Dacia Duster, 999cc of Throbbing Fun

OK, I bought a Duster, but please dont leave! Hear what I have to say!

A car with an engine so is so small and light it could fit in a suitcase, and still be able to propel it with 5 passengers all day ay 90mph+.

A car that has over 20 cm of wheel articulation, in which you sit as high as a Range Rover driver.

Have things moved on this far? Could this be possible. Am I the only person who is impressed?

It must be very slow to get there?

The thought kept nagging away at me, perking my curiosity.

As a confirmed petrol head (I left University to do a 2 year full time automotive City and Guilds 30 years ago), I wanted to know the answer.

Was it any good?

Then, I found out that brand new, the Dacia Duster Essential 2wd 100 TCE costs £12k all in, with a 60,000 mile warranty. Could one survive me and my three teenage children, all looking to learn how to drive?

It should be OK with the Warranty? Surely this would be be insurable for a provisional driver with a piddly little engine.

I would be able to put a little trailer on the back for lugging my Jaguar XK engines and gearboxes around ( I run 1 racing E Type and have 2 modified E types, both fuel injected and am always up to my elbows in grease and MIG welders)

I would prefer to see the teenagers driving all over the place in this than some 12 year old Fiat Panda or £1,500 Corsa etc.

My boys are now over 6ft tall, so tiny cars are out. They all play golf, football and rugby too with friends, so a large car is good, Covid permitting.

So I ordered one and watched a few Youtube videos in the week it took to turn up. All the reviewers seem to have missed the point. They didnt seem very excited. I was quite excited about this. Had I found the modern version of a lovely Series Land Rover? No - it is much better as a road car.

So now I have one, I didn't test drive one, I just thought "how bad can this be?" and what a revelation it is.

The first thing is that it is quite a large comfortable car. 5 good size seats and clubs in the boot, no problem. Loads of head room and leg room and luggage space. The second thing I noticed is that Dacia provided quality Continental Tyres.

Next I noticed I had bought free servicing for 3 years. Excellent, not expensive at what is £120 a year.

On hand-over, no explanation of the controls because of Covid, I was just given the keys and wished good luck. Fine. Luckily all the controls were easy to figure out.

Pulling out of the dealership, I noticed the car pick up speed in a perky way, in fact the whole thing accelerates nicely, not feeling under-powered at all.

The 3 cylinder turbo-charged, fuel injected, petrol, twin cam is a little jewel. Really torquey at low revs, eager and revvy. The 5 speed gearbox is great too.

Quick pull over and I had the bluetooth connected to my phone and 6music on the excellent DAB radio. That would have taken me 15 minutes in my wifes E350.

I didn't realise I would get any of these luxuries I also got automatic headlights, a speed limiter, what might be cruise control, usb's, air conditioning and probably some other stuff including all the things we take for granted like phlip fob, PAS/EW etc. Happy days.

On the 50 mile drive back, the lack of mass up front was immediately apparent with an ease in which she wanted to turn direction, the steering being quite sensitive. The car is also quiet, the engine smooth and not too revy at speed, with 70 mph coming in at around 3,000 rpm. No wind noise.

She goes, stops and handles like just about any good modern car. OK maybe not quite like my 992, but certainly more comfortable and really a very nice all round driving experience. And 48 mpg (so far, I only have a few hundred miles). I look forward to getting in, everytime.

So what is the hidden catch?

Well I think the brand image has a way to go. I think the aspirational bunch wont give it a second look- (probably because they will be broken down by the side of the road in their blown up Discoverys- joke). However, I just dont care about that and I think the product does all the talking. It really is excellent.

So, I am happy to have joined the exclusive Dacia Club.

I should do Dacias marketing, my slogan would be

"Dacia- They are not Crap".

Good post, I enjoyed all of that....

Just makes you realise how much emperors new clothes all the German white SUVs really are.....

The Peacocks will never buy a Dacia and thus will end up enslaved to a PCP hell forever....

End of the day, its a form of transport that best walking or Shanks' Pony.....

Be interesting to see what Dacia come up with (and prices) if/when they go full electric.

When the OHs awful Citroen C3 is due to go back (next year) I think I'll be trying to persuade her that one of these would be a good idea.

TBF the look in our German Shepherd's eyes as we shoehorn him into the boot of the C3 alongside various baby paraphernalia will hopefully be enough.

I can see the appeal - I bought a Skoda last year....................

Unfortunately in 30 years I've made Mrs BC a "badge snob" and it didn't stay long

We had one for a few days in france, when Hertz upgraded my booked Focus.

I was a bit peeved initially, but actually it was not a bad car at all.

Thank you for a great post OP.

I really like the Dacia Duster, it is an absolute bargain, and that was with my pre-conceived idea that it was pretty rubbish.
Your 'review' has proven it is actually a good car, not just considering it's price.

Would I have one as an only car ? : ermmm no I don't think so.
Would I have one as a second car ? a big fat yes.

I love the Duster.

Interestingly, it seems to be a bit of an ‘old money’ thing where I live in the countryside. They tend to be bought by rich farmers/families who don’t care too much about projecting an image.

Bought one myself last June, it’s a good car and fun to push on in, even evo are running one now on their fast fleet

Like the look of these, would need to be 4wd though. Great value for the same price as a broken Freelander.