting price of the entry-level Access model is hard to believe, simply because you’re getting an SUV for the same money as a cheap supermini. But let's not get carried away - what you get for that budget price is a very basic car that does without normally standard features like a radio and electronic stability control. You do still get anti-lock brakes and curtain airbags, however, so Dacia isn’t throwing the baby out with the bath water. One step up the range, to the Ambiance spec level upgrades the Access’ basic bodywork with body-coloured bumpers, tinted windows and fog lamps, and adds a 1.5-litre diesel engine and a CD radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity to the package. The top-of-the-range four-wheel-drive Laureate model, meanwhile, has pretty impressive overall equipment levels. The Laureate may actually be a bit more expensive than an entry-level Nissan Juke, but the Duster offers a lot more space inside and the Laureate has alloy wheels, some clever off-roading technology, electric rear windows, electric mirrors, trip computer and is the only model to come with air-conditioning fitted as standard. In fact, the Laureate is so impressive for the price you pay, that it was the clear winner of the 2013 CarBuyer award for Best 4x4. You can also get a Black edition with a more luxurious feel - but it's so unbelieveably expensive that it should definitely be avoided. Expect resale values to be quite strong thanks to the low list price, although the Duster is still a bit new to know for certain.
Running costs
4 /5
Very competitive running costs if you choose the diesel engine
For the best economy, the two-wheel drive Laureate is the best choice in the Duster range, with its 108bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine returning 56.5mpg in fuel economy while emitting 130g/km of CO2. That's about on par with the most efficient Nissan Juke, which claims to return 55mpg and emit 129g/km of CO2 from a 109bhp 1.5-litre diesel. The 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine is less efficient, returning 39.8mpg and emitting 165g/km, and is beaten in both economy and emissions by the Nissan Qashqai. The entire range comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty – including roadside assistance – and any repairs will benefit from the Duster using proven Renault-Nissan parts and components, so you can expect maintenance costs to be manageable to low.
If the lack of such ‘luxuries’ doesn’t bother you, then the Duster is generally well put together and will easily cope with the rough and tumble of family life. You can choose between an efficient two-wheel drive or pretty capable 4x4. You get more space than you’ll find in the rival Nissan Qashqai, while even the top-of-the-range Duster Laureate model undercuts the Qashqai by around £3,000 (and does come with a radio and electronic stability control fitted as standard).
With many of the major manufacturers now looking into developing similar budget spin-off brands, the impact of the Duster and its equally cheap supermini stablemate, the Sandero, has been substantial and could be a sign of things to come.
Drive
3.6 /5
Appearances are deceptive - the Dacia drives like a smaller car
Don’t be fooled by the its rugged, truck-like appearance – the Dacia Duster drives much more like a mainstream family hatchback than an off-roader. It's very comfortable, soaking up bumps well and proving very easy to control while on the move. The brakes are strong and effective, while the manual gearbox moves relatively smoothly through the gears with little fuss. No automatic gearbox option is currently available due to the budget nature of the brand, though. The Access is fitted with a decent 1.6-litre Renault petrol engine, while the Ambiance and Laureate models come with a 109bhp 1.5-litre diesel that's pretty fast but can get a bit noisy if pushed hard. The driving position is nice and high up, with large mirrors adding to the generally good all-round visibility. The seats are supportive and comfortable, and, while entry-level Access models can’t help but feel basic they are by no means cheap and shoddy. The higher-spec Ambiance and Laureate both sport much better interiors, meanwhile, with height-adjustable leather seats.
Comfort
4 /5
Comfortable but by no means luxurious
Despite its budget origins, the Duster is well suited to longer journeys, with a comfortable ride, high driving position and overall user-friendliness. The suspension is soft, so absorbs all but the very worst bumps on UK roads, and the compact SUV does offer lots of space for passengers, while also having a decent-sized boot to store your luggage. There's plenty of room in the back for even six-foot occupants to fit in comfortably. You do get quite a lot of body roll when driving through corners but, with electronic stability control not coming as standard, it's probably not the best idea to push the handling to its limits anyway. Base-level Access models don’t come with many accessories or much equipment, but go up a level to the mid-range Ambiance and you get a CD radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity fitted as standard, while the price remains remarkably low.
