Dacia Duster Owners Reviews

• How It Drives
  User: 90%
• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
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• Practicality
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All rounder!

Dacia Duster Laureate 4x2 1.5 dci
Purchased may 2013.
27 month's old.
Currently displaying 63,000 miles.
Original Tyre's, Disc's, Pads.
The only item's that have been changed are oils and filters.

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
  User: 100%
• Practicality
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Ronseal

As I was driving the car I couldn't help thinking of the reviews were there presenters kept on saying its quite good this, yeah it is good do you know they are good ! i have nothing but pleasure using the car driven to Germany and was brilliant on their autobahns.
Works for me 🙂

• How It Drives
  User: 97%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 82%
• Reliability
  User: 98%
• Practicality
  User: 97%

the best car ive had in years

i have had my duster 1.5 4wd since 2013 april ive put 25000 miles on it and its great its solid reliable i have no issues with it at all not like other new cars ive had over the years including Mitsubishi asx and fords the only car that compare it with is the skoda octavia 1.9 tdi for quality and reliability as you can tell im over the moon with it and yes mine had paint problems but dacia deal with it straight away not like mitsubishi how also i had a paint problem with keep it up dacia 5star

• How It Drives
  User: 83%
• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
  User: 94%
• Practicality
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Better than you expect

Having had my Duster 4x4 Laureate diesel for a year and 27,00 miles now I think I can comment fairly on it.
Reliability has been faultless. Not a single problem. The only warranty fix has been a bit of rust on wiper arms which were replaced without question and a adjustment on an alarm sensor as it was setting of the alarm sometimes. Other than that no problems.
Costs to run. Cheap as chips have only put fuel in and paid for 2 services which were £125 each.
Fuel economy. Obviously not getting the 52mpg advertised bit I drive briskly and tow a trailer quite a lot but still the average over the whole year has been around 38-40mpg which is decent for a 4x4. Certainly better than my old freelander.
Looks . I like the styling and it's all functional. Yes the plastics are a bit base but it all works and takes knock and nothing has broken.
Driving. It drives much better than it should for the price. Smooth not too noisy although wind noise can be high on the faster roads. Comfortable on long Journeys. Handles ok but steering can be a bit sensitive to rough bumps and cornering over a bump sometimes produces strong feedback through the steering wheel. Off road it's great on muddy tracks and across fields and grass. Almost as good as my freelander was.
In summary a great car for the price and a better can than you expect for that money. It does everything I need without stuff I don't at a price I am happy with.

• How It Drives
  User: 94%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 65%
• Reliability
  User: 100%
• Practicality
  User: 98%

Very Satisfied customer

So this is the first new car I have ever bought though have been driving new leased cars over the past 6 years. This car is amazing value for money. I have bought a phase 2 black 4x2 Laureate Duster which I collected in early Feb 2014 with protection and styling packs.
The comfort for myself and passengers is excellent and the ride quality very good.

It is evident Dacia have done some work on the reported noise issue. I have a 1.5dci and it is extremely quiet and smooth despite still being run in.

The boot is huge and easily accessed and even the Medianav has been a pleasant surprise being intuitive to use.

It is too early to really judge fuel economy but seems good so far.

I have had lots of interest from colleagues at work in the car and all (including Quashai owners) are very impressed ..........especially with my 15000 quid purchase price!

In short, highly recommended

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
  User: 22%
• Practicality
  User: 74%

wet

bought a new step way sept 14, rear passenger footwell filled with water 4 times. Shocking customer service and zero compensation. Wouldn't touch another Dacia with a barge pole

• How It Drives
  User: 81%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 86%
• Reliability
  User: 99%
• Practicality
  User: 96%

58mpg.

We have had our Duster Laureate 1.5 diesel for a month now and covered 2200 miles of trouble free motoring.In normal driving mode it returns 51mpg.In eco mode 53mpg and on one trip of 268 miles of Scottish A roads and motorway returned 58mpg.in eco.
Only gripe i have is that it doesnt come with automatic gearbox.
That aside its great to drive with an up high view of the world where you can look at all the badge snobs in their overpriced cars and have a snigger to yourself when you remember how little you paid for all this car.

• How It Drives
  User: 73%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 75%
• Reliability
  User: 91%
• Practicality
  User: 97%

Two Wheel Drive

Well that's a month with our khaki car.First ever New car for us and so far it's money well spent.2000 miles on various roads.In normal mode 51.2 mpg is pretty good.In eco 53.4.On a 268 mile run on eco it recorded 58 mpg.
My only gripe is that it doesn't come as an automatic.
we too laugh at badge snobs who runs out in cars costing 2 or 3 times the price of a Dacia Duster 4x2 diesel.

• How It Drives
  User: 80%
• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
  User: 40%
• Practicality
  User: 75%

Very Poor on Providing Spares - 2 months waiting now!

I have a 4x4 Duster Laureate that has been fine until 8 weeks ago when the heater fan failed except on full speed. Now Dacia/ Renault cannot find the spare part anywhere, and it seems this is not an isolated fault as there are others with same, and they still cannot locate a spare! This is a big problem with the cold, damp weather as the car mists up readily.
Not sure I would ever buy another when spares are not available.

