Insurance Group: 10
MPG: 56.5
CO2: 130
0-62 Mph: 11.8 secs
BHP: 107 BHP
Range: 621 miles
PROS: There is no doubt that the Dacia Duster is the largest and most spacious car available for the money, while the diesel engine offers reasonable performance and the car comes with all you need in terms of standard equipment.
CONS: The disappointing results in the Euro NCAP safety tests may put off some drivers, the diesel engine can be noisy and there is a distinct lack of standard equipment.
The 1.5 litre diesel engine has enough grunt to get the Duster going reasonably well, and while acceleration from 0-62mph is a fairly relaxed 11.8 seconds, this won't be at the top of the list for most buyers. The top speed of 106mph is more than enough, especially as the cabin gets very noisy at speed, with wind, engine and road noise all intruding to give a rather unrefined experience. The ride is quite comfortable as you would expect from an SUV, but the amount of body roll in the corners is significant.
Getting comfortable won't be the easiest thing to do either, as the controls to adjust the seat are a little bit small, while the steering wheel adjusts for height but not for reach. Legroom and headroom are fine, but the smaller rear windows and thick pillars do mean that visibility to either side of the car isn't as good as it could be.
The level of equipment here is basic to say the least, especially when you consider that the Ambiance level of trim is actually the mid range option for the car. There are electric windows in the front of the vehicle, while luxuries like satellite navigation and leather seats aren't to be found in this range. This version does at least have a CD stereo which isn't included on the entry level model, and should at least help to drown out the noise that finds its way into the cabin.
The Duster is a good-looking car which is blessed with a sort of rugged simplicity, which makes it a very easy car to like.
There is no doubt that the Duster is a very practical vehicle, with a huge boot and folding rear seats that mean load space for larger items shouldn't be an issue. There is also plenty of space for passengers in the front and the back of the car, with even those over six foot having nothing to complain about in terms of the space available.
One of the major concerns for the Dacia Duster is the safety aspect. The car achieved only three stars in the Euro NCAP tests, in an age in which five -- or at the very least four -- has become the norm.
Reliability shouldn't be an issue for the car however, as it does use engines that have been tried and tested by Renault vehicles for years.
There is no doubt that at £11,495, the Dacia Duster is really the only SUV that you will be able to buy new in this price bracket. Dacia do have a policy of not negotiating when it comes to the prices of their cars, but with very low list prices there wouldn't have been too much movement on the price anyway. When compared to its rivals, even the top of the range Duster is still significantly cheaper than the entry level rival.
While the 1.5-litre engine may not be too exciting in terms of performance, it performs reasonably in terms of efficiency, offering an average 56.5mpg. Insurance is competitively priced while the car is also expected to hold its value quite well, considering the low starting price. The package is completed by a three year or sixty thousand mile warranty and three years' roadside breakdown assistance through the AA.
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