It’s not that often that I am asked to test drive two cars at one go. Naturally part of the idea must be to photograph them together and maybe even compare them although this is hardly fair as they target different clientele. The cars in question are definitely the cheapest cars in their class on the market and wear a logo that half the local population probably never even encountered. My mission is to find out if the Dacia Sandero and its SUV sibling, the Duster, will surprise me. Whilst holidaying in Normandy last Autumn I encountered quite a number of Dusters, I might have missed the Sanderos but the SUV stood out.
Naturally I cannot drive two cars simultaneously so a trusted car loving friend was recruited for the occasion. Prepared for us at Autosales’ showroom were both models in high spec form. I would have preferred testing the base models offered at entry level prices but was definitely not disappointed with what was on offer although these come at a higher, yet still great value, price.
Our Dacia Sandero supermini in Prestige specification and sporting a stunning metallic blue finish not unlike Ford’s Imperial Blue used on its top-end Cosworth cars, was powered by Renault’s 1.5 Dci 90bhp unit. The Duster SUV in a neutral silver also came in Prestige trim but with a more powerful 1.5 Dci delivering 110bhp. Ours was a two-wheel drive model but 4x4s are also available.
These cars are pretty. I am trying to find a better word but pretty seems to fit, they are both attractive to look at, with nice touches of chrome and well thought out curves. The Sandero’s front is not dissimilar to the latest Polo’s and the Duster’s shapely body is reminiscent of Nissan’s style; no surprise here since they are probably involved too.
Renault-Nissan Alliance is Dacia’s parent company and apart from lifting the bonnets and witnessing the bright yellow Renault name, one is not surprised by the more than sufficient power these diesels deliver, enough in fact to enjoy the sensation when floored. The engines are quiet, refined and offer great fuel economy, this goes for both models tested. Both also have a surprisingly good ride for such modestly-priced, budget vehicles.
The suspension is set soft enough to absorb the bumps pretty well, and even quite deep potholes do not trouble it unduly. The downside is that you pay the price for this excellent ride comfort in the handling at speed of the larger Duster. It can hold onto the bends well enough, but there is quite a bit of body lean on the bends if you press on briskly along a twisty, fast road. The high-ish centre of gravity means that you can’t avoid noticing this, but it is also a trait that is quite common to other SUVs and 4x4 vehicles. The Sandero, on the other hand, can be thrown around with great reassurance and its road manners are as good if not better than any same segment rival.
The engines may be similar but the gearboxes are different. The Duster comes with a 6-speed super smooth unit that makes changing gears a pleasure, and its ratios are naturally shorter than those of a 5-speed unit. The Sandero’s box does not raise any eyebrows and while good, is not as slick. The steering on these cars is simply excellent, no real difference between the two. It is precise, not too soft that it feels unconnected, and for a change one can feel real feedback from the road’s surface, with a tinge of understeer.
It’s a bit of a step up into the Duster, but apart from that it is not difficult to access, with reasonably sized doors to let you climb in with ease. The tailgate is a good size, wide and square, to give plenty of space for loading the generous boot of 475 litres. It can be extended to a very handy 1,636 litres if you fold down the back seat row and use the car as a temporary two-seater. The Sandero’s boot is also adequate for the car’s size, 2 suitcases would still leave room for handbags and jackets.
Forward vision out of the cars is good in both, whilst rear visions is better than average on the Sandero. The Duster’s window line curves upwards towards the back, and there is a clutter of pillars at the rear of the car, so you need to take care when reversing because the rear three-quarter view on either side is a bit restricted. At least you know where the back edge is, thanks to the steep vertical shape of the tailgate, so straight-back reversing is easier to judge than with some other SUVs.
On to the interior of the cars and it is here where one can notice a level of cost cutting. They are not the most plush surroundings on the road, but then again they offer acceptable levels of comfort for the money. The seats are actually the best feature. They are very supportive and made from excellent materials. You sit high up in the SUV but everything falls well within reach. There is also plenty of headroom and knee-space. Six-footers can ride in the back of the Duster without feeling squashed and the Sandero has adequate rear space too.
Refinement inside is pretty reasonable, especially for a car at this budget. Yes there is vast swathes of hard plastic but never forget your initial outlay. Plastic aside, nothing squeaks or rattles – in fact not only the interior but the both cars seem solidly well built, and all modern day ‘extras’ are there. Both models at this level of trim come with ABS, traction control + ESP (Sandero), a/c, electric mirrors, e/w front and rear, alloy wheels and a long list of other comforts, including, on the Sandero, a practical LG touch screen that effortlessly connects to your smart phone for hands free usage and Bluetooth connections. Sound quality was also of a very high quality, but unfortunately I couldn’t figure out how to work the system on the Duster in the time available!
To sum up: was I surprised? Yes, especially knowing that all competitors are dearer. The cars are capable and well built with refined Renault engines, good driving manners and roomy luggage capacity. I would have preferred having less plastic around the cabin but overall value for money is indeed excellent, starting from €9,490 and €13,990 respectively.
text and photos by John Peel