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The Pope and his Dacia DusterGroupe Renault

Father Duster: the Pope takes delivery of a Dacia

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The Pope and his Dacia Duster

The Pope has taken delivery of a Dacia Duster 4×4. As celebrity endorsements go, they don’t come more heavenly than this.

Remember that you are Duster, and to Duster you shall return. Or something.

Pope Francis is known for his modesty and the promotion of frugality, so Europe’s cheapest family SUV ticks many boxes. He certainly looks delighted with his latest wheels.

Pope John Francis

The Duster was transformed by the Prototype Department and the unfortunately named Dacia Special Needs team in Romania, in partnership with coach-builder Romturingia.

The converted Duster has five seats, including ‘a particularly comfortable rear bench’, plus a large sunroof and a removable glass superstructure.

It sits 30mm lower than normal to suit the Pope’s love of slammed vehicles. It also makes for easier access.

These aren’t upgrades you’ll find in the Dacia Duster brochure, but the entry-level Access model comes with Vatican-friendly white paint and is available from £139 a month. Pope Francis would almost certainly approve.

Dacia Duster 4x4 Vatican City

Xavier Martinet, general manager of Groupe Renault Italy, said: “With this gift to His Holiness, Groupe Renault renews its strong and continuous commitment to putting Man at the centre of its priorities.”

This isn’t the first time Pope Francis has experienced life with a Dacia. During a visit to Armenia in 2016, the Pope used a standard Dacia Logan saloon, a car not available in the UK. 

Back in 2013, the Pope accepted a gift of a Renault 4 for use in the Vatican City, while his global visits have seen him travelling in everything from a Fiat 500L to a Kia Soul. Not that this has stopped Pope Francis from accepting expensive supercars…

Dacia Duster 4x4 for the Pope

In 2018, a Lamborghini Huracan created for Pope Francis sold for €715,000 (£610,000) at an auction in Monaco. The special edition was built by the Lamborghini ‘Ad Personam‘ department, and was painted Bianco Monocerus with Giallo Tiberino stripes running along the body to pay homage to the colours of the Vatican City flag.

The proceeds from the sale were handed over to the Holy Father for the benefit of four charities.

Dacia Duster is now more expensiveDacia

Britain’s cheapest SUV is now £1,000 more expensive

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Dacia Duster is now more expensive

Dacia, the UK’s champion of affordable motoring, has committed a mild betrayal of its most heavily-touted mantra. It’s increased the starting price of Duster compact SUV by around £1,000, with the announcement of a new entry-level variant.

Previously, the Duster had been available for a four-figure sum (just) with a starting price of £9,995. The new entry-level TCe 100 doesn’t take away from the fact that the Duster remains the most affordable SUV in the UK. It’s still hiked up, though, with a new starting price of £10,995.

Dacia Duster is now more expensive

The TCe 100 replaces the SCe 115 as the entry-level engine, improving on CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by 18 percent. It’s a three-cylinder turbocharged lump that’s lighter and more compact.

It achieves between 48.7mpg and 49.5mpg on the WLTP cycle and produces 126g/km of CO2. Though down slightly on horsepower, it has 66 percent more torque, with 100hp and 192lb ft respectively.

The rest of the range continues on, with TCe 130 and 150 engines further up the engine line-up along with the 115hp diesel. 

Duster delivers for Dacia

Dacia Duster is now more expensive

While you’ll pay a premium, the new entry-level engine sounds like a commendable lump. Dacia has to hope it’ll carry appeal. Over the past year, the Duster is the marque’s best-selling model.

The second-generation car has seen an 89 percent increase in registrations since this time last year, with 100,000 Dusters sold.

Dacia Duster Good Housekeeping awardDacia

Dacia Duster SUV wins Reader Recommended award

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Dacia Duster Good Housekeeping award

The Dacia Duster has earned praise from Good Housekeeping magazine, winning the Reader Recommended award.

There are four areas assessed by the panel at the Good Housekeeping Institute: performance/enjoyment, overall acceptability, whether they’d purchase again, and whether they’d recommend a product to friends and family.

Dacia Duster Good Housekeeping award

An impressive 92 percent of Duster owners would happily recommend the car to people they know. Also, 85 percent said the Duster was good value for money, with an overall rating of 8.4 out of 10.

The Duster is ‘far better for the money’ than ‘more expensive competitors’, says Good Housekeeping, and beats them ‘hands down’.

It also ‘looks stylish, has innovative technology and a quality interior and exterior’.

