On the road in Laois: Third Generation Dacia Duster may win you over

Dacia was originally an independent Romanian car manufacturer who has been around for quite some time but they were bought by the Renault Group in 1999. Therefore their cars are primarily based on tried and tested Renault running gear and chassis. Dacia is still manufactured in Romania and the brand has seen a huge growth in its popularity as the models on offer are keenly priced and offer genuine value for money.

Dacia have won numerous awards and have sold millions of vehicles across Europe. The previous two Duster generations did well in Ireland and now we have the all new 3rd generation Duster and I have to say it's rather good! It offers SUV motoring without the high price tag.

The Duster range starts at just €25,990. The new model is available in both two and fourwheel drive with mild hybrid, and fully hybrid models across four trim levels, Essential, Expression, Journey and Extreme. This week I am road testing the top of the range mild hybrid version 4x4 drive Extreme.

So has it any street cred?
The styling is pretty good. It has what I would call robust good looks. The lines are clean and attractive and overall the new Duster looks like a purposeful off-roader should. Some great new colours give it a trendy new look too. I like it!

What is it like inside?
The cabin has been completely redesigned, with improved specifications and materials. It all looks pretty good. Sure you don’t have to look very far to find hard touch plastics but because they have put a bit of thought into the design the overall look and feel of the cabin is one of style and reasonable quality. There is plenty of standard kit on this top of the range Extreme version highlights of which include the now obligatory safety systems such as lane assist as well as heated front seats, auto keyless opening and closing, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, a central touchscreen and I am pleased to see a row of real buttons for the climate control functions!

There is also a drive mode selector with programs for the 4x4system such as Mud, Snow Gravel and so on. Overall it's a very impressive package of kit. There is lots of oddments space and even a handy clip for placing your mobile phone.
The driving position is good with the extra height of the Duster giving a commanding view of the road ahead. Accommodation is good; it will seat four adults in comfort and five at a squeeze, with a decent load area of some 414 litres.

What is under the bonnet?
The model on test is powered by a 1.2 litre petrol turbo which produces some 130bhp. Performance is sedate but adequate and power goes to all four wheels via a rather notchy, it has to be said, 6-speed manual gearbox. The combination does work well though and the new Duster cruises happily all day at motorway speeds. Over my 500km or so its average fuel consumption was 5.9 litres per100km which is pretty good. Road tax is €210.00.

Will I enjoy driving it?
This new Duster is impressive. It is reasonably quiet and refined and handles very well. Road wind and engine noise are all well suppressed. It hums along all day at motorway speeds in an un fussed manner and proves a comfortable car in which to travel.

So What is the Verdict?
The new Duster builds on the success of the previous two generations while really improving things where it needed it. I felt it no longer feels bargain basement as did the original. The good style, decent specification levels across all trim levels and the way it drives make a very strong argument for someone who wants an SUV but does not want the high price associated with many of them. I liked the new Duster and I think it will do very well as it has matured into a fine SUV. The Extreme 4x4 model tested costs €34,840. Good value indeed!