What is it?
In a world where cars are becoming increasingly more advanced and complicated, there has always been something rather refreshing about the Dacia Duster.
Here is an SUV that, in an incredibly simplistic sense, offers you everything you need in a car - namely an engine, four wheels and a steering wheel - and absolutely nothing that you don’t. The entry-level version of the original Duster didn’t even come with air conditioning or a radio, which is certainly saying something in this day and age.
Welcome, then, to the new second-generation Duster that, in base-model specification, still doesn’t include a radio or air conditioning. However, this almost puritanical approach towards excess in the context of car manufacturing means that the Duster - indeed, the entire Dacia range - is still incredibly affordable. “Shockingly affordable”, even, if you take a look at the Renault-owned brand’s marketing material.
That suitably named Access model will set you back a miserly £9995, which is an increase of £500 over its predecessor. Aside from the new styling - which lends the car a wider, more muscular stance, despite it being almost identical in size to its forerunner - you now get electric power steering and LED daytime running lights as standard. Phwoar.
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xxxx
VFM
Now read the KA+ Active review, same money but with the Dacia you won't feel your wallet's been violated.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
FMS
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
More arrant nonsense, made clear by your comparison between the two vehicles. Competitors in which ways?. Class, wheelbase, function, interior space, etc, etc?.
TWIT.
Rick Maverick
Duster II sales .....
... are flourishing.
Up 40% to the Duster I, which itself peaked in its very last year!
ianp55
New Dacia Duster
Stonking value for money! if you put the boat out with the Prestige trim level,treat yourself to four wheel drive, leather seats and metallic and it'll cost you just over £17K and it's a decent size as well. Nothing comes close to this,Dacia dealers prepare for the crowds in your showrooms.
Will86
Where's the TCe engine?
The 1.6 is going to struggle in the Duster, but the 1.2 turbo would be a much better bet, especially with a 6 speed gearbox. Given the 1.2 was available in the old model I am puzzled why Dacia aren't yet offering it in the new model in the UK - it's available on the continent.
tuga
Will86 wrote:
The 1.2 TCe has already been dropped ( after only a couple of weeks ), and is soon to be replaced by a new 115ps 1.3TCe. I'm guessing Dacia UK didn't see the point of offering it for such a short period of time and they're just waiting for the new engine. My countrys Dacia did the same thing.
What really puzzles me in Dacia is that they still don't have any competition. If Renault can do it why can't others? Not a criticism on Renault, good on them for doing so ( they basically beat the Chinese in at their own game even before they set foot in Europe ), but plenty of other manufacturers have emerging market spec cars that they could surely sell in Europe with similar pricing. Toyotas Rush ( Daihatsu Terios ) or their non-EU Yaris, and GMs Baojun cars for example.
Thekrankis
1.2 is known to be troublesome
New 1.3 on its way but Renault, Nissan and Mercedes Benz all ahead of Dacia in the queue for the new engine.
Bishop
Fine value
Refreshingly striaght forward, decent looking, appropriately equipped and well sized car for very reasonable money - xxxx has absolutely nailed it with the comparison with the Ka+ Active waste of money, bloated and nonesense car.
Thekrankis
I will probably put my money where my mouth is....
.... just waiting for my local dealer to get their demonstrator in then I may well buy one - I will go for a fairly basic spec and add my own stereo.
or
I will pay more ( a lot more ) and get a Vitara.
Daniel Joseph
Great car, but...
...it's a shame they succumbed to the temptation to add some unnecessary styling flourishes, namely the plastic fake grilles behind the front wheelarches and the Jeep Renegade style tail lights. Both are, IMHO, at odds with the utilitarian purity of the design.
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