Dacia Duster SUV (2018 - 2024) Comfort TCe 100 4x2 5d Owner Review

I live in Hungary now and managed to nab this Eastern European workhorse for less than 11 K pounds, a comparative bargain compared to the RHD versions they sell in the UK. Keep in mind the comfort spec here is less generous though, doesn't include the entertainment touchscreen, reversing cameras or alloys, just a stylised steel rim, but it does include reverse parking sensors, armrest and height adjustment for the seats and a spare wheel under the boot floor. I've only had it for a couple of weeks, but I'm very satisfied so far. I've driven in a mixture of urban environments and took a week-long road trip around lake Balaton, a scenic route in my neck of the woods. Although I drive the FWD version it has been useful on our patchy backroads and did well on forest tracks and dirt roads too. The suspension is very pliant and absorbs bumps very well, which is helped by the high-profile tires. Handling isn't great though, it is slightly wallowy and boat-like, but I guess for a tall SUV, that is par for the course. The whole car actually reminds me of the Land Rover Freelander, or a previous gen RAV 4. The 1.0 TCE engine is surpisingly peppy at low speeds and is fine at regular motorway speeds, but get a stronger engine if you do a lot of motorway miles. All of them are extremely good and suit the car very well, though for offroading, the Diesel is best, especially because of its short 1st gear. The gearbox is fine, if a bit notchy, but I'm still running the car in. The gearing is well spaced out, you don't really feel the need for a 6th gear. Styling is quite attractive, though clearly utilitarian. The back is the least attractive part in my view, but you can live with it. Lack of wheelarch cladding just feels mean. The rear breaks are just drums, but braking is still excellent, I've seen a duster beat an X3 in a braking test by a surprising margin. The interior is all black, which bothered me at first, but I've gotten used to it now. I think it is actually quite pleasing to look at in its own simplistic and utilitarian manner. I really don't want a spaceship look for my SUV, so that's fine. The materials seem fine, except for the door armrests, which lack padding in lower-spec models and can be uncomfortable on long journeys. The seats are fine, very comfy, with lumbar support and height adjustment. The steering wheel is nice and comfy too, wrapped in faux leather, but there is no backlighting. The Stereo is basic, but works, as long as you don't overdo the volume, as it can get tinny and distorted. I like the option of a centre-mounted factory phone holder, which you can screw into the centre of the stereo, giving you an extra USB-port which is higher-powered than the standard one, giving enough power to charge your phone whilst navigating, unlike the standard USB port which is lower-powered. This negates the need for an entertainment toucscreen and sat-nav. Bluetooth connectivity and hands-free voice calls work just as advertised, no glitches or issues there. There is an extra 12 V socket at the bottom of the central console as well as one behind the back of the left-side passenger. An odd placement, but it gives you 2 USB outlets and 2 12 V sockets overall, which is not bad for such a basic and low-cost car. The back seats are very comfy even for long journeys, but there is no armrest and there are no rear airvents. If there is a taller person in the driver seat, rear space behind them can be limited. Still, 5 average-sized adults can sit quite comfortably. The AC unit is probably from a Clio and feels a bit underpowered for such a large cabin, however, on long journeys it is fine. It just takes a while to cool the cabin down. Fuel economy is fine on back roads, gets a bit thirsty in urban driving and on motorways, despite the small capacity engine, but that's the price you pay for having an SUV. It is otherwise pretty close to advertised WLTP fuel-economy figures in real world driving conditions. Likes: - Engine is quiet and punchy at low speeds - Some of the interior styling is really smart, stolen from more expensive brands, such as Audi and Range Rover. I particularly like the AC controls, piano-style central console buttons, and the chrome-rimmed gearshift and round air-vents - The 16-inch steel wheels and raised ride height give you extra comfort and piece of mind. This really is a go-anywhere car, within reason Dislikes: - some cheap materials, lack of safety equipment, but hey, price...