Dacia Duster - long-term review

The one thing that really strikes when you have a Duster is that it offers freedom. It’s not that it’s disposable in any way (cheap plastics aside), more that you don’t get precious about the ownership proposition.

I have a dog, and a waterproof blanket in the back is all that’s required. Trip to the local recycling centre? Drop the seats, throw in a tarp and you’re set. Need to navigate multiple parallel parks and tight shopping centre carpark kerbs? Simple - the tyres are balloony enough that you can’t scratch an alloy anyway.

And when you do park it, you don’t feel like you need armed guards. In many ways it’s like the old Land Rovers I used to have: a faithful companion that can look after itself. Real life is its element.