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
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• Practicality
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Bargain

I've never owned a new car or a top of the range one just several Golfs, a Celica, an Almera and a Hi-Lux Surf. I have also owned several Landies (which could be why the "Basic" set up of the Access model doesn't phase me). I honestly love this car, from the very comfortable seat position to the fantastic boot space. Don't get me wrong, if I could afford a Land Cruiser I wouldn't have looked at the Duster but I can't and I'm glad as I would have missed out. I've never minded second hand cars but am old n grey now so I've had enough of working on cars so when I saw the Duster (I prefer a car with a higher driving position) and its price I had to try it.
I settled on the Access because I couldn't bring myself to spend any more on a car. I do miss aircon but only for de-misting the windows, I would prefer an engine with more guts and better fuel economy and I would prefer for the fittings to be less "plasticy" but I can definitely cope with them as they are. I would highly recommend the Duster to anyone considering buying a similar sized car as I think even the top of the range Dusters represent excellent value for money.

• How It Drives
  User: 51%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 40%
• Reliability
  User: 20%
• Practicality
  User: 73%

Returned Duster for a Refund

Collected my 1.6 petrol Access on 2nd Jan 2015. Before the month was through it was showing signs of rust and I rejected it for a full refund.

The Good - Spacious, practical with low purchase price

The Bad - 1.6 petrol really not powerful enough for car, very sparsely equiped in Access trim, wind/road/engine noise very noticable at speed, seats uncomfortable on longer journey. Was not economical although was still runnig in. Completed 1,100 miles.

All in all whilst I can't fault it for the purchase price £8.5k with delivery milage it is quite compromised aqnd in a strange way I was glad it went started to rust as it allowed me a refund and a re-think.

Looking back it reminded me of our old Fiat Panda when it was the cheapest thing on the road..the thin metal, cheap seats and zero equipment or driving pleasure. If you can live with that and don't mind driving something that doesn't feel like a modern day car then you get a lot of space for your money but after what was effectively a month long test drive I wasn't sorry to see it go and I appreciate my new ( albiet more expensive ) car a whole lot more.

• How It Drives
  User: 45%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 45%
• Reliability
  User: 50%
• Practicality
  User: 50%

HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST VALUE THERE IS IN A 4x4

Now one month in to my ownership of a 1.5DCi 4x4 Laureate Duster and I am delighted with it. Comfortable, responsive, oodles of space, good driving position and so far great fuel economy at around 45mpg urban. O n slight niggle is the MediaNav screen which when being used for SatNav could perhaps have been mounted at a slight angle and higher up.

• How It Drives
  User: 97%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 91%
• Reliability
  User: 98%
• Practicality
  User: 95%

great car

was looking for a new car in 2013 tried a few was going to buy another kia careen but the price went up to £25000. saw an advert for dacia never heard of them. went to see what they were like at £1000 for a new car. was going to road test a sandero but a duster was parked next to it so I road tested the duster instead. at £14000 for a brand new car and when the salesman said we will give you £4500 for your old kia no contest. had it since may2013 36000 miles will be buying another when the warranty runs out

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
  User: 95%
• Practicality
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Great workhorse

Bearing in mind the price paid for the car you can't expect range rover standards. It does what it says on the tin. I am more than happy.

• How It Drives
  User: 74%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 62%
• Reliability
  User: 100%
• Practicality
  User: 81%

great value Duster

I picked up my Duster in December of 2013 and have since covered over 11000 miles, many of those miles towing a caravan. I have found the vehicle to be totally reliable and excellent value for money. During the first 12 months, the only fault I found was a flat spot which was resolved during the first service, although I had not mentioned it as a problem. I am satisfied with the Duster at the moment, but when the time comes, I would not buy another, unless the engine size was increased and an automatic added as an option. I believe that there is an opportunity in the market for a Duster as a towing vehicle, but as previously stated with a larger engine and auto. If a model was available I would trade in ASAP.

• How It Drives
  User: 97%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 50%
• Reliability
  User: 98%
• Practicality
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great car

We bought a 4x4 access for a workhorse not expecting anything. Foe £11495 though what we have is what we think feels like a superbly comfy quiet cruiser that is supremely practical and is a total bargain. 300 miles into ownership and we are in love. IGNORE THE PRESS RELEASE S that say it's noisy it definitely is not. It cruised happily at 70 mph on the motorway with the slightest air rustle around the a pillars. This is an amazing car. We laugh at freelanders passing at £30k and more. Do the maths!

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
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• Practicality
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An amazing car

Took delivery Saturday and after a weekend of driving we're just so impressed with the car. Duster 4x4 1.6 petrol access , quiet refined fast enough but of course it's not a sports car we just love it. So far ownership is very very pleasant. Where on earth the press get the idea this is a n o isy car I do not know.. it definitely is not . At 70mph the loudest noise is a rustle of air around the a pillars and no worse t h an my brand new mini f56 cooper for half t h e price! Hmmm do the maths! Yes the plastics are harder but yes they will last longer without being damaged by our dog out luggage.Yes it's a bit thirtieth, 36 mpg so far v 42 but it's a huge load carrying 4x4. If you want a cheap practical refined cruiser that totally irons out potholes and speed bumps, go for it. It's a bargain!

• How It Drives
  User: 100%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 89%
• Reliability
  User: 100%
• Practicality
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Dacia Duster Laureate 2WD 2013 on spec

Looked at a Nissan Juke, Qashqai and finally another Renault Scenic, went to a Renault Dealership to look at / buy a Scenic I had seen on there website, arrived and watched as it was driven out of the dealership. So whilst there looked at the Stepways and Dusters, taken by a Duster in blue, did not even test drive it, just brought on spec. It had a couple of extra options fitted already, Now have fitted the Dacia / Phillips DRL kit, Have the Dacia rear bumper protector to fit and waiting for the Dacia Spoiler to arrive. So you can guess I am impressed with the car.