Reliability
3.8 /5
Safe for occupants and great on-the-road support
Dacia's in-roads into the UK market are still too recent for it to feature in the 2013 Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but we can look to parent company Renault for an idea of how reliable you can expect the Duster to be. The bad news is that Renault's had a spotty reliability record for quite some time, but the good news is that it seems to be improving, rising six places to rank 21 in the Driver Power manufacturers rankings. That's still not great, but it's likely that Dacia will benefit from that extra push towards improved durability. The parts in the Duster are all tried-and-tested across Renault's other ranges and any major problems will already have been addresses, thanks to it being available across the rest of Europe since 2010. The Duster also comes with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty and roadside assistance package, which can be upgraded to both a five-year and a Kia-rivalling seven-year or 100,000-mile option, which shows some serious confidence in the quality of the product, which bodes well. The Duster had stuck something of controversial note in terms of safety. In an era where five-star rated cars are the norm, the budget SUV only managed to get three stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests. Now, this isn’t actually as bad it might seem - it was tested in 2011, and the overall rating is low because the entry-level model lacks a lot of the standard safety equipment like electronic stability control, and it scored low on pedestrian protection. Because a car can only be scored according to its lowest-rated category, it gets three, but in adult protection the Duster actually scored four stars and was even awarded the top five stars for child protection. So it's safer than the rating implies and stability control is available as an option on Ambiance and Laureate specs, which are still more affordable than most cars.
Practicality
4.8 /5
Class-leading space and reasonable off-road ability
You’ll be hard pressed to find a car as practical as the Duster for this kind of money. It has 475 litres of boot space with the back seats in place, which expands to an impressive 1,636 litres when you fold the 60:40 split-folding rear seats down flat. That's more space than you’ll get in the equivalent Nissan Qashqai. The car's low lip on the edge of the boot also helps make loading large, bulky objects easy. And you can easily sit three adult passengers across the comfortable back seat, without the need for an clumsy jostling or fighting for space. The Duster's compact SUV dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre through busy city streets and very easy to park, even in tight parking spaces. If you do decide to venture off road, all Dusters have a reasonable ground clearance, with the four-wheel-drive models proving very capable indeed, thanks to there being three 4x4 driving modes available.
Value for money
5 /5
Outstanding, unrivalled value for money
This is where Dacia has got everyone else beat. You simply won’t find a car in the UK that's better value for money. The starting price of the entry-level Access model is hard to believe, simply because you’re getting an SUV for the same money as a cheap supermini. But let's not get carried away - what you get for that budget price is a very basic car that does without normally standard features like a radio and electronic stability control. You do still get anti-lock brakes and curtain airbags, however, so Dacia isn’t throwing the baby out with the bath water. One step up the range, to the Ambiance spec level upgrades the Access’ basic bodywork with body-coloured bumpers, tinted windows and fog lamps, and adds a 1.5-litre diesel engine and a CD radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity to the package. The top-of-the-range four-wheel-drive Laureate model, meanwhile, has pretty impressive overall equipment levels. The Laureate may actually be a bit more expensive than an entry-level Nissan Juke, but the Duster offers a lot more space inside and the Laureate has alloy wheels, some clever off-roading technology, electric rear windows, electric mirrors, trip computer and is the only model to come with air-conditioning fitted as standard. In fact, the Laureate is so impressive for the price you pay, that it was the clear winner of the 2013 CarBuyer award for Best 4x4. You can also get a Black edition with a more luxurious feel - but it's so unbelieveably expensive that it should definitely be avoided. Expect resale values to be quite strong thanks to the low list price, although the Duster is still a bit new to know for certain.
Running costs
4 /5
Very competitive running costs if you choose the diesel engine
For the best economy, the two-wheel drive Laureate is the best choice in the Duster range, with its 108bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine returning 56.5mpg in fuel economy while emitting 130g/km of CO2. That's about on par with the most efficient Nissan Juke, which claims to return 55mpg and emit 129g/km of CO2 from a 109bhp 1.5-litre diesel. The 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine is less efficient, returning 39.8mpg and emitting 165g/km, and is beaten in both economy and emissions by the Nissan Qashqai. The entire range comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty – including roadside assistance – and any repairs will benefit from the Duster using proven Renault-Nissan parts and components, so you can expect maintenance costs to be manageable to low.
The Dacia Duster has been real game changer for the UK car market. There's nothing else quite like it available – the entry-level model costs less than some superminis and sets a new standard for value for money. That's why we named the Dacia Duster the CarBuyer Car of the Year 2013. It's actually quite hard to believe that you can really get this much car for such a small amount of money. Dacia has managed to achieve this by using engines and parts from parent company Renault to keep manufacturing costs low. However, while it does represent amazing value, the entry model does without many standard features and accessories, like a radio and electronic stability control, and is very basic.
If the lack of such ‘luxuries’ doesn’t bother you, then the Duster is generally well put together and will easily cope with the rough and tumble of family life. You can choose between an efficient two-wheel drive or pretty capable 4x4. You get more space than you’ll find in the rival Nissan Qashqai, while even the top-of-the-range Duster Laureate model undercuts the Qashqai by around £3,000 (and does come with a radio and electronic stability control fitted as standard). With many of the major manufacturers now looking into developing similar budget spin-off brands, the impact of the Duster and its equally cheap supermini stablemate, the Sandero, has been substantial and could be a sign of things to come. |
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