Few brands can claim to have really changed the car market but Dacia is one of them.
The budget arm of Renault’s no frills approach to motoring has attracted buyers in droves by offering cars with starting prices £1000s below that of more mainstream rivals.
The brand’s flagship car is the Duster, a Nissan Qashqui-sized SUV with a starting price of £9,995 (the cheapest Qashqai costs £19,300). When it was launched back in 2012 it deservedly won the Scottish Car of the Year Award.
Now the all-new second generation version of the Duster is here – and it still starts at less than £10,000.
Although it sits on the same platform every body panel is new and the 2018 Duster has a wider profile and more muscular look to it.
The car’s front windscreen has been brought forward 100m and is more steeply raked comparison to the previous generation.
While the new Duster looks larger and more imposing than the outgoing model it shares similar proportions, measuring 4.3 metres long and 1.8 metres wide with a 210mm ground clearance.
Equipment includes a seven-inch touchscreen slightly angled towards the driver, sat nav and a rear view camera as well as a smartly finished interior and new side curtain airbags to boost safety.
There’s also a foldaway armrest on the driver’s seat, air conditioning, a seven function trip computer and an eco mode to help on the economy front.
Dacia has also worked hard to improve the car’s refinement. Additional sound proofing measures including thicker glass have been added to ensure it’s a comfortable long distance cruiser.
The push for comfort continues inside. Denser foam has been used for improved comfort and support and the driver’s seat comes with a new height-adjustment system. Dacia claims the increased soundproofing makes the interior up to 50% quieter.
Entry level models in the previous generation offered Spartan levels of equipment.
Now every Duster gets LED daytime running lights, height-adjustable front headrests and seat belts, ECO mode and Stop and Start, gearshift indicator, engine immobiliser, automatic door lock, ABS and Emergency Brake Assist, electronic stability control and traction control, new full length curtain airbags and Isofix points in the rear.
Entry level Access models cost from £9,995, while Essential trim starts at £11,495 and adds body coloured bumpers, air con, DAB radio and Bluetooth.
Comfort costs £13,195 and adds alloy wheels, leather steering whee and a rear parking camera, while Prestige weighs in at £14,395 and gets you multi-view cameras, climate control and keyless entry.
The new Duster is available to order now with first deliveries starting in July.