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Road Test
DACIA DREAMS

First look at Dacia’s tough and cool new £17k Duster due in 2024 with all-wheel drive and bigger and better cabin

With no leather and no chrome Dacia's Duster was made just as god intended

CANCEL that £52k Land Rover Defender. You don’t need it.

The kerbs outside Sainsbury’s Local aren’t that high. The rugby club car park isn’t that rough.

Snap up a Dacia Duster for just £17k
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Snap up a Dacia Duster for just £17kCredit: Thomas ANTOINE
The Duster comes with all new Terrain Control
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The Duster comes with all new Terrain ControlCredit: Adrien Cortesi

All you need is a £17k Dacia Duster.

This new one coming next summer looks tough and cool and the 4x4 versions will keep you moving when the next weather-bomb hits

I reckon you’ll be able to have a new one outside your front door from about £8 a day.

Capital B bargain. Let’s just say a Defender will cost you a lot more.

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Duster will use the same 140hp 1.6-litre petrol hybrid as the seven-seat Jogger.

Or you can spec a 130hp 1.2-litre mild hybrid in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. No diesel.

The new Terrain Control system on the 4x4 has snow, mud/sand and off-road settings.

Skid plates and body cladding won’t need painting after a whoopsie.

We like the “snorkels” on the front doors, even though they’re just there to look good.

The cabin is bigger and more sorted than before. No leather. No chrome.

The air vents and door trims match the Y-shaped headlights.

You get washable upholstery in the Extreme trim.

Plus a 10in touchscreen and wireless smartphone charging.

You may also notice there’s a big DUSTER imprinted on the dash. Just like DEFENDER on a Defender.

Funny that.

There’s a big DUSTER imprinted on the dash, similar to the Defender
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There’s a big DUSTER imprinted on the dash, similar to the DefenderCredit: Thomas ANTOINE
The cabin of a Defender is very spacious but the motor costs a whopping £52k
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The cabin of a Defender is very spacious but the motor costs a whopping £52k

'Hibernation mode'

According to a Dacia poll, three in four teens spend their weekends in “hibernation mode”, playing online.

I’m surprised by that. I’d have gone higher.

Ten things YOU should know as a car owner

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