• How It Drives
  User: 95%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 99%
• Reliability
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• Practicality
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Well worth the money and a good vehicle overal.

Very nice and worth the money as a 2wd diesel motor. Surprisingly good MPG and build. A couple of bad things, one the back of the rear seat is only covered in cheap cloth and can easily get holed by gods or a dogs pay when in the down position. The rear Duster chrome badge thing fill with water and needs a couple of drainage holes in it. For another £10 on cost it would have been a better review if they had done these two things better. Also, the auto locking of all doors when you dont want it and when at a stop such as unloading the rear means you can shut your keys in it, be warned it is a useless addition and very bad design.
No bad mechanical or electrical events at all and trouble free motoring.

• How It Drives
  User: 82%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 63%
• Reliability
  User: 76%
• Practicality
  User: 85%

Value for Money

You pay for what you get normally but with the Duster I think you get more than what you pay for. I wanted a relatively spacious vehicle with reasonable MPG but also something I could have some off road fun in. I looked at many second hand options but with warranty and no MOT for 3 years the Duster made sense.. It is good on the road. The quality inside is not great but I haven't spent £80K on a Range Rover. I actually enjoy the slight agricultural feel and the fact you can hear what the engine is doing. Great car for off road fun and also cruise down the motorway at circa 45+ mpg.

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
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• Practicality
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Great 4x4 for the money!

Had my Duster for 19 months and it's a great car for the money. I think it looks great and have had no problems barring a couple of minor niggles at the start which were quickly sorted by my dealer. For me the Duster is perfect - not too big or small. I like the elevated and comfortable driving position. It's the first car I've had with bluetooth and it works perfectly. The four wheel drive system is simple to use and I now look forward to driving in snow!.

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
  User: 75%
• Reliability
  User: 90%
• Practicality
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Alll happy - buying again. - 4x2 Signature Black

overall very happy with the car. 70,000 KM driven so far with no issues. Traded in for January 2015 same version - just different colour.

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
  User: 89%
• Reliability
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• Practicality
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superb machine

I have been amazed by the complete package that is my Duster Laureate.

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
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• Practicality
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Brilliant!

Comfortable, economical, fun to drive ,.. Fantastic value for money. Insurance and tax reasonable as well.

• How It Drives
  User: 78%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 84%
• Reliability
  User: 100%
• Practicality
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on the whole very pleased with the 4x4. We live in Argyllshire and the vehicle has got us through deep snow and muddy tracks

• How It Drives
  User: 99%
• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
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• Practicality
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Love My Dacia!

I've owned my Dacia Duster Laureate 4x2 1.5dci for 18 month's.
In that time I've covered just over 40,000 care free miles.
It's been an absolute pleasure to drive.
I will definitely be buying another in 18 months time.
Fingers crossed there is an Automatic out by then.

• How It Drives
  User: 99%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 99%
• Reliability
  User: 93%
• Practicality
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My pride and joy

I have a 2WD diesel Duster Laureate in blue with styling pack. It looks stunning, is a pleasure to drive and the fuel economy has exceeded expectations. We are looking to replace our second car and have been so impressed with the value for money are thinking of buying a second Duster. Why pay £25k for an SUV when you can buy something just as good for £15!

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
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• Practicality
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duster 4x4

i purchased the duster in 2013 after a long search for a 4x4 as i had a tight budget of £15000 i was getting nowhere the cheapest 4x4 i could find was 3 years old for that price . I came across the duster by accident my wife was swapping her car and i saw it in the showroom when it met my criteria which was 4x4 because i live at the top of a steep hill and when it snow i struggled to get the car home, cheap to buy,cheap to insure, cheap road tax, and good on fuel i immediatly booked a test drive my disapointment when i said i want one was to be told there was a 6 month waiting list after 2 months waiting i got a phone call saying a duster was available as somebody couldnt get finance it was the amiance i ordered the lauret but this had extras tow bar roof rails center console mud flaps door and wing protectors and revercing aids and 5 year warranty so i bought it and love it now for the bad points the 1st and 2nd gear are far to low 3rd 4th and 5th gears are great and my other grips are economy i was told it would get 53 to the gallon but the most i can get out of it at 70 mph on the motorway is 43 and local running abou is 35 and last winter i only got 29 mpg and the bluetooth seystem is poor it works but everybody who calls me tell me that they can barely hear me for the echo and finaly would i buy another well that a no brainer YES i love the car drives really nice

• How It Drives
  User: 85%
• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
  User: 100%
• Practicality
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2013 Ambience 2WD diesel - A great value car which feels solid & reliable. Sits well on the road. & gives good fuel economy.

• How It Drives
  User: 63%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 50%
• Reliability
  User: 76%
• Practicality
  User: 59%

2wd ambiance

Wife's first car and loves it but just found rust under bonnet hinge both sills and Window wiper arms. What next Feel sick and let down wIll need to contact Dacia

• How It Drives
  User: 69%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 48%
• Reliability
  User: 62%
• Practicality
  User: 95%

Not perfect by any means but excellent for the money

The car's good - very good - when you remember how much it costs. Even the top of the range 4WD Laureate (that I'm lucky enough to own) is great value and even when you add a few trinkets after-sales there's still a damn good value vehicle that has no genuine competition.
It performs well off-road, the engine's eager if not exciting - I'd recommend a decent chip for the 1.5dci to provide a little more "oomph" (but watch the warranty) - and the spartan cabin isn't really all that bad if you opt for the MediaNav, cruise control and upgrade the sound system (or at least the speakers). The ride's pretty good too.
All-in-all, I love it and the dog loves it too - a lot of car, as they say, for 4 full-sized adults and a large dog or two

