really, I test drove it and it's really not bad

as a matter of fact it's quite good plus lully loaded 4x4 still really cheap,

reliable what I heard and offroad capabilities pretty impressive.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvLQNdB3-Kw

 

 

7. Reliability

The Duster has been built using tried and tested technology (it shares its basic underpinnings with the Qashqai, and uses Renault engines) to a relatively simple specification. It seems to be a good recipe for reliability, as Dacia was voted Europe’s most reliable car brand in 2012 in a survey of 30,000 customers.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/articles/2012/11/cars/dacia/duster/dacia-duster-4x4-2012-expert-review

isn't the 'Black' special edition something like £20,000?  And it's a wrap too!!

Edited 23 September, 201312 yr by Lady Elanore

apparently the spec is good and has done well in some surveys

 

question is the reliability, not been around long enough for long term reliability, is it built on a known platform?

isn't the 'Black' special edition something like £20,000?  And it's a wrap too!!

 

Indeed.

And still not THAT well specced either.

apparently the spec is good and has done well in some surveys

 

question is the reliability, not been around long enough for long term reliability, is it built on a known platform?

 

"(it shares its basic underpinnings with the Qashqai, and uses Renault engines)"

only thing is my knowledge of Nissan / Renault is only that of problems several people o know well have had with Renaults or nissans

 

all of which only had 1 Renault or Nissan and vowed never to have another due to servicing / repair costs and reliability issues with engines and electronics in particular keyless entry / start systems and ECU

I think it makes sense as long as you stick to the base models. Once you start looking at 4x4 diesel and a spot of spec, it makes more sense imho to look at second hand cars like the Yeti etc (that's with my ex-car saleswoman hat on ). But if you want a new car with bags of space and probably pretty economy in diesel form, I guess the Duster must be in a class of one The facelift looks to be a bit smarter too

 

Isn't Nissan turning it into the new Terrano?

Edited 23 September, 201312 yr by Lady Elanore

only thing is my knowledge of Nissan / Renault is only that of problems several people o know well have had with Renaults or nissans

 

all of which only had 1 Renault or Nissan and vowed never to have another due to servicing / repair costs and reliability issues with engines and electronics in particular keyless entry / start systems and ECU

 

what electronics issues?   :think:   Duster is pretty spartan and I didn't see any useless electronics inside like electronic hand brake, keyeless  entry/start etc...

even stereo is not included in basic model

Edited 23 September, 201312 yr by zorro

I'm still trying to work out why it is a competitor to the Yeti:

 

it's much bigger,

it's thirstier,

it is more expensive to insure,

it has worse NCaP figures,

it isn't as well equipped,

The crash protection alone would be enough to write it off any list I had.

 

I'm all for cheaper cars, but not at the cost of putting the passengers at higher risk of injury/death in an accident.

 

Yes, cars did used to be less safe, but times have moved on, roads are busier, driving standards are poor and I'm currently averaging two accidents (non-fault) per year.

I'm still trying to work out why it is a competitor to the Yeti:

 

it's much bigger,

it's thirstier,

it is more expensive to insure,

it has worse NCaP figures,

it isn't as well equipped,

Well if it was exactly the same as a Yeti.............it would be a Yeti  

The crash protection alone would be enough to write it off any list I had.

 

I'm all for cheaper cars, but not at the cost of putting the passengers at higher risk of injury/death in an accident.

 

 

well, and there is a problem with those crash tests - they are not objective and sometimes just silly.

Duster would have 5 stars rating but, see this video at the 4:37  - they explain why it got only 3 stars, it's ridiculous actually why.

No audible seat-belts reminders and no ESC standard    :wonder:  what does it have to do with safety in a crash!!!!

 

That actually made me look closer at those biased crash tests and rating...

So you don't consider ESC important?

So you don't consider ESC important?

I think Zorro's point is simply that just because it recieved a lower score, it doesnt meant that structurally its much weaker or less effective than something that gets five stars at protecting the occupants. Points/stars are awarded for pre accident electronics being standard, making the overall score sometimes appear very different.

 

Some of the other points:

 

Id also say size wise it was very much a competitor to the Yeti. Its almost exactly the same length and width (having literally parked next to one and sized it up) and I seem to recall that the Yeti is taller infact

 

Its thirstier?! Not nessasarily, much like the assumption its more to insure, its dependant on what models within the range you are comparing to.

