Dacia Duster Estate

• Body Glass
  • 3 speed windscreen wipers
  • Drivers window one touch up/down
  • Electric front windows
  • Electric rear windows
  • Heated rear window
  • Rain sensor
  • Rear wash/wipe
  • Tinted windows
• Brakes
  • ABS and Emergency brake assist
  • ASR traction control with Electronic stability control
  • EBD - Electronic brakeforce distribution
  • Hill start assist
• Driver Aids
  • Cruise control and speed limiter
  • Eco mode
  • Electric power assisted steering
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Reversing camera
• Driver Convenience
  • eCall emergency system
  • Stop/start system
• Driver Information
  • On board computer, odometer, trip computer, average fuel consumption, average speed, service indicator, outside temperature gauge
  • Rev counter
• Driving Mirrors
  • Electric adjustable/heated door mirrors
  • Satin chrome door mirrors
• Embellishment Trims
  • Charcoal grey central console surround
  • Matt black central console fascia
  • Piano black decorative insert on front door panels
  • Satin chrome air vent surround
  • Satin chrome instrument dial surrounds
• Entertainment
  • 8" Media display with smartphone replication, 2 usb sockets and 6 speakers
  • Dacia plug and radio/MP3/USB/bluetooth/DAB/steering wheel control
• Exterior Body Features
  • Black longitudinal roof bars with Duster inscription
  • Black side sills
  • Black/satin chrome tailgate trim with Duster inscription in black background and lettering
  • Body coloured door handles
  • Chrome front grille with hot stamping
  • Chrome logo surround on steering wheel
  • Front and rear body coloured bumpers
  • Front door sill protection strip
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear spoiler
  • Underbody protection skid plates
• Exterior Lights
  • Daytime running lights
  • Dusk sensor
  • Front fog lights
  • High level third rear brake light
  • Y shaped LED headlights with rear LED lights
• Heating/Cooling/Ventilation
  • Manual air conditioning
• Interior Features
  • Backlighted steering wheel buttons
  • Fabric decorative insert on door panels
  • Fabric upholstery
  • Gear shift indicator
  • Height and depth adjustable steering wheel
  • High centre console with driver armrest
  • Satin chrome interior door handles
  • Satin chrome lower steering wheel insert
  • Soft feel leather steering wheel
• Interior Lights
  • Boot light
  • Front passenger reading light
  • Rear passenger reading light
• Safety
  • 3x3 point rear seatbelts
  • Child locks on rear doors
  • Door open visual and audible warning
  • Driver airbag
  • Driver and passenger seatbelt not fastened - visual and audible warning
  • Front passenger airbag
  • Front passenger airbag deactivation
  • Front seatbelt pretensioners
  • Front side airbags
  • Height adjustable front seatbelts
  • Tyre pressure monitor
• Seats
  • 3 rear height adjustable headrests
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • 60/40 split folding rear seat
  • Driver seat lumbar adjustment
  • Front head restraints
  • Height adjustable driver seat
  • Height adjustable front and rear headrests
  • Isofix points for child seats in both outer rear seats
  • Map pocket on front seat backs
  • Single front passenger seat
• Security
  • Remote central locking
  • Thatcham approved engine immobiliser
• Vanity Mirrors
  • Passenger sunvisor with vanity mirror
• Wheels - Alloy
  • 16" alloy wheels

