Dacia Duster review

The Duster range kicks off at £18,745 for the entry-level Essential Bi-Fuel version – it has steel wheels but where's the hardship? You get a decent safety setup and parking sensors, instead of a screen there's 'bring your own device' that controls your phone's nav from the steering wheel buttons via an app. That petrol/LPG motor is the only one available in Essential trim, though, and you can’t get it in a higher spec.

It’s a £2.5k jump to Expression trim with the FWD 1.2 3cyl engine, just over £2k more for the 4x4 version of that car, and then an £800 premium for the hybrid powertrain with the 1.6-litre petrol engine and e-motor. Journey and Extreme trims start at £22,945 and £23,745 respectively, with similar jumps up the table. 

What are the trims like? 

Essential is the bare bones car, and it still does the bare bones well. You get a plastic holder in the dash for your phone and steering wheel controls for the sound system, roof bars, six airbags and rear parking sensors. Who knows who will be buying these, but they’ll be like unicorns on the road.

Expression adds 17in alloys, a 7in digital dashboard, a 10.1in central infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple and Android, plus a reversing camera. Very swish. 

The top two trims are meant to form a Y structure – Extreme is more lifestyle-y with 18in alloys, modular roof bars, washable interior trim, auto aircon, satnav and Dacia’s fun YouClip system. Journey is meant to be more comfort-oriented, with 18in alloys, fog lights, keyless entry, wireless phone charging, satnav and an upgraded sound system.

Which one should I go for? 

There’s a strong temptation to go for the cheapest, stripped down version of the Duster, but realistically you’ll want to go for the next up Journey spec at £22,945, which still offers very strong value for money. No sense going for the 4x4 if you won’t realistically benefit from it and the hybrid will need to make a strong case for itself at a £3k premium.

Dacia has a new warranty called Zen. Even if a car is out of factory warranty, if you take it for an annual service at a Dacia dealer you activate another year of warranty, up to seven years. That’s kind of them.