What are the running costs?

Although the Duster’s running costs might not be the lowest (there’s no plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, for instance). There’s also no more bi-fuel version on offer – this one allowed users to drive on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) as well as petrol, with huge potential savings (LPG is typically about 60% of the cost per litre of petrol).

However, once you factor in the predicted low cash price, competitive servicing, overall reliability (if it follows on from the old model), and excellent fuel consumption, this will remain one of – if not the – cheapest family-sized SUVs to run in the long term.

For this generation, the least economical is the TCe 130 4x4 model, clocking in around 47mpg and between 135 and 137g/km over official figures. The 4×2 (two-wheel drive version with the same engine claims 51.3mpg and between 123-124g/km CO2 emissions.

Choose the new Hybrid 140 model and you could reach fuel economy as high as 56.5mpg, with emissions dropping to 113-115g/km. This variation in WLTP test fuel economy ratings is refrected in real-world driving – expect 40mpg from the 1.2 TCe in real-world driving, while the Hybrid is even more impressive, averaging 46mpg in an extended test comprising of mainly motorway driving.

Servicing and warranty

Dacia has a large dealer network UK, many of them sharing space within Renault dealers.

The company offers Service and Maintenance Plans which will offset the cost of future servicing against an upfront payment, which can be built into the finance agreement. On top of that Dacia recently announced its Zen warranty programme that allows owners up to seven seats of cover by Dacia so long as their car is serviced at a Dacia dealer.

Reliability

The Duster’s underpinnings, electrical components, safety systems, engines and numerous other parts are all ex- or current Renault fixtures and fittings, and as such are tried and tested, and well respected. This generation’s architecture is, for example, shared with lots of contemporary Renault and Nissan models. Also it’s worth saying that the older model is reliable and highly rated by its owners.