• How It Drives
  User: 79%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 80%
• Reliability
  User: 100%
• Practicality
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2013 Dacia Duster Access 4x2, 1.6 Petrol

Purchased car as a general runabout and load lugger and delivered April 2013. Ordered unseen as I was only able to test drive a diesel and based the purchase on the general vehicle . On delivery I was pleased with the general drive of the petrol model. Does everything I ask of it, short and long journeys are taken in its stride and fuel consumption has never dropped below 36- 37 mpg. The car is comfortable and the ride is good, especially on poor road surfaces. No rattles from the cabin area as with many other budget cars. Shame it never came with a spare wheel only an inflation kit. I fitted a spare wheel and fitting cage but its a quite pricy item!
Rust appeared in engine bay and on door shuts at 10 months but was repainted under warranty. Some rust is still appearing as I speak and due to be rectified in the near future under the 6 year corrosion warranty. Did tell the dealer that the original paint seemed thin in its application.
I like the car a lot but the rust problem has been a big disappointment.
If I was considering a new duster, i would wait till they are going to be built in Romania rather than India, the build quality is supposedly far better on LHD models. Petrol v Diesel means more gear changes on hills for the petrol but in general it does the job very well. Hope they sort the rust problem soon and perhaps replace the rather old but reliable 16v petrol motor with a more powerful version with a turbo.
4 out of five for effort!

• How It Drives
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• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
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• Practicality
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2013 Dacia Duster Ambiance 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

I bought the Duster to transport a wife, 2 grown up kids and 2 dogs(one of them a 12.5 stone St Bernard!!)and it has performed this task effortlessly and reliably. The ride is incredibly comfortable compared to the company Nissan Juke, fuel economy is comparable too. All in all 15 months of fault and rust free motoring

• How It Drives
  User: 60%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 40%
• Reliability
  User: 60%
• Practicality
  User: 60%

2014 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

Looked forward to a new car, was assured by Dacia and my dealer that there was no issue with rust on UK Duster. Rust appeared after only 2 months.
I will never give a good overall rating to a car that was brand new and RUSTED after only 2 months.
To say I am bitterly disappointed is putting it mildly.

• How It Drives
  User: 60%
• Fuel Economy
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• Reliability
  User: 100%
• Practicality
  User: 100%

2014 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

I bought the car after reading the great reviews in the motoring press. I wanted a car that would tow, carry bikes and seat 4 in comfort. I wanted a good sized boot and an economical engine. I was looking to keep the car for 6-7 years.

I colected the car and was excited at buying my first ever brand new car. However the excitment was short lived. Four days later I found the first rusty area in the front o/s wing. Then 3 days later, rust under the bonnet, on the o/s front suspention turret,above the doors rails, inside the fuel filler area, above the read hatch gate, around the child locks in the rear doors, on the bonnet.................i could go on.

I rejected the car straight away in writting to my dealer and Dacia Customer services.

My Dealer has been great and got me out of the car after 2 months. However Dacia were terrible. They refused the rejection, never called back or returned emails.

If you are reading this and thinking of buying one............go ahead if you are getting it on a lease style deal as you can give it back after three years and the rust which will be rampant by then will not be your problem. Better still, buy something else.

• How It Drives
  User: 61%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 40%
• Reliability
  User: 61%
• Practicality
  User: 61%

2013 Dacia Duster Ambiance 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

Rust first appeared after only 4 months of ownership (January 2014) and was discovered when my car was having it's speaker grilles replaced as they were letting water into the rear footwell.

Further investigation have found rust under every rubber seal (doors and engine bay), on the suspension turret, rear sill seam and child locks. Oh and the paint is so thin I can see primer/undercoat on the underside of the doors.

Dacia are apparently going to wave a magic wand and make the rust disappear in September 2014.

I've been getting 40-45 mpg on mainly a and b-road journeys but this drops if you go above 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways.

The material on the back of the seat is incredibly thin and it won't be long before something goes through this when the seats are folded down. The 12v socket isn't the sturdiest and the armrest is positioned so that it gets in the way of both the gear change and the seat back adjuster.

1st gear is very low on the 4wd to allow for off-roading so pulling away in 2nd has become normal practice for me so it will be interesting to see how the clutch lasts.

• How It Drives
  User: 60%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 80%
• Reliability
  User: 60%
• Practicality
  User: 60%

2013 Dacia Duster Access 4x2, 1.6 Petrol

Started off with a lot of excitement but ending in a lot of disappointment . As it is a 4x2 petrol , my fuel economy is different from others as it is running most of the time on E85 ethanol fuel , which it loves as it has a higher octane , but less miles to the gallon average about 30 mpg . Drives well and comfortable , but the issue is it longevity . The rust issue is popping out everywhere , and the lack of paint is appalling . The average paint coat on a modern car is 120mico my Duster has an average of 40micro . In places under the doors they have forgotten to paint altogether . Reliability , well it has not broken down yet but it is under a year old . Overall , the short cuts to produce a cheap vehicle has permanently harmed the model .

