CLEVER DUSTER

NEW, GREAT-VALUE DACIA HYBRID STILL A SMART, SHARP CHOICE FOR FAMILIES

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HERE'S the proof you don't need to spend a fortune to get behind the wheel of something useful. The Duster, from Dacia, is famously value-focused, putting many expensive off-roaders to shame while also providing hard-wearing family-focused transport.

We're now into the third generation of Duster, which arrives with some bold new styling, more interior tech and hybrid assistance to help reduce running costs.

WHAT'S NEW?

You'll pay £18,850 for an entry-level Duster with a bi-fuel engine setup - which brings the option to run on either LPG or petrol - and means this Dacia is still one of the cheapest cars on the market today.

It's good news underneath, too, as the Duster has switched away from the older B platform to a shiny new CMF-B setup, which as well as bringing the possibility of sharper dynamics also means it can now be specified with hybrid assistance.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

While that new platform may have brought the addition of hybrid technology, it doesn't now mean that the Duster is some kind of sports car.