High on value and low on price, the Dacia Duster is one of the stand-out cars on sale today. Drive finds out what the fuss is all about
DACIA cars have become a popular sight on Europe's roads in recent years - especially in France - for two very good reasons: affordability and durability. Now the company, a Renault subsidiary, is hoping to repeat that success in Ireland and Britain. We tested the Sandero, a small hatchback which majors on space and value for money, on these pages a few weeks ago. Low cost motoring, which Dacia is building its brand upon, is all the rage on the continent. Our foreign friends aren't as hardened badge snobs as we apparently are, meaning cars such as Dacia's Duster have been welcomed with open arms by cost-conscious motorists. Simply put, when you can get a compact SUV capable of plugging mud with the best Land Rover can offer for less than the price of a Ford Fiesta, somehow the badge on the bonnet is less of a problem. If Dacia is a mystery to you, you're not alone. Snapped up by Renault some time ago, critics thought the French firm was taking a huge risk with this budget maker of uninspiring cars. The passing of time has proven the naysayers wrong, as Renault's input has led to a portfolio of value-driven, dependable, stylish and capable products; from superminis to the aforementioned Duster. Lifestyle SUVs are two-a-penny these days but few are that cheap anymore. Most are increasingly car-like in their appearance and on-road performance. The Duster retains a chunkylooking, purposeful exterior of a traditional 4x4 but with enough curves to help it slice through the air with relative ease. The emphasis might be on modest performance and equipment levels, but there's nothing cheap about the Duster. Low power petrol and diesel engines are offered (1.6-litre, 104bhp petrol and 1.5-litre, 109bhp diesel), plus the choice of front- or four-wheel drive.
Despite the popularity of Skoda's compact lifestyle SUV, not everyone wants plush upholstery and highly polished cabin trim in a car that's destined to be a rough-and-tumble family holdall or workhorse utility vehicle.
And in this respect, the Duster trumps its well-established rivals. The car's interior looks and feels tough thanks to sensible trim and material choices, although it retains an easy-on-the-eye appearance. Familiar Renault switchgear rounds off the driver-centric side of things, while the Duster's cabin is a good size and easily capable of accommodating a growing family. Move rearwards and the car's boot is equally capacious and the ability to fold the rear seats for extra load capacity is a detail that won't be lost on active families. By now only someone spoilt by satnav and climate control could find fault with the Duster. In Dacia's defence, it's all about knowing your audience and, so far, the firm has pretty much nailed it.
On the move, there's a similar feeling of accomplishment. While neither engine is bursting with excess horsepower, brisk progress is possible.
The petrol engine might be a little quieter than the diesel alternative but it's the latter that scores the highest in terms of flexibility and economy. Those attributes alone should have anyone considering using the Duster as a family workhorse to plump for the oil burner.
Predictably, all-wheel-drive variants grip and go with ease on a variety of surfaces, but if the Duster is scheduled for only light duties, there's no shame in opting for a two-wheel-drive variant.
In the real world, it steers and stops just as well, and with the age of the high-rise hatchback truly upon us, there's much to be said for a lofty driving position and speed bump-skimming ground clearance. Furthermore, compliant suspension and accurate steering put to rest any notion that low cost equals lack of talent. By taking a common sense, low frills approach to motoring, Dacia has won many friends and satisfied owners in mainland Europe. The firm's Duster is proof that, even in the fashion-led world of lifestyle SUVs, you can succeed if all the elements - looks, ability, affordability, practicality - add up.