What are the running costs?

Although the Duster’s running costs might not be the lowest (there’s no plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, for instance), once you factor in the predicted low cash price and finance costs this will remain one of – if not the – cheapest family-sized SUVs to be in.

For this generation, the worst offender is the TCe 130 4×4 model, clocking in around 47mpg and between 135 and 137g/km over official figures. The 4×2 (two-wheel drive version with the same engine claims 51.3mpg and between 123-124g/km CO2 emissions.

Choose the new Hybrid 140 model and you could reach fuel economy as high as 56.5mpg, with emissions dropping to 113-115g/km.

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Servicing and warranty

Dacia has a large dealer network UK, many of them sharing space within Renault dealers.

The company offers Service and Maintenance Plans which will offset the cost of future servicing against an upfront payment, which can be built into the finance agreement. On top of that Dacia recently announced its Zen warranty programme that allows owners up to seven seats of cover by Dacia so long as their car is serviced at a Dacia dealer.

Reliability

The Duster’s underpinnings, electrical components, safety systems, engines and numerous other parts are all ex- or current Renault fixtures and fittings, and as such are tried and tested, and well respected. This generation’s architecture is, for example, shared with lots of contemporary Renault and Nissan models.