Road test: The All-new Dacia Duster

When it comes to buying a new car, you’d struggle to find another vehicle on the market that is better value than the Dacia Duster.  A brand-new SUV for under 10k seemed like an impossibility until the arrival of the Duster back in 2012.  Practical and spacious it was but as far as looks went it seemed a little bit clunky for me.  The second incarnation of the car brands flagship model has just launched though and I went on a test-drive to see just how good a proposition the all-new Dacia Duster actually us.

The new Dacia base model still gives you a little change from 10k but the model that I tested out was the more premium ‘Comfort’ model, a near top spec car that comes with all of the mod cons that you would expect from a modern car from only £13,195.

Looking at the old and new Duster side by side, the difference in the exterior is stark.  The refreshed looks a whole load sportier and more modern than its older sibling.  I can see it appealing to a younger customer than before too.  The dimensions haven’t changed a great deal, but it’s been designed quite cleverly so it just looks a whole lot more muscular.

On the inside, the designers have worked to make this a much quieter ride, the seats have been built with better quality foam and the power steering has been improved.  They have really done a lot to make the driving experience more pleasant.  Unfortunately, I have not actually driven the old model (it never appealed to me) but while out and about in this one, I had no complaints.  The blue tooth worked well and allowed me to stream my music from Spotify easily and I found it comfy, even after a few hours behind the wheel.

Even though the Duster is a value offering, it still has the full capability of other comparable SUV’s.  Features like hill decent control and hill start assist make driving on sloped terrains easy.

If you’re after a reliable car from getting the family from a to b, then I think you’d struggle to find anything to beat the Duster, especially for the price!

dacia.co.uk/duster