Wednesday 30th August 2023

Dacia Duster | PH Fleet

There's something to be said for no-frills, hassle-free motoring. Especially when you've got Le Mans to get to

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I must admit, I wasn’t jumping with joy when Ben told me that my ride to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans race would be his long-term Dacia Duster. A sudden change of plan meant the car I was due to take to the centenary race was no longer on the cards, and while I was keen to take my very own Ford Fiesta ST150, it was just a bit too small to fit in everything we’d need – and nor did I have the confidence it’d make it there in the first place.

None of that would be an issue in the Dacia, of course. Besides, if it weren’t for the Duster, I’d have missed arguably one of the greatest Le Mans 24s there’s ever been. Now, before you get the wrong idea, I’m a big fan of bargain motoring and it doesn’t get more bang-for-buck than a Dacia. And I must admit there’s something very appealing in a go-mostly-anywhere car without worrying about nicking the paint or plastic. It just so happens that the Dacias I’ve driven before have been somewhat gutless, with floppy manuals and little in the way of tech. Fine for a daily runabout, less enticing as a continental cruiser.

However, if you’ve read Ben’s previous PH Fleet updates on the Duster, you’ll know this ain’t no boggo Dacia. It’s the 1.3-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol version with a whopping 150hp and six speeds of automatic bliss. Don’t get me wrong, I’d always prefer to be in control of the gearbox, but given that the manual ‘box in a Jogger I drove a couple of years ago felt more like churning butter than anything mechanical, the auto is simply the better option here.

The soft, tall ride took some getting used to after spending most of my time driving the stiffly sprung PH Project Car, but I was right at home by the time I got to the EuroTunnel. Boarding the train was an absolute breeze, too, because the giant sidewalls around the 17-inch wheels means you won’t get caught out by the infuriating kerbs that jut out in the middle of every carriage.

The only time I longed for something more refined was when an impatient guard told me to get close to the car in front, but a lack of transmission creep meant slowly applying the throttle until the car lurched forwards and then swiftly applying the brake. This naturally made my passenger – PH’s Dave Marsden – quite ill.

From Calais to Le Mans, it was smooth sailing in the good ship Duster. Of course, the roads in France are vastly better than they are at home, but the plucky Dacia was surprisingly refined regardless. Wind and road noise is mostly isolated bar some buffeting around the wing mirrors, while it comfortably returned a fuel economy in the mid 40s even taking into account a scenic detour to dodge Rouen’s low emission zone. Coming to think of it, I only needed to fill it up once to cover off the entire 680-mile round trip.

Once we arrived at the PH campsite, I unloaded my things and moved them into the tent provided. Dave, meanwhile, decided against sharing a tent and instead opted to call the Duster home for the next three days. If you tuned in to the race, you’ll know it chucked it down several times causing absolute chaos on track. Meanwhile, at the campsite, I was busy bailing water out of my tent while Dave smugly looked on from the sanctum of the Duster. Turns out it makes a rather good car to camp in, not least because it’s watertight.

Admittedly, the Duster did blend into the background somewhat next to our neighbours: a Porsche Cayenne Coupe Turbo S e-Hybrid, an Alpina B3 S Touring and a nicely patinaed Rolls-Royce. I did however see a metallic orange Duster serving as the campsite’s support vehicle, which just sums up the Dacia’s role in all of this perfectly. It’s not glamorous, nor is it the first car that comes to mind for a dream drive, but it’s a dependable workhorse when you need it.

Moreover, I shouldn’t have been so quick to dismiss it. Sure, it was the excellent company and action-packed racing that made this year’s PH Le Mans trip so memorable, but the Duster ensured that the drive back was comfortable and, importantly, cheap. If anything, I’d become quite attached to it and was disappointed to hand it back - of course, it didn’t help that the ST’s air con decided to pack in on the drive home on one of the hottest days of the year.

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FACT SHEET

Car: 2023 Dacia Duster Journey TCe 150 Auto 4x2 EDC
Price as tested: £23,095 comprising urban grey paint (£650) and spare wheel (£300)
Run by: Ben Lowden
On fleet since: March 2023
Mileage: 5,164 (delivered on 633)

• Dacia Duster | PH Fleet
• Le Mans 2023 | PH Review

[Master Bean]

Mr Big Bones enjoyed his time in the front at Bicester.