• Emissions - ICE
  • CO: 0.252
  • HC: 0.015
  • HC+NOx:
  • NOx: 0.013
  • Particles:
  • Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 141
• Engine and Drive Train
  • Camshaft: DOHC
  • Catalytic Convertor: Yes
  • CC: 1,332
  • Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE
  • Cylinders: 4
  • Cylinders - Bore (mm): 72.2
  • Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 81.34
  • Engine Code: HR13DDT
  • Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE
  • Fuel Delivery: TURBO INJECTION
  • Gears: 6 SPEED
  • Number of Valves: 16
  • Transmission: MANUAL
• Fuel Consumption - ICE
  • EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: No
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 6.2
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High: 6.8
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High: 5.4
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low: 7.3
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium: 5.7
  • WLTP - MPG - Comb: 45.6
  • WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 41.5
  • WLTP - MPG - High: 52.3
  • WLTP - MPG - Low: 38.7
  • WLTP - MPG - Medium: 49.6
• General
  • Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No
  • Badge Engine CC: 1.3
  • Badge Power: 130
  • Based On ID:
  • Coin Description: Tce 130
  • Coin Series: Expression
  • Generation Mark: 2
  • Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 19D
  • NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 70
  • NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 84
  • NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 3
  • NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 60
  • NCAP Safety Assist %: 57
  • Safety Concerns?: No
  • Special Edition: No
  • Special Order: No
  • Vehicle Homologation Class: M1
• Performance
  • 0 to 60 mph (secs): No
  • 0 to 62 mph (secs): 10.6
  • Engine Power - BHP: 129
  • Engine Power - KW: 95
  • Engine Power - PS: Yes
  • Engine Power - RPM: 4,500
  • Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 177
  • Engine Torque - MKG: 24.5
  • Engine Torque - NM: 240
  • Engine Torque - RPM: 1600
  • Top Speed: 120
• Test Cycles
  • Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP
  • RDE Certification Level: RDE 2
• Tyres
  • Alloys?: Yes
  • Space Saver?: No
  • Tyre Size Front: 215/65 R16
  • Tyre Size Rear: 215/65 R16
  • Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT
  • Wheel Style: N
  • Wheel Type: 16" ALLOY
• Vehicle Dimensions
  • Height: 1,633
  • Height (including roof rails): 1,693
  • Length: 4,341
  • Wheelbase: 2,673
  • Width: 1804
  • Width (including mirrors): 2,052
• Weight and Capacities
  • Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 50
  • Gross Vehicle Weight: 1,763
  • Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1478
  • Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 445
  • Max. Loading Weight: 493
  • Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1,200
  • Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 660
  • Minimum Kerbweight: 1,270
  • No. of Seats: 5
  • Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.72

Ten Second Review
A new car for the price of a second hand one is always a tempting prospect and when it's as smartly styled and capable as Dacia's Duster, the concept becomes particularly appealing. Undercutting rival models in the small SUV segment by an enormous amount, this Romanian budget brand uses proven Renault engineering to create a very likeable product that could prove ideal as back-up family transport. This second generation version gets more technology and a bit of extra polish, otherwise, the basic recipe's pretty much unchanged. Dig down the back of the sofa for some money and join the queue to try one.

Background
The original Duster SUV was the car that really built the Dacia brand. Launched in 2009, it was far better than any model in this class had a right to be for less than £10,000 but it did have a few rough edges - enough to keep some buyers in the compact SUV segment loyal to more established brands. You always felt that if this Renault-owner manufacturer could add a bit of extra quality, technology and polish to this value-orientated recipe, then it would be well set. We're told that this is exactly what's happened in creation of this second generation model. There are now features that Dacia buyers won't be used to - things like climate control, curtain airbags, blindspot warning, keyless entry and much more. And it's all been put together with a bit more love. Sounds promising.

Driving Experience
Cut back on cost and you also cut back on expectations. Admit it - you didn't think the Duster was going to be any good at all to drive. It may well come as quite a surprise then, to learn that the market consensus in Europe, where this car has been a huge sales success, is that this Dacia has the sort of ride/handling compromise that would shame rivals many thousands of pounds more expensive. Engine-wise, first up is the 0.9-litre Tce 100hp unit familiar from other compact Renault and Dacia models. It's a decent choice, far more efficient than the old Sce 75 unit and offering a lot more pulling power. There's also a more modern 1.3-litre Tce turbo petrol unit, available with either 130 or 150hp. If you need more torque, you'll be directed towards the 1.5-litre Blue dCi 115hp diesel. The Tce 150 and Blue dCi diesel units can be ordered mated to 4WD. The 4x4 set-up is the same Nissan-engineered three-mode system as was in the previous model, selectable via a rotary controller in front of the gear stick. Most of the time you'll be in '2WD', but in wet or icy conditions, there's the peace of mind of being able to switch seamlessly to 'Auto' so that extra traction will automatically cut in when necessary. For mud-plugging meanwhile, you'll want to keep all wheels turning permanently by switching to the 'Lock' setting.

