Dacia Duster 1.5 dCi 2wd

Renault's budget brand Dacia had planned to launch in the UK in 2010, but the bank-fuelled recession soon put paid to that. Now Dacia is coming to Britain in autumn 2012 and this'll be the first model: the Duster faux-by-four. CAR's been out to test the new Duster in Morocco, read on for our first drive review.
The new Dacia Duster: sounds like a new furniture polish!
Yes, yes - look past the unusual name and you've got a Golf sized soft-roader. The Duster is a chunky looking thing and there's something pleasingly utilitarian about it. A no-nonsense design that the likes of Skoda have forgotten how to master.
There's a simple line-up at launch in 2012: pick from a petrol or diesel engine, both available as two- or four-wheel drive. Sharing the low-cost Logan's architecture has kept costs down and, priced from around £10,800 for the petrol 1.6 in 2wd form, the Duster will from 2012 expand SUV-lite territory to a wider audience than just the Qashqai/Yeti mob.
Cheap, cheerful... How does the Dacia Duster drive?
Pretty well actually. This is an uncomplicated car based on Dacia's no-nonsense Logan hardware. The four-wheel drive version has different rear suspension and will challenge mountain goats for go-anywhere cred. We drove one on an off road course designed by Dacia to ensure it wouldn't get stuck and - guess what - it's grippy and grunty enough to get up and down the most ridiculous angles. Mini SUV plaudits intact.
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