Duster drivers are a hardy bunch. There’s a 2013-reg 1.6i Access in white, the most basic run-of-the-mill version you can buy, that’s done 141,000 miles, has had two owners and is being advertised for £2499. Think about it: two individuals have happily clocked up 70,000 miles apiece in this car, a vehicle so basic it doesn’t even have a radio.
We’re talking about the Duster Mk1, by the way, the model that ran from 2012 to 2018 and which shook up the market with its low prices. For example, new in 2012, that 1.6i Access – the engine produces a paltry 103bhp – was just £8995.
That got you a roomy, genuinely family-sized SUV with a big boot, good visibility and rugged looks. Most versions had roof bars, too. Spend a bit more and you could have it with a frugal 108bhp 1.5 dCi diesel engine, four-wheel drive and more kit, culminating in Laureate and, later, Prestige trims with alloys, cruise control, electric windows, heated door mirrors and air-con.
Our choice, though, would be mid-spec Ambiance with its stereo, body-coloured bumpers (Access’s black affairs feel like one sacrifice too many) and 60/40 splitting and folding rear seats. It lacks Laureate’s creature comforts but is more honest, without slumming it.
Romania’s value champion compact crossover enters a second model generation. It still might not be as refined as other SUVs, but the Duster is very much in a class of its own
With low new prices, of course, came a low level of sophistication. The ride, refinement and handling are all below par but worst of all is the model’s poor showing in the Euro NCAP crash tests: just three stars, m’lud. Even so, all versions have anti-lock brakes with Emergency Brake Assist, electronic stability control and traction control, tyre pressure monitoring and four air bags.
In 2014 the model gained a new grille with squarer headlights and smarter upholstery. The following year the 1.2 TCe petrol engine, related to the Nissan Micra’s 1.2 DiG-T unit, joined the line-up with a competitive 123bhp and low emissions. It was reserved for top-spec Laureate trim. Meanwhile, for lower-spec trims, the Euro 6-compliant 115bhp 1.6 SCe replaced the ageing 1.6i. It’s a good engine: torquey and with reasonably low emissions.
In the Duster’s final years on sale new trims and special editions came and went, including Prestige, which sits above Laureate. It’s interesting for the confidence it shows in the brand, with diamond-cut alloys, a 7.0in touchscreen media system and a rear parking camera. It’s a million miles from the cheap-as-chips 1.6i Access.
Despite its low price and, on entry-level versions, low-rent appearance, the Duster is a reliable motor that’s soundly screwed together. Servicing is every 12 months or 12,000 miles and prices are reasonable. The 1.6 petrol and 1.5 diesel engines have a cambelt that should be changed at six years or 72,000 miles.
Arriving at home in one will get the neighbours twitching their curtains for the wrong reasons. However, as you tap your wallet, you’ll know you made the right choice.
Top spec pick
SE Summit: This run-out special, based on top-spec Prestige trim, arrived in 2017 packing a bodykit, unique black alloys, burnt orange interior detailing (no, we don’t know why, either) for £1000 more.
Need to know
Some early Indian-built Dusters developed rusty sills, rattling doors and water leaks in the footwells. Dacia took responsibility and recalled cars for repair, while moving production to Romania. There have been no further reports of similar issues since.
Don’t assume the four-wheel-drive versions are more expensive than two-wheel-drive models. We found two dealer-advertised 2015/15-reg 1.5 dCi Laureates with 55,000 miles, the 4×4 for £6800 and the 2×4 for £7000. As always, condition is king.
The EDC automatic gearbox offered with the 1.5 dCi engine from 2017 is a dual-clutch affair. It’s lifted from the Renault Mégane and Kadjar and perfectly suits the Duster’s relaxed nature. A 2017/17 1.5 dCi Prestige EDC with 45,000 miles is £8000.
Our pick
Duster 1.5 DCI Ambiance Prime: Mid-spec version avoids Access’s dreariness and Laureate’s pretentions. Best bought as a 2016-reg with a Euro 6 engine, around 25,000 miles and full Dacia history, for £7250.
Wild card
Duster 1.6i Access: Dreary Access trim is honest as well as cheap. It’s what the Duster is about, and as the car ages you’ll love that there’s so little to go wrong.
Ones we found
2013 Duster 1.6i Access, 141,000 miles, £2499
2015 Duster 1.5 dCi Laureate, 67,000 miles, £5200
2017 Duster 1.2 TCe Laureate, 19,000 miles, £9295
2018 Duster 1.5 dCi 110 SE Summit, 10,000 miles, £11,810
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