Dacia has taken some of the angles off this new Duster and it’s looking less square. All the body panels are new, but it’s a gentle evolution of styling that enhances the Duster’s rugged appeal and will certainly not isolate fans of the first generation of the vehicle.
Inside you'll be greeted with swathes of hard grey plastic that allow the Duster to compete at such a low entry price. The dashboard and interior have been revised, though it remains plain but seemingly well screwed together. There’s a multimedia touchscreen display in the center of the dash, though the graphics do look quite dated. The seats have been completely redesigned with denser foam for improved comfort and support, and the driver enjoys the same high seating position as the previous car.
Interior space in the Duster is good for this size of vehicle. The foot wells in the rear are of a good size, and there’s plenty of headroom. In terms of the width of the rear bench, two will be more comfortable than three, which is similar to competitors. The boot is also very usable with a practical shape and a generous capacity of 445 litres.
On the road, the petrol engine has an adequate power to move the Duster efficiently and is reasonably refined too. Dacia has improved the sound insulation in the cabin and it also comes with a new electric power steering that reduces the effort required to turn the wheel by 35 per cent.
The steering is very light, so it’s great for parking and maneuvering, but contributes to a more vague feel at speed. Dynamically the Duster could be sharper and more refined, but on the plus side it’s comfortable and perfectly acceptable considering the price point of the vehicle.
Engine type: Inline 3 Turbo
Fuel Type: Petrol (Gasoline)
Displacement: 1.0 l (999 cm3)
Power: 101 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 160 Nm (118 lb-ft) @ 2000 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Layout: front engine, front wheel drive
Top speed: 168 km/h (104 mph)
Curb weight: 1191 kg (2625 lbs)
Average fuel consumption: 5.5 l/100 km (42 mpg US / 51 mpg UK)
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