Dacia dusts down favourite old model for a new look
It’s often about being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes you plan it just right, other times you’re just downright lucky. Dacia will admit that they were spot-on when they launched the Duster in Ireland six years ago. Ireland was just about ready to sprout economic green shoots and their affordable SUV could not have arrived at a better time.
At the launch of the second incarnation of this trusty car, Dacia chiefs told us that back then they were anticipating sales over five years of around 4,500 units in Ireland. How wrong were they? They were miles out and the final figure was over 10,000, an incredible success in those torrid times.
Now we have been introduced to the new model, which has not one body panel carried over from the previous car. You can tell straight away that the lines on the body are sharper and straighter.
This adds to the more muscular shape, and coupled with some interesting new lighting clusters, back and front, it is more contemporary in every aspect.
Move in to the cabin and the changes there are much more profound. True, it is still on the cheaper side of plush, but there’s a good feel in there and the plastics, while hard and robust, aren’t ugly by any means.
They have added more technology too and the seats are a welcome improvement from before. Furthermore, Dacia has spent a bit of money quietening the cabin with additional sound proofing, thicker window glass and better sealants knocking a whopping 50% off the original noise levels.
There are three trim levels to choose from; Essential, Comfort and Prestige. Core features across the All-New Duster range include LED daytime running lights, height-adjustable front headrests and seat belts, ECO mode and Stop and Start, gearshift indicator, engine immobiliser, automatic door lock, ABS and Emergency Brake Assist, ESC/ASR (Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control), new full-length curtain airbags and ISOFIX points in the rear.
At the bottom end of the scale, the Essential trim is available from €17,390. It only has 16-inch steel wheels, body coloured front and rear bumpers, heat adjustable driver’s seat, DAB radio with steering-column mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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