DACIA DUSTER

Our 4x4 enhances its go-anywhere vibe with some built-in camping kit

- WILL RIMELL

MILEAGE 5827 WHY WE'RE RUNNING IT To see if a sub-£27,000 price tag really does give you all the car you'll ever need

If a recently married man tells people he's going to be sleeping in his car that night, concern, it seems, is the immediate reaction. “No,” I tell them, “this is for fun.”

Little do they know that our Dacia Duster is now fitted with a foldout bed, a double(ish) mattress and a tent, all of which combine to create a setup that is poised to turn even the most bougie of Glastonbury glampers a shade of jealous green. Am I about to experience the future of camping? Is this the camper van killer? We're all about to find out with a night in a New Forest field.

We hit the first obstacle before I've even turned the engine on: there's no boot space. When getting the carry-on-camping accessories fitted, I didn't really think about how much room it would all take up. Insert facepalm emoji here. The new Duster has a pretty cavernous 517-litre load space, yet the Sleep Pack takes up the lot. There is some space under the bed's supporting structure, but that's needed for the tent itself. Luckily, though, tonight it's just me - the wife laughed and said “no thanks” - so my overnight bag, some food and basic survival equipment can go on the back seats.