Introduction

Dacia is a budget brand owned by Renault, and it makes straightforward cars with remarkably low prices – the Duster being a perfect case in point.

This chunky-looking compact SUV is a bit smaller than a Nissan Qashqai but is bigger than a Nissan Juke, and it makes no secret of its chief selling point – the price. Somewhat astonishingly, the Duster starts at less than £10k.

Did you know? Entry-level ‘Access’ trim does without air-con and a radio.  

Verdict | Design | Interior | Technology | Performance | Safety | Specs | Running Costs | Pricing 

Verdict: ★★★★★★★★★☆ (5.9/10)

The Duster is oddly charming thanks to its unpretentious honesty. It’s a car that offers space and rugged usability in a remarkably cheap package, and if you don’t like the fact that it’s a bit unrefined, and rather stodgy to drive, then you’ll have to find the extra thousands required to get any other SUV of this size. It falls short in plenty of areas next to those more expensive rivals, but if you simply want a basic, roomy and super-cheap 4x4 then look no further.