Deal of the decade

It won't win awards for pampering, but this SUV is priced right

The no-frills yet affordable 2013 Renault Duster performs at its best when on twisting roads or gravel surfaces. Kevin Hackett / The National

I am, I confess, rather late to the party when it comes to this car. It went on sale here about 18 months ago and I keep seeing Renault Dusters absolutely everywhere. As a result I have felt compelled, for some time now, to see why this little SUV has become so ubiquitous on our roads and, now that I’ve had one for a few days, I get it. I understand. The most ridiculously named car on sale anywhere right now is also, quite possibly, the automobile bargain of the decade.

Forget, if you can, the effluent brown paint job this particular Duster has been cursed with, because it looks pretty cool in other, more normal hues. It sits nice and high, giving its occupants a commanding view of the road, and its no-nonsense, no-frills approach to construction means that, despite its lack of many of the creature comforts we have come to expect from the likes of even the Nissan Tiida, the Duster is imbued with a sense of irreverent fun. It’s a cheap car, yes, but it’s far from nasty.

And when I say cheap. I mean it. You could get a brand new Duster for Dh49,900 (cheaper than the ubiquitous Toyota Yaris) and, at least from the outside, it looks like it cost a lot more than that. For the higher specification models, like the one I’m testing (leather seats, painted bumpers and alloy wheels) you’d need to drop another Dh10,000, although I’m not sure they’re worth the extra cash because there’s still no real feel of luxury on any level.

So instead of looking at what the Duster doesn’t come with, let’s take a look at what you do get: keyless entry, power steering, electric windows and mirrors, roof rails, a CD player with USB/AUX ports and Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio and phone. You get airbags, split-folding rear seats and a rear luggage compartment cover. If you’re willing to dig a little deeper into your pocket you can increase this list, but the Duster will always feel plasticky thanks to the liberal use of tough and unforgiving materials. That said, there’s a feeling of indestructability here and it should stay looking fresh for a long time in the right hands.

On the road it is as you’d expect – a bit sluggish. At least until you reach motorway cruising speeds. It’s fairly comfortable on longer journeys and its suspension is soft enough to soak up the worst bumps and holes on our worst back roads without bits of trim falling off or your fillings being shaken loose. The engine is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit putting out 135hp but while that might not sound like much, the car isn’t exactly heavy at just 1,205 kilograms, so it’s able to zip along nicely. Overtaking does require forward planning, however, and the antiquated four-speed automatic transmission doesn’t help with refinement. Floor the throttle and the engine thrashes away, the noise level rises but not much else happens.

You’re probably thinking by now that the Duster isn’t any fun whatsoever, but you’d be wrong. Because where it really comes alive is when it’s on twisting stretches of tarmac or loose gravel surfaces. If you corner hard it does exhibit some body-roll tendencies, but nothing too alarming. There’s plenty of grip from the tyres and the steering is firm, sharply responsive and provides decent feedback, but tight parking maneuvres can be a bit trying due to its high ratio. It’s in these situations when you really need that power assistance, but the Duster can still be hard work for the arms.

Brakes? Well, it does have them but if you go for the lowest-spec model you’ll be doing without ABS. Even then, the rears are drums and I can’t recall the last time I drove a new car without discs fitted on all four corners. Pedal feel is non-existent and there’s too much travel for my liking before they begin to bite, but this is a foible you’d no doubt just get used to and adjust your driving style accordingly.

The cabin, too, is almost entirely bereft of convenient storage for the normal bits and bobs you leave the house with. Your phone, wallet and other detritus will just have to rattle around in the hard plastic door bins. Either that or you’ll have to wear clothes with bigger pockets.

But whatever you do, whatever sacrifices you have to make, whatever things you might miss about other modern vehicles, the fact remains that this is a fun little car that aims to please its owner. It’s a reminder, in many respects, of what most mass-produced cars were like a couple of decades ago and, truth be told, there’s not much to go wrong here. And the next time you see one, just remind yourself of that sticker price. Forget the silly name and remember that you simply can’t beat it when it comes to value for money.

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