Dacia Duster: PH Fleet
Basic it may be, but there's a lot to be said for simplicity sometimes...
A variety of reasons, chief among them actually wanting to drive it, have meant I've been in the Duster a fair amount recently. And while I'm not going to pretend that it's suddenly my favourite new car on sale, or that our spec shows off the car to its best, I've found a great deal to like.
The simplicity is key to its appeal. Obvious perhaps, given that Dacia markets its cars on that very virtue, but becoming more relevant every day. You can buy a Hyundai i30 with 1,944 driving mode configurations, three versions of the BMW M3 within 30hp of each other and there's a Sport Response button - because it's like a racing car - on Porsche saloons and SUVs. Just being entirely adequate transport may not be cool in 2017 when every other car is attempting to be a Swiss army knife with a gearbox, but that's exactly what the Dacia is good at.
It's just easy, and that's really nice. It starts on a key, not requiring the clutch to be depressed, a button to be prodded or the car to be facing Bucharest before obliging. The fuel tank - which you'll become familiar with at a 35mpg average - is filled by opening the flap, unlocking the cap with the ignition key and squirting in Tesco's most affordable. The boot has a huge and visible external button, and is opened with your arms and not one of those infuriating automatic systems. The speedo and rev counter are analogue but clear, with markings in all the right places and sensible calibration; you'd be amazed how many dials are difficult to read, showing ludicrous numbers for road and engine speed. What's the point?
The ventilation controls are chunky and, yes, simple (albeit too low down) and all the controls you would expect to find on the stalks are as they always used to be. What was wrong with indicators and lights on the left, with wipers on the right? It just works, which is a neat summation of the car itself really.
It whisked me up to Lotus for the Exige drive entirely pleasantly, cruising with confidence and delivering a decent turn of speed once the little turbo boosted. The wheel control is poor, yes, and the steering feels like it would work better off-road than on. That being said, this is a car that starts at £9,495. Need some context for that? The cheapest Ford Ka+ is £9,545...
Taken in that light - and ignoring the fact that our particular Dacia was specced to twice that - the Duster is great little car. It doesn't have a great amount of time left with us, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be very tricky car to replace as do-it-all device. Might even be missed just a little bit, too.
FACT SHEET
Car: 2016 Dacia Duster TCe 125 4x4
On fleet since: January 2017
Mileage: 10,556
List price new: £15,795 (As tested £18,980 comprising Metallic paint for £495, European mapping for £90, Aspira leather upholstery for £500, Protection Pack for £495, Touring Pack for £565, Action Pack for £755 and Window Pack for £285)
Last month at a glance: Don't discount the Duster as a durable daily drive!
parking sensors
camera
satnav
alloys
leather
trip computer
cruise control
air con
electric windows
extra interior lighting
extra trim and pockets
a radio (!)
bluetooth
usb
adjustable wing mirrors
and lots of other things not found on the base car.
Live with the basic car and tell us how it is otherwise nobody gives a st.
As tested the car is priced the same as any other compact crossover and just not interesting
Was hard to get as apparently hardly anyone buys the Base model. I asked at my local dealer and a basic petrol FWD model was a 4 month wait.
I'm still tempted and love the idea of fitting my own radio, like the old days.
Have looked at secondhand but it seems people hold on to them and they do keep their value.
The only thing on offer is price but at the spec shown here even that falls very flat.
Was hard to get as apparently hardly anyone buys the Base model. I asked at my local dealer and a basic petrol FWD model was a 4 month wait.
I'm still tempted and love the idea of fitting my own radio, like the old days.
Have looked at secondhand but it seems people hold on to them and they do keep their value.
Also fitting own radio , Bluetooth satnav iPod DAB etc all for what 2500 quid ? That’s a,out of extras for not much money lol
Also fitting own radio , Bluetooth satnav iPod DAB etc all for what 2500 quid ? That’s a,out of extras for not much money lol
A bluetooth satnav Android head unit is £300 http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/head-units/android...
But you could certainly make do with a £50 job and just connect your phone http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/head-units/jvc-kd-...
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