Interior
What is it like on the inside?
Everything you need is here, but a lot of what you don't isn't. Which is calming.
Yes, you know where the money is being saved. Hard plastic abounds. The carpet resembles a slab of moulded blotting paper (if much more durable). The vents have a gritty action. Want a soft-touch dash? Get a Renault Symbioz and see how you like the extra monthly payments.
Is it practical?
The Duster's seats are fine and it's easy to get comfy in the front. Rear legroom has grown a little since the previous Duster and because you sit upright it's OK even for adults. The rear side windows aren't that big and the beltline is high so 10-year-olds might not be able to see out that well.
The boot size varies, depending on what's under the floor, so it's 400 litres in the Bi-Fuel (LPG tank), 358 in the 4x4 (differential and more complex suspension), 349 in the hybrid (battery) and an impressive 474 in the unencumbered FWD manual. Seats down you’ve got between 1,545 and 1,608 litres of space to play with.
What’s the tech like?
All the specs apart from the entry car have a digital driver's display, but the small graphics don't use the pixels well. And those versions also have a centre touchscreen that's a bit dopey: by the time the satnav screen boots up on the top-spec cars you'll be nearly there. But there's a handy built-in clip for your own phone.
Journey spec also has a better stereo: 3D sound, they say. We found it a bit one-dimensional. Still, a big-up for the proper physical climate switches and buttons to defeat the inappropriate intrusions of driver 'assist'.
Dacia is offering some clever accessories though: storage clips for gadgets, hooks, fun roof racks and boxes to make use of the modular roof bars, and best of all a double bed that stores origami-like in the boot and turns the Duster into a two-people campervanette.
Trending this week
- Electric
- Car Review
- Question of the Week