• How It Drives
  User: 19%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 61%
• Reliability
  User: 80%
• Practicality
  User: 80%

2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

Initially my experiences of the Duster were pretty good. I bought a new budget brand, albeit the highest spec so knew there may be some small problems with maybe trims etc but was willing to take that risk. As it turned out apart from a small problem of a self applying hand brake (cable needed replacing) and a few rattles coming from behind the dash I didn't have any real problems. Unfortunately I soon discovered so rust patches on the vehicle after 5 months. This is where the problems began. It turns out there is a problem with SOME of the Indian produced Dusters. After months of trying to get these issues resolved without any success I decided that I no longer felt safe driving the vehicle and have proceeded to reject the vehicle. It's unfortunate really that they have been let down by poor materials and quality control otherwise the cars could've been a success.

• How It Drives
  User: 11%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 61%
• Reliability
  User: 77%
• Practicality
  User: 75%

2013 Dacia Duster Ambiance 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

The car that could have been great but isn't.

Quality control was none existent whilst manufacturing this car. Problems with tyre fit, followed by wheel alignment, then a rattling steering wheel and now rust on every panel except the front doors.
I like the driving position and general look of the car and it can be loaded up with loads of stuff so is quite practical, but then so is nearly every other car of this size.
I dislike the number of faults, the fuel economy is a long way off of the listed figures I managed 43 mpg and when the wife uses it, it drops to 37 mpg. The cabin is very noisy which makes the feeble indicator repeater bleep even harder to hear. Small imperfections in the road surface cause quite fierce feedback at the steering wheel, and constantly having to correct the cars pull makes driving any distance on main roads quite uncomfortable.

I wouldn't recommend this car to anyone I liked.

• How It Drives
  User: 61%
• Fuel Economy
  User: 61%
• Reliability
  User: 60%
• Practicality
  User: 62%

2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

Bought the Duster as seemed like a good car fom evans halshaw would not recomend them to my worst enemy such lack of customer care. rust appeared on the inner wings and the rear passanger side door step. Car was taken in to get this rectified after three weeks of waiting when it came back it only lasted three weks before the same location began to rust again plus the rear corner of the bonnet inside the engine bay, the drip rail under the bonnet , the two child lock lever housings on both back doors and the drivers side rear passanger step again a lack of customer care from Evans Halshaw and another three weeks wait before they called to arrange repairs. I dont expect this will be the last visit it makes to get warrenty paint works and rust covered up

• How It Drives
  User: 100%
• Fuel Economy
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2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

All in all an excellent 4 x 4 for the money. A couple of little issues with paint coverage on the bonnet and passenger door and a rattle from the engine bay caused by 2 A/C ducts resonating against each other but these have all been quickly sorted out under warranty.

So far I think that this is one of the most comfortable and enjoyable vehicles I have driven in twenty years.

So many people have come up to me in car parks to ask me about the Duster and it always seems to be a talking point.

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2013 Dacia Duster Access 4x2, 1.6 Petrol

Great car if you are on a budget or are tired with expensive brands.
With two children, I can fit everything I need easily in the boot.
My insurance is under two hundred pounds a year and the tax is cheap.
However, fuel economy around town is not great but compared to rivals it is ok. I get about 30 mpg around town but rises to 39 when driving combined town and motorway.
I do like the two DIN compartments to fit a radio and still have one little cubby hole for bits and bobs, or an amateur Ham radio like I have fitted.
The only downside is the very quiet indicator beep which cannot be heard when my radio is on.
Overall I love my Duster and wouldn't change it for the world!

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2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 90)

​i love this car but i just want to sort these annoying noises out, it has been back to the dealers 3 times now and the noises are still there. they have said it is body flexing noise that they can't do much about, i think they just don't know what it is.Two problems, clicking under passenger seat, and knocking/ tapping from drivers door can anyone help me please

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2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

A resume of findings and experiences, 1 month on.

Pre-pickup inspection: (a) Found the usual chassis grommets missing + stone-chip coatings scuffed away on lower edge of sill flanges at jacking points + what looked like flaked stone-chip coating on off-side front sill flange; (b ) Found rust traces on cut ends of boot seal. Both reported to dealer (Dales) with follow-up email for transmission to Dacia CS. (Happy that was all I could find!)
Day 2: Spotted v small paint-chips upper corner driver's door (trip to Dales for viewing - promise of touch-up stick).
Day 12: While reviewing photos taken of her under-side (which I'd sent to Dales maybe minutes before) I realised that flaked stone-chip coat was actually distortion of sill flange metal!
Days 23-25: Fluffy in the shop - Clio courtesy car, which was "OK", but it didn't make me want to do many miles!
Day 30: Finally gave Fluffy her 1st bath!!! (F the Dustbunny is well named.) However, spotted rusting on rear cut ends of rubber rain gutters + hint of rust around couple of front wing bolts (under bonnet) + possible hint of rust on the transverse metal seam on the lower threshold of rear off-side door. (Paint noticeably very thin in these areas.) Neither of these reported yet. [Edit: now reported - see update later.]
Oh!, and my bonnet already has a couple of stone chips. :angry:

If anyone was a bit tardy about dealing with my starter under-side 'issues', it was me: wasn't always able to take the incoming calls or get the requested photos done.
And I can only report as I find: Dacia Customer Support were very responsive in my case and Dales equally so. When I reported my close-up analysis (via my PC) of the dinked sill photo, Dales immediately agreed and invited me to get the car in for repair (no haggling about whether it would be Dales or Dacia that would cover the cost).

Had to shoot off immediately for a few days work away after Fluffy's bottom repairs, so no time for detailed analysis of the repair. However, reviewed today with knowledgeable brother and we conclude the repair seems OK from what we can tell under the gloop. However, Fluffy is now black underneath with a new over-coat of under-coating (if you get what I mean). The niggle about her bottom being black rather than 'factory-fresh' grey will no doubt fade in a little while!

