2015 Dacia Duster gets a smarter look

The Dacia Duster has already impressed critics – and UK car buyers – with its blend of value for money, practicality and, er, … value for money.

For 2015 Dacia has added a few styling changes, bought a few different pots of paint for the factory spray booth and stitched together some new interior cloth options. The budget brand is keen to point out that these improvements haven’t increased the price – the range still starts at £9,495. So what do you get for your money?

On the outside

You’ll be able to tell the 2015 Duster apart from the previous version by its chrome grille, which features eight ‘intake’ holes. Regardless of which trim level you pick (from the entry level Access to mid-range Ambiance to top-of-the-pile Laureate), you’ll also get Duster-branded roof bars – these will be resplendent in a satin chrome-effect finish on Laureate models.

The top-trim level is still the only Duster to be endowed with alloy wheels, and it gets new ‘Tyrol’ rims, as well as body-coloured door handles and dark door mirrors.

There are five new metallic colours for Ambiance and Laureate models, namely Mercury, Khaki, Slate Grey, Cinnamon and Pearl Black – the solid Glacier White is also available.

What’s changed inside?

Not a huge amount, really. Every model gets new seats and new cloth options – the top-spec Laureate models will get the ‘Duster’ legend printed across the seats – just to remind you of the car you’re driving. If you look in the boot on one of the two-wheel drive models you’ll no longer find a spare wheel – it’s now a £150 option, but is included as standard on the four-wheel-drive versions.

The Duster didn’t need a huge amount of updates, and given that the 2015 model will continue to be offered with Dacia’s three-year or 60,000-mile mechanical warranty, it’s still one of the better value cars on sale in the UK.

Read our full Dacia Duster review to see what the country’s leading critics think of every aspect of this remarkably cheap car.