[Turbobanana]

PH said:

Boarding the train was an absolute breeze, too, because the giant sidewalls around the 17-inch wheels means you won’t get caught out by the infuriating kerbs that jut out in the middle of every carriage.

Really? I've used the Eurotunnel just about every year since it opened, in everything from a Hyundai Amica to a lwb Transit, and have never caught a kerb.

I do get what you mean about transmission creep though

This year we were the last car in the carriage so the boys and I used the space behind for a sneaky game of badminton while Mrs Banana did pilates.

[Truckosaurus]

Indeed. In most larger cars on the double deck train the biggest worry is hitting the mirror on the toilet cubicle.

I'm always amused at reviews of Dacias that seem amazed that they have been able to complete some rudimentary journey.

Perhaps we just need a reminder that the joy of motoring is actually derived from going places rather than owning the vehicle.

[nismo48]

Got Michelin Latitude tyres on our Duster and although 16's they have good sidewalls for any dodgy kurbs

[Lester H]

Transmission creep, but what about price creep? These Dacia articles are wearing a bit thin now that they are no longer ‘ bargain basement’.

[Truckosaurus]

Lester H said:

....now that they are no longer ‘ bargain basement’.

Although it is perhaps of interest that there didn't seem to be a market for the totally stripped out versions, but they seem to sell plenty of the well specced cars. (Plus, have you seen the cost of used cars recently!)

[parabolica]

Lester H said:

Transmission creep, but what about price creep? These Dacia articles are wearing a bit thin now that they are no longer ‘ bargain basement’.

Duster starts from £17k. The Sandero starts from £13.8k. Given inflation and increased manufacturing costs, they still represent good value for money. If you can find equivalent spec, brand new cars at the same price point, would be interested to know what those are and how they stack up against the Dacias.

[Truckosaurus]

For something like the Duster, I suspect the best rival is the Suzuki Vitara which seems to start at £20k vs the Dacia's £17k entry level model.

[pb8g09]

parabolica said:

Duster starts from £17k. The Sandero starts from £13.8k. Given inflation and increased manufacturing costs, they still represent good value for money. If you can find equivalent spec, brand new cars at the same price point, would be interested to know what those are and how they stack up against the Dacias.

Thing is, whilst I agree on the comparator you mention, but what happens when the Tesco Value range gets to a price where actually the consumer decides that Heinz is worth the bit extra?

If the bottom of the wrung on new cars keeps going up, then people will just go with competitors that are lightly used or nearly new as the value for money option.

[parabolica]

pb8g09 said:

parabolica said:

Duster starts from £17k. The Sandero starts from £13.8k. Given inflation and increased manufacturing costs, they still represent good value for money. If you can find equivalent spec, brand new cars at the same price point, would be interested to know what those are and how they stack up against the Dacias.

Thing is, whilst I agree on the comparator you mention, but what happens when the Tesco Value range gets to a price where actually the consumer decides that Heinz is worth the bit extra?

If the bottom of the wrung on new cars keeps going up, then people will just go with competitors that are lightly used or nearly new as the value for money option.

'Entry level' cars always move up, that's how you know they've been a sales success. Skoda used to be entry-level, now they are solid options amongst all the other VAG and competitor products. Kia and Hyundai used to be entry level, now they offer much more competitive products and the price reflects that. Same with Dacia; they are still in that bottom group, but their offerings are solid and not the flimsy trash they used to offer 5-10 years ago.

What happens to the gap they leave behind? Another brand will fill it with some lower-cost offering; but right now no-one is really doing that. The new vs nearly new/few years old debate has been around since the invention of the car; there is a substantial portion of the market who want brand new, no-hassle cars at the cheapest possible price with a long warranty, and Dacia know their market.

[Lester H]

parabolica said:

pb8g09 said:

parabolica said:

Duster starts from £17k. The Sandero starts from £13.8k. Given inflation and increased manufacturing costs, they still represent good value for money. If you can find equivalent spec, brand new cars at the same price point, would be interested to know what those are and how they stack up against the Dacias.

Thing is, whilst I agree on the comparator you mention, but what happens when the Tesco Value range gets to a price where actually the consumer decides that Heinz is worth the bit extra?

If the bottom of the wrung on new cars keeps going up, then people will just go with competitors that are lightly used or nearly new as the value for money option.

Keep an eye on M.G. and other Chinese makes.
'Entry level' cars always move up, that's how you know they've been a sales success. Skoda used to be entry-level, now they are solid options amongst all the other VAG and competitor products. Kia and Hyundai used to be entry level, now they offer much more competitive products and the price reflects that. Same with Dacia; they are still in that bottom group, but their offerings are solid and not the flimsy trash they used to offer 5-10 years ago.