Re white touch-in stick: Dales tried, but not available via Dacia. Nikki (D CS) did, however, update me indicating there was some supply problem or another (can't quite recall her words) in France – that would be Renault then! Given the new paint-chips on the bonnet, (turn away now Nikki/Scott) I might just buy an OEM stick in the mean-time.

Re grommets: no joy there either. Poor ol' Scott (@ Dales) apparently spent endless hours looking up grommet part-numbers without success. Again, I shall look to source else-where before they start salting the roads.

Re rusty rubber-seal ends: I'm going to try a dab of Kurust on offending seals for now. I'll report whether effective idc. (Renault/Dacia, please use seals with stainless-steel reinforcement – it can't cost that much extra.)

Finally: Now cruising towards 1100 miles on odometer. I'm still trying out seat/steering rake adjustments looking for the sweet spot. Also, still dislike the steering wheel itself. Despite having tweaked up the rev's, I'm missing the turbo kick I loved so much on my, long-since, Metro turbos (but that was a big ask). Otherwise, despite the loss of Fluffy's factory-fresh “feel” due to repairs, I have a smile on my face – heh heh! I tried to resist saying this, but Fluffy is “brilliant” - she'll do me just fine thank you – nice ride and quite responsive enough.
Not the perfect start to a relationship (but I can think of worse), but I'm really very pleased that a flip of a 10p coin came up heads. Early days, but no reliability issues: mpg is improving (hovering around 44 mpg right now). Could do with a few more cubby holes up front for loose-change and other bits and pieces.
Liking it: just gonna have to watch the paint-work I guess.

1 Oct update:
D CS (Vikky) called today for a follow up: she said she would. I reported all well with repair, but mentioned my Day 30 paint/rust concerns just to get it on record. And, also, I should like to say thanks to Dan, my "new" sales contact at Dales, Summercourt: I omitted to say previously. He had to put up with a fairly grumpy customer on our 1st meeting (for my inspection of Fluffy's bottom up on the car-lift before I handed over the dosh). It was not the easiest of discussions, but Dan has kept on my "case" - Dan is OK.
So, again, I'm happy. I went for my Duster with open eyes thanks to the forum - so thank you, also, forum members. I would almost have preferred mechanical issues rather than bodywork ones, but at least I didn't have long lead-times to contend with. Onwards and upwards.

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2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

I've owned the car now for over two months and am so far very happy with it and the service I've had from my dealer.
I regularly drive a van and before the Duster I had a Fiat Panda, compared to these the road noise I experience is negligible, the engine is smooth, quiet and gives plenty of power when needed. Wind noise at speed can seem high but the Panda was far worse for that.

The car is settling down very well and is very enjoyable to drive, after swapping out some stuff that was poor quality, like the windscreen wipers, and some bulbs I'm happier with the operation of the various bits. The seats are comfortable for short or long periods, the air con works well and all controls are easy to reach and work. Mpg is good, currently sitting around fifty and I expect it to go higher.
I did have two problems with the car that I took it back to the dealer to get fixed, it would pull left all the time because the tracking was out (confirmed and fixed by dealer) and the paint finish was poor with lots of white spots on the dark black/blue bonnet. These turned out to be on or near the surface and again the dealer fixed this by getting them polished out.
I find I'm driving for the enjoyment of it now, something I've not done for years which is a sure sign I'm happy with the car.
I've fitted a reversing camera to help as the view out the back is not great via the mirrors and I've upgraded the entertainment system to included DAB.

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2013 Dacia Duster Access 4x2, 1.6 Petrol

4000 Miles so far. A Family Holiday Wales to Scotland put the miles on but what a good car to holiday in. My last family car was an Astra 1.7 estate also a good pratical car. The Duster offered me about the same size boot with a bigger cabin space, kids love it. No specials as expected like SAT NAV RADIO or fancy control panels, just the basics as I like it, less to go wrong I say. Body work cosmetic quality a little low, welding edge seams can bee seen along the cills that might lead to rust in years to come if they get chipped and worn by shoes when getting in and out. I fitted mu own DRL as per Dacia specification and a top spec SONY Radio all looking very good and working vell. Would I have another in years to come well as it stands YES, lets see how she goes. I change cars ever 10 years so a longterm reliability check will be performed, lets see if the Forum last that long, I might update as I go. lol.....

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2013 Dacia Duster Ambiance 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

I have done just over 6000 miles including 2 return trips to Berlin, Germany. Fully loaded the car pulls very well for its engine size. Engine and tyre noise can be a bit of an issue especially when listening to the entertainment system. Some irritating rattles have developed.The plastic door sills seem to be chalking, but not the wheel arch mouldings, which is unsatisfactory since they should all be the same shade of dark grey. Average fuel consumption is 48.61 mpg. I have a brake recall booked for next week. Responsiveness from Dacia regarding a letter I sent about servicing and oil specification options ( non-Elf oils which hold Renault approvals ) has been irritatingly poor - I am still waiting for a promised letter since July. So servicing will only ever take place at a convenient non-Renault garage of my choice which obeys the rules during the warranty period. Note that Renault/Dacia's zero help policy when travelling in Europe under warranty is pathetic in this day and age.
Overall I am still happy with my choice - it is early days yet. I like the styling and I have managed long journeys without any bother.