Design and Build
Though this second generation Duster model looks familiar, Dacia says that not one body panel has been carried over from the previous generation car. A redesigned bonnet flows into a more distinctive grille extending to the head lights that makes the car look wider. This is flanked by a more distinctive lighting signature that includes LED daytime running lamps. A larger, mass-coloured, scratch-resistant front skid plate reinforces Duster's adventurer credentials. A higher belt line adds to the impression of robustness and protection while the windscreen has been brought forward 100mm and is more steeply raked, which makes the cabin appear more spacious. Ah yes, the cabin. That's been redesigned too. The smarter centre console accommodates a higher-positioned MediaNav multimedia touchscreen display viewed from more supportive seats. The window glass is thicker for greater refinement and there's extra cabin storage too. Of course, if you look for them, there are signs of cost-cutting, but everything's been decently put together and the boot's a decent size, offering 445 litres for the 2WD version and 376 litres for the 4WD variant. That's the same as the old model. As for rear seat accommodation, well, there's actually more space here than you'd find in most compact 4x4s, with reasonable levels of head, leg and shoulder room for two and, on shorter journeys, even for three.

Market and Model
While the thought of owning a trendy compact SUV/Crossover-style model for less than £10,000 might be the thing that gets people into Dacia showrooms, the car that satisfied prospective buyers end up driving out of them will probably require a very differently-sized cheque. Still one though, that'll offer a considerable saving on comparable models from other brands. Dacia's ethos is to keep things simple and no-nonsense - so the line-up is no different. There are five trim levels to choose from; 'Access', 'Essential', 'Comfort', 'Prestige' and 'Techroad'. 'Access trim', available from £10,995, features 16-inch steel wheels, electric front windows - and not a lot else. You'll probably want at least to find the £1,500 premium for 'Essential' trim, which adds 16-inch 'Fidji' steel wheels, body coloured front and rear bumpers, manual air conditioning, a DAB radio with steering-column mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity. 'Comfort' spec adds 16-inch 'Cyclade' alloy wheels, a front-seat armrest, a leather steering wheel, a rear parking camera and sensors, electric rear windows, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, MediaNav 7" touchscreen multimedia system with navigation and an on-board computer. The 'Prestige' version gives you 17-inch 'Diamond-cut' alloy wheels, a multi-view camera, blind spot warning, climate control and keyless entry.

Cost of Ownership
You'll find the Duster not only inexpensive to buy but similarly cheap to keep on the road. The base TCe 100 petrol model manages up to 52.3mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and 124g/km of NEDC-rated CO2. For the TCe 130 and TCe 150 4x2 variants, the figures are 47.0mpg and 137g/km. For the TCe 150 4x4, it's 44.4mpg and 145g/km. For the Blue dCi 4x2, it's 64mpg and 115g/km. And for the Blue dCi 115 4x4, it's 62.5mpg and 123g/km. As for peace of mind, well Dacia has chosen to cock a snook at the Koreans by - and I quote - 'deciding not to force buyers into paying a premium for a longer warranty they might not want'. You may disagree, but at least if you do, you've the option of extending the standard 3 year/60,000 mile cover with an affordably-priced five or seven year policy.

Summary
The afforable Dacia Duster SUV is a freshing change to the way that new cars are often a lot more expensive than perhaps they need to be, especially in fashionable market sectors like those for Crossover 4x4s. It's a trend manufacturers try and justify with high technology that's certainly very impressive but which many buyers neither appreciate nor really want. These are the people being targeted here by what continues to be a very clever package indeed, one that gives you almost everything you need - and nothing you don't. The things it can't offer - cutting edge handling, hi-tech equipment levels and a soft-touch trendy cabin - become irrelevant when you consider the asking price. A figure that in 4x4 models buys you off road ability that betters that of some rivals costing nearly twice as much. And in whatever guise you choose, you'll find a Duster smartly styled, practically finished and affordable to run. Enough to make it a better bet than a late, low mileage second hand Crossover/4x4 rival? Many will think so.