What happens to the gap they leave behind? Another brand will fill it with some lower-cost offering; but right now no-one is really doing that. The new vs nearly new/few years old debate has been around since the invention of the car; there is a substantial portion of the market who want brand new, no-hassle cars at the cheapest possible price with a long warranty, and Dacia know their market.

[ChocolateFrog]

Truckosaurus said:

Indeed.

I'm always amused at reviews of Dacias that seem amazed that they have been able to complete some rudimentary journey.

Perhaps we just need a reminder that the joy of motoring is actually derived from going places rather than owning the vehicle.

Haha, very true.

Like it's a gobsmacking revelation that a £20k car can cover a few hundred miles in relative comfort while not breaking down and carrying all your stuff.

[ChocolateFrog]

parabolica said:

'Entry level' cars always move up, that's how you know they've been a sales success. Skoda used to be entry-level, now they are solid options amongst all the other VAG and competitor products. Kia and Hyundai used to be entry level, now they offer much more competitive products and the price reflects that. Same with Dacia; they are still in that bottom group, but their offerings are solid and not the flimsy trash they used to offer 5-10 years ago.

What happens to the gap they leave behind? Another brand will fill it with some lower-cost offering; but right now no-one is really doing that. The new vs nearly new/few years old debate has been around since the invention of the car; there is a substantial portion of the market who want brand new, no-hassle cars at the cheapest possible price with a long warranty, and Dacia know their market.

Yep.

Dacia will move upmarket as sure as day follows night. They've said as much. The next Duster and the Bigster will be the start of that.

The Chinese will fill in what Dacia leaves.

[p4cks]

ChocolateFrog said:

Haha, very true.

Like it's a gobsmacking revelation that a £20k car can cover a few hundred miles in relative comfort while not breaking down and carrying all your stuff.

Superb

[re33]

p4cks said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Haha, very true.

Like it's a gobsmacking revelation that a £20k car can cover a few hundred miles in relative comfort while not breaking down and carrying all your stuff.

Superb

My other favourite is "Fast enough to keep up with modern traffic conditions.". What like a 50ft lorry or any car made since 1950!

[greenarrow]

ChocolateFrog said:

Truckosaurus said:

Indeed.

I'm always amused at reviews of Dacias that seem amazed that they have been able to complete some rudimentary journey.

Perhaps we just need a reminder that the joy of motoring is actually derived from going places rather than owning the vehicle.

Haha, very true.

Like it's a gobsmacking revelation that a £20k car can cover a few hundred miles in relative comfort while not breaking down and carrying all your stuff.

I was about to say the same. Its a new car ffs. Indeed I was shocked by the comment indicating the lack of confidence that the Fiesta ST 150 would make it. We have one of those and I would have more faith in it completing a road trip to John O'Groats, 700 miles away from my house, than I would my own diesel BMW.

[ChocolateFrog]

What would be a better article if you're listening PH is to find a 2013 Access model that retailed for I think £8999 and compare it side by side to the new top of the range model you have.

I'd be interested in that.

[The Driving God]

Turbobanana said:

PH said:

Boarding the train was an absolute breeze, too, because the giant sidewalls around the 17-inch wheels means you won’t get caught out by the infuriating kerbs that jut out in the middle of every carriage.

Really? I've used the Eurotunnel just about every year since it opened, in everything from a Hyundai Amica to a lwb Transit, and have never caught a kerb.

I do get what you mean about transmission creep though

This year we were the last car in the carriage so the boys and I used the space behind for a sneaky game of badminton while Mrs Banana did pilates.

It's a lot narrower between the kerbs in the double decker, and a large majority of drivers cannot cope.

[greenarrow]

Dacia seems to be going the same way as Skoda. Initially a very budget car which was one of the cheapest new cars to buy. Now pushing into mainstream territory on pricing. So is Dacia the new Skoda and Skoda the new Volvo, which is what I keep reading?!

[MustangGT]

Dacia are aiming to compete with Jeep. Personally I have never seen the point of a 'crossover'. In my definition a crossover is an SUV with no 4wd capability. I have had 3 Dusters, all 4wd, no point to them otherwise. All 3 have been used where 4wd was needed, I live in rural Cumbria down a single track road that does not get gritted or swept.