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2013 Dacia Duster Ambiance 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110

So far so good, drives better than the Freelander it has replaced. Plucky little engine just taking a little time to get used to the gear ratios but getting better. getting used to starting off in 2nd gear.
Overall I like the Duster, I have just done 2000 miles so far and it has behaved very well. I will put some mud flaps, a dog guard and a tow bar on in the next couple of weeks. Found a Witter tow bar for £116 plus £98 for the electrics. Anybody who can top that please let me know.

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2013 Dacia Duster Ambiance 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

I have been thrilled to bits with my Duster ambience 4x4.
Totally the right choice of car for me, living in Scotland, and having been cut off for the last 3 winters, a good all-rounder 4x4 was called for.
I have off-roaded in many countries of the world, and am have even managed to do a bit in the 12 months since George arrived. He is superb, handles and grips like a tank...and I can't wait to try him out in the snow this winter.

I haven't gone for the ESC option. I'm an experienced 4x4 driver, and used to it....not driving the car as a chelsea-tractor in the urban jungle. SO for me it seemed like a waste of money for a gizmo that should actually be covered in sensible 4x4 driving. Its a car not a tank on tracks...and so if you drive it like a car you should be fine! I don't imagine I'll have any trouble, and driving through a foot of snow should at last....be fun!!!!

The road noise is not very loud at all. Compared to my previous citroen C4, and to a Kia Rio I drove recently, the Duster is actually the quietest of them, which pleasantly surprised me...
The radio, needs to be adjusted to LOUDNESS though..if you don't do this...its not very loud....once you do this....its great and lovely and loud! If you want a boom-box....then buy one and install it !!!! The radio is just that.....a radio .....ooh and bluetooth....and DVD/CD and stuff....not geeky minded....Classic FM and Radio 4 sound just grand !!!!
I have had a leaky door seal, but Dacia customer services are superb and it was replaced under warranty...so no grumbles there...! And have had no issues since with it.

All in all, for a mid range 4x4 for £14000 you seriously can't go wrong....

And silver IS the best colour !!!!!

oooh and just done the MPG and my AVERAGE is 52.3

For 4x4 !!!!!!!!!

NO complaints there then !!!!!!!!

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2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

Great Buy, Have done 5,000 miles since March

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2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

Dacia responded well to a gearbox failure on day 1 of ownership.........only off road for 5 days. What a shame after 8 months of eager anticipation. The dealer did however fail to fix a loose Driver's seat which hopefully will be sorted by a different Dealer tomorrow! The whine on shutdown from (probably) the power steering pump will also be on the agenda for tomorrow--the Demo vehicle doesn't make this irritating and slightly worrying noise. Anyone else have this 'feature'?
The fuel guage has an intermittent fault on one of the lights.
Our other vehicle is a 6000 mile Freelander and the old adage that you get what you pay for is certainly true.......paid nearly twice as much for the Land Rover and it is reflected in performance, quietness and build quality. Having said that, I am pleased overall with my 'Dusty bin'!

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2013 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x4, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

The DUSTER had its 1st big challenge yesterday...DRIVE TO VERY TOP OF SCOTLAND (CAITHNESS) AND BACK !!!!!!!

This road is classed as the worst and most dangerous in the UK very steep hills sharp bends etc.

The duster handled them no problem.(I had a FREELANDER before , that you really had to use lower gears to get up some of the steep inclines) the duster flew up these with ease!!!VERY IMPRESSED. IF I AM TO BE HONEST IT WOULD HAVE LEFT THE LANROVER IN ITS TRACKS.

As I neared the Highland capital on my return I hit the MONSOON season, water lying on the road the duster SAILED through the flowing rivers no problems, being the Highlands I ended up driving through a blizzard (IN MAY!!!!)I must admit I did feel very safe in the DUSTER.

Fuel wasn't an issue its far better than Landrover gives, I do this journey on a regular basis,and am very impressed with the fuel I used/saved whatever way you want to look at it.

All in all I enjoyed my 290mile round trip journey and am looking forward to the next one in a few days.

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2013 Dacia Duster Ambiance 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 110)

