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The Dacia Duster is the SUV that you can buy for the price of a supermini. In fact, with prices starting at £ 9,995, the Nissan Micra is even less efficient, which is not bad for a car the size of a Qashqai.
It is no wonder that the first generation of Duster, introduced in the UK in 2012, has earned a reputation for excellent value for money, becoming a legion of loyal fans. The good news is that the new Duster picks up where the old model was and even improves in some key areas.
Visually, it looks a lot like the old Duster – Dacia was not going to ruin a winning formula – but every body panel is brand new. It's more appealing than before, with three-section LED daytime running lights, iconic rear lights and a new grille that gives it a whole new look.
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The interior has also been metamorphosed, with flawless material quality, better fit and cabin finish, more comfortable seats and a repositioned multimedia entertainment screen. It's not the last word in luxury, nor is it a particularly inspiring booth, but for the money, it's hard to blame.
It's also incredibly spacious, with enough room for five adults and up to 445 liters of cargo space with the rear seats in place. Dacia has also improved soundproofing, improved electric power steering and added keyless entry to higher trim levels.
You have the choice between four specifications: Access, Essential, Comfort and Prestige. Access is defined as a "basement to be negotiated", with 16-inch steel wheels, a rear seat without slot, no driver seat height adjustment, no air conditioning and no radio. But at £ 9,995, it's hard to complain.
The Essential trim adds some aesthetic enhancements, as well as front fog lights, air conditioning, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a 60:40 folding rear seat, a DAB radio and Bluetooth. Comfort seems more upscale, with 16-inch alloy wheels, a host of aesthetic changes, a leather steering wheel, a 7-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation, a rear parking camera and a cruise control. speed.
At the top of the range is the Prestige model, featuring 17-inch "diamond" alloy wheels, enhanced padding, air conditioning, blind spot alarm, multi-view camera and a keyless entry.
The front-wheel drive versions start at £ 9,995, but you can not buy a 4×4 version in the entry-level Access version anymore. This means that you will have to spend at least £ 13,695 for a four-wheel drive Duster. In all models except the Access model, the 4×4 model adds £ 2,000 to the price displayed.
There is no automatic version at the moment, although it is due later. All models, with the exception of the Access model (which uses a five-speed manual gearbox), are equipped with a six-speed gearbox. 4×4 models use a different gearbox with a shorter transmission ratio designed for off-road use and towing.
The Dacia Duster faces competition in increasingly competitive sectors, such as the Skoda Karoq, the SEAT Arona, the Renault Captur and, to some extent, the Suzuki Jimny. But even in this esteemed venture, and in the face of a long list of potential contenders, the Duster is convincingly and convincingly presented.
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