 

Ive spent quite a bit of time around Dusters in France and Italy and I quite like them for what they offer. Unpretentious motoring in a functional and not particularly bad looking format for the money. Just to balance the arguement further, the Duster is cheaper to purchase but is still very practical and from what ive seen of used models, the interiors tend to stand up well to mileage  

 

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/dacia/duster/suv/review

ESC has a significant effect on whether you have an accident in the first place and in that respect is more valuable than some of the passive safety features which are only of value once you have had the accident. -BTW i saw a duster in Italy and think it looks OK but cheap-if that is what you want , fine.

ESC is going to be mandatory from next year anyway, so they might as well leave it out of the NCAP rating system (at least for new cars) from then on.

I mean look at her, to me it's better looking even then yeti to be honest. The only problem I'd have is  the French engine inside

but again Germans' ones are not as reliable as they use to be anyway.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIvybC1lWf8

 

 

I hate to break this to you... but that isn't the one you get for around £10k.

So you don't consider ESC important?

Skoda don't - ESC is not included on 2wd manual non-Greenline Yetis; so for those Yetis presumably the NCAP rating should be lower (NCAP awarded the Yeti it's rating on the basis most Yetis shipped would be fitted with ESC). I presume the Yeti FL fixes this issue ...

My main problem with the Duster is that it has "cheap" built-in: supermini (not Quashqai) platform, no aircon except in top trim... but I can see it can make sort of sense as a rural 2nd car or disposable urban school-run chariot...

The diesel engine (Renault K9K) in the Duster is also being supplied to Mercedes for use in the new A Class.

 

The Dacia Duster is a very cheap and basic car, the Skoda Yeti is not. I wonder if anyone would really be torn between the two as I can't see them attracting the same sort of customer.

Skoda don't - ESC is not included on 2wd manual non-Greenline Yetis; so for those Yetis presumably the NCAP rating should be lower (NCAP awarded the Yeti it's rating on the basis most Yetis shipped would be fitted with ESC). I presume the Yeti FL fixes this issue ...

 

I believe all Skodas have had ESC as standard since week 22 this year, when it was added to every model to comply with forthcoming EU legislation.

Quite rightly too I might add, it should have always been standard.

I noticed a Duster parked next to my Yeti yesterday in a Lidl carpark. First impressions is, it looked quite 'tinny', and being a dog owner I thought the boot lip was way too high.

As for ESC, I put this down along with hill hold as the only options on our lease Yeti. ESC should really be standard across the range

Hmmm...

"The Renault Duster is a typical off roader. It has a rigid chassis, can be driven on the city roads and the suspension offers a quiet driving experience on the pothole ridden roads. And the pricing, that’s just the cherry on the cake. The Skoda Yeti, on the other hand, is a niche vehicle, meant for a select few who understand its numerous talents, don’t mind its rather European design, and are happy to pay the extra cash to enjoy the same."

(Source: http://latestnewcars.carnation.in/car-comparisons/suvs-in-india/renault-duster-vs-skoda-yeti )

 

:wonder:   

Edited 24 September, 201312 yr by Hirundo

The diesel engine (Renault K9K) in the Duster is also being supplied to Mercedes for use in the new A Class.

 

The Dacia Duster is a very cheap and basic car, the Skoda Yeti is not. I wonder if anyone would really be torn between the two as I can't see them attracting the same sort of customer.

 

 

wow, didn't know mercedes could use consider using French engines

but indeed: http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/mercedes-benz-a-class-and-b-class-get-90-bhp-1-5-liter-renault-k9k-engines-super-fuel-economy-figures-71754/

 

BTW yeti is also relatively cheap car, isn't it?  I agree though inside it's way more luxurious then dacia. 

I think Zorro's point is simply that just because it recieved a lower score, it doesnt meant that structurally its much weaker or less effective than something that gets five stars at protecting the occupants. Points/stars are awarded for pre accident electronics being standard, making the overall score sometimes appear very different.

 

Some of the other points:

 

Id also say size wise it was very much a competitor to the Yeti. Its almost exactly the same length and width (having literally parked next to one and sized it up) and I seem to recall that the Yeti is taller infact

 

Its thirstier?! Not nessasarily, much like the assumption its more to insure, its dependant on what models within the range you are comparing to.

 

Ive spent quite a bit of time around Dusters in France and Italy and I quite like them for what they offer. Unpretentious motoring in a functional and not particularly bad looking format for the money. Just to balance the arguement further, the Duster is cheaper to purchase but is still very practical and from what ive seen of used models, the interiors tend to stand up well to mileage  

 

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/dacia/duster/suv/review

But the Duster is less structurally safe than the Yeti. Watch the Euroncap video and the PDF document for the measurements. The safety cell has started to buckle noticeably whereas the Yeti retains its integrity. Even with ESC, the Duster would not have scored five stars based on the dummy measurements.