Not being a petrol head, I am probably not best suited to write a review of my Duster 4x2 ambiance in white with no extra's, especially as there are already several in depth reviews on line that go into some detail, although most concentrate on the merits of off-roading in the 4x4 top of the range models with all the trim and sparkles.
But, I hope that some points that I am about to mention will allow those of you still awaiting your Dusters after lengthily pre-orders and delays the confidence that you have made the right choice and will be very happy with your purchase when it arrives.
Firstly, I have been very lucky, I ordered in Feb and was awaiting a delivery date, unfortunately my old car found out about my planned infidelity 🙁 and decided to sulk and get its own back on me and decided to throw a tantrum on a busy dual carriage way throwing its toys out of its cot in the form of smoke from the engine and exhaust pipe, reducing visibility to others behind to zero … I was very popular that day, lots of other motorist wanted to say hello by beeping and shouting support through the windows. A lovely trip courtesy of the AA tow truck later I arrive back home pondering my new dilemma, Do I spend more money on my Renault Kangoo (2000 RXE), get back on the bus while awaiting some news of a delivery date from my dealer or cancel my Duster order and go out and get a 2nd hand motor ?
I decided to have a word with my Kangoo hoping to give our relationship a 2nd go but she was having none of it, I explained that it wasn’t her it was me, and that I enjoyed our time together but I though it better to end it now whilst our love was strong, I collected my cd’s and parted ways only once looking back as she spluttered and cried her acrid smoke.
Back in the house I decided to make a few calls and to my absolute Joy ,I found the exact model at another dealer (a cancellation that day, possibly the only unallocated duster in the country), a few conversations later and an additional deposit to ensure that no other duster lover snapped her up, and an agreement was made to transfer her to my order at another branch and to cancel my order, I didn't leave the dealers much choice, but I have to say they were very supportive …end result I got my Duster in record time, just a case of being extremely lucky and I suppose being at the right place at the right time. 🙂
Driving the Duster
To date I have managed to clock up around 300 miles, motor way and residential, the Duster has performed admirably in both and at no point did it feel that I was driving a budget vehicle, the drive so far has been smooth, even comfortable, no scary moments when going around corners at too high a speed, the available torque keeps you firmly on 4 wheels, you will feel safe and in control. Engine noise is not a problem, I have driven more expensive new diesels recently and I would say that the Duster is on par if not quieter. Wind Noise on motorway is not a noticeable problem either. Driving position is comfortable although the extra height for me is taking some getting used to, but that of course is due to style of vehicle and is in no way a flaw .Driving at 70 is very comfortable, I can’t help feel that the duster could easily go faster if that is what you want. Driving in low gears is no issues but I do agree with some others on this forum, and think that a swift shift from 1st to 2nd is needed. The duster at low speeds 20 to 40 MPH is still quiet and a pleasure to experience, I turned to my wife on several occasions and have commented on how quiet the Duster is. I have found all buttons and controls very easy to adapt to, the benefit of only having the basics. The Stereo system is once again easy to use, simple navigation between CD,USB and Radio, the sound in factory settings is clear and with just enough bass to keep most people happy, I haven’t played with any settings yet as to be honest I don’t need to. The Steering column audio controls are also easy to adapt to and the Blue Tooth is simple enough to connect to and works fine .I HAVE THE BEEP indicator sound and I am already quite used to it, but I would be happier if it was louder.
The seats are comfortable and feel solid and robust enough to cope with everyday family life. The space available in the front for the driver and passenger is simply superb, no forced rubbing together, although you still have that option if you so desire, and if that’s the case the lightly tinted windows will give you that little bit of Privacy. For those of you who were debating the need for air conditioning, I decided it wasn't for me but I can confirm that the internal blowers circulate hot and cold air admirably; I have found that I can get a very comfortable driving temperature within 5 minutes of travel, and this is maintained throughout the journey. What the brochure forgot to mention is that if desired the Blowers could easy double for a hair dryer, when on full power …so it could save you time in the mornings when you are on an early start, as we all know time is money … making the Duster even better value, and also allowing you an extra few minutes in bed to continue dreaming about your new shiny Duster.
Negatives
Indicator Beep not loud enough
Side Door storage compartments, door handles make it awkward to access, (this might just be me)
…. To be honest I can’t really find that many, I simply love the exterior look, am more than happy with the drive and the comfort, Don’t have an issue with the easy to clean plastic interior, even quite like the look, I love the available space and I simply can’t believe that its mine.

No Photo’s yet, but I will upload some shortly with a full larger than average drum kit in the back so that you can really see the available capacity.
One other point of interest, I live in Wales and over the past 48 hours we have had some heavy rain, I am pleased to tell you, the rain has remained on the outside of the Duster so at the moment it looks like the door seals are not a problem.
I also paid the extra for the G3 interior/exterior treatment, seems to work well enough in the rain it forces the rain drops to gel together and sit on your car for longer than cars that are untreated, quite bizarre to look at, I will get some pics showing the difference the next time it rains, that will be soon enough as I have mentioned I live in Wales
Also, if you go for the treatment, be prepared for a chemical smell when the interior heats up, not a big issue to me but some passengers have found it quite nauseous, but I was informed by my dealer to expect the smell and that it was a temporally issue, but on a positive if the passengers were sick, it should wipe off easily enough …. Happy days. 🙂

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2010 Dacia Duster Ambiance 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 90)

I had my car for 2 1/2 tears before I exchanged it for a Lodgy. The Duster itself (1.5 85 bhp) never let me down and it being a 4x2 I never went off road proper. Sorry to say "ruedelglise" but yours was not the first Duster mine was there before you even owned yours. Every where I went people wanted to look and were impressed when given the price and wanted to know where they could get one. The overall fuel economy was not as good as in my Lodgy and was 45MPG against my Lodgy's 59MPG which is probably because the Lodgy has the newer ECO engine and has a fairly high 5th gear, a bit like a 4 speed box and overdrive and gives 827 litres luggage space with all seats up (5) in my case and 2617 with the rear seats down. Hear in spain Taxi drivers are buying it in preference to the Cheverolet Orlando as it is approx 6,000 euro cheaper and very similar in size except for the engine, the orlando has a 3 2 ltr.
All in all the Dacia is a very good buy and here in Spain out sells the other SUV's beating the Ford Kuga into 2nd place.

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2011 Dacia Duster Laureate 4x2, 1.5 Diesel (dCi 90)

Hi, I bought my Duster 2 years ago....in France where I basically live. It was the demo car at our local Renault/Dacia garage. I have done 65,000 kilometers in it involving motorway driving local country driving, short and long distances and quite a bit of shall we say agricultural track driving.No problems at all. In fact with winter tyres on it, it is as good as a friend's 4x4 in snow and ice with normal tyres!
When I first came back to the UK it was I gather the first Duster to cross the channel.
Super car. Want to fit daytime running lights.....any advice?

Now 01.06.13.....70000k now still no probs, touch wood! Still haven't fitted the DRLs but have bought the phillips 4 kit. Hay you out there any advice on the positions to fit them....high or low and the colour of the wire to intercept so as to avoid trying to undo the connector block which defies all attempts so far!