Dacia Duster – Boot space, comfort & practicality

Dacia launched its new YouClip system on its recent concept cars, and the Duster will be the first of its production models to include it. The ‘YouClip’ system (Dacia assured us there were no copyright issues with YouTube) allows you to attach different accessories around the cabin on eight individual clips. These could be extra cup holders and lights, although exactly what will be offered is still to be confirmed. 

The Duster's lofty driving position and low window line make visibility excellent. However, the raked rear window does mean rear visibility through the rearview mirror isn’t particularly good, and we noticed the mirror jiggle on harsh roads, too. The bonnet extends quite far out in front, but you can get a feel for the edges of the car, helping you to place the Duster on the road.

Dimensions and size

Despite sharing its platform with a supermini, the Duster feels spacious inside. At 4,343mm long, 1,921mm wide, and 1,656mm tall, the latest Duster is slightly longer and wider than the old model. It isn't quite as tall as it was before, but it still has a height advantage over the likes of the Skoda Karoq.

Seats, leg room, head room & passenger space

The Duster's larger dimensions mean there is 30mm more legroom than in the old model, and even tall adults can get comfortable in the front or rear.

Parents with younger children who need to use car seats will find two ISOFIX child seat mounting points on the outer positions of the rear bench. The points are hidden behind some zips.

Boot space

There’s an extra 72 litres of boot space compared to the old car (517 litres), plus the opening to the cargo area is wider to make loading bigger items easier. Choose the four-wheel drive model, and the boot capacity will drop to 450 litres because the four-wheel drive system with its different suspension takes up space.