Dacia Duster Good Housekeeping award

The Duster seems to punch above its weight in terms of perceived quality, equipment and style, reckons the expert panel, perhaps proving that saving doesn’t necessarily mean sacrifice.

“We’re hugely excited by the positive response and feedback that owners have for the Duster and delighted that the car has received a Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended stamp of approval,” said Ben Fletcher, head of Dacia UK.

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Dacia Logan MCV taxiDacia

Taxi! Dacia launches special Logan MCV deal for canny cabbies

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Dacia Logan MCV taxi

With its huge boot and low price, the Dacia Logan MCV has always been a great value estate car. But now, Dacia is hoping to appeal to the nation’s cabbies with a hire purchase deal designed exclusively for taxi operators.

All hail the Dacia Logan MCV Comfort Blue dCi 95, which is available to cabbies for £246 a month over 48 months after a £2,580 deposit. With 95hp on tap, it won’t be the fastest taxi off the rank, but the diesel engine emits just 97-103g/km CO2 and can return between 60.1mpg and 62.7mpg on a combined cycle (north or south of the river).

Comfort spec offers a seven-inch touchscreen with sat-nav (useful for when your passenger isn’t a fit state to tell you the way home), along with air conditioning, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, cruise control, rear parking sensors and heated door mirrors.

Dacia Logan MCV taxi cabin

Alternatively, the Logan MCV Essential Blue dCi 95 is also eligible for the offer, priced at £227 a month after a £2,380 deposit. The spec isn’t quite as generous, but you do get air conditioning and a USB connection for MP3 players.

Both models get the same 573 litres of boot space, a 60/40 split folding rear seat and space for five adults.

Ben Fletcher, head of Dacia UK, said: “There’s no other car on sale in Britain that can match the Logan MCV for value, equipment or space, while the added attraction of low running costs make it the perfect choice for taxi operators.

“With these latest competitive hire purchase rates, taxi drivers can take advantage of the reassurance of running a brand-new car, backed up by a manufacturer warranty, at a monthly cost that’s impossible to ignore.”

Dacia Logan MCV taxi boot

Earlier this month, Dacia revealed the specs for its new range-topping Techroad trim level, which is available on the Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV Stepway and Duster. Prices start from £11,660 and deliveries will start this month.

Dacia Techroad pricesDacia

Affordable luxury: range-topping Dacia Techroad prices and specs revealed

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Dacia Techroad prices

The top-of-the-range Dacia Techroad special editions will cost from £11,660, with the first customers taking delivery in April.

Dacia unveiled the new models at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, with the Techroad trim available on the Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV Stepway and Duster. Two exclusive colours are available: Fusion Red and Highland Grey.

All Dacia Techroad cars feature side decals, red detailing on the door mirrors, Techroad badges and red centre caps for the two-tone alloy wheels (16-inch on the Stepway models and 17-inch on the Duster).

On the inside, Techroad models boast seats with red and grey detailing, along with red accents on the air vents, around the gear lever, and on the door handles and floor mats.

Sandero Stepway and Logan MCV Stepway Techroad

Dacia Techroad interior

The Sandero Stepway Techroad costs £11,660 (£660 more than the Comfort version), with the Logan MCV Stepway Techroad priced at £13,160 (£665 more than the Comfort).

Both models are offered with a TCe 90 petrol engine, while the Logan MCV Stepway Techroad also gets the Blue dCi 95 diesel. 

In addition to the upgrades listed above, Stepway Techroad editions boast a soft-feel steering wheel, air conditioning, the Media Nav multimedia system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, DAB radio, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, cruise control and a speed limiter.

Duster Techroad

Dacia Duster Techroad

The Dacia Duster Techroad costs £16,360 (£660 more than the Prestige version) and is offered with a choice of three engines: TCe 130 and 150 turbocharged petrol units, plus the Blue dCi 115 diesel. Two- and four-wheel-drive versions are available.

Spec includes rear parking sensors, climate control, hands-free key card, blind-spot detection and multi-view camera, along with Media Nav Evolution with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

You can order a Dacia Techroad today: deliveries will commence this month.

Dacia Logan MCV Stepway

2018 Dacia Logan MCV Stepway Comfort TCe 90 review: the Aldi A4 Allroad

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Dacia’s budget estate car features faux-SUV styling and a bargain-basement price tag. But does the cheap cost come at a price? We find out

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Dacia Pop-Up closed

Value car brand in Black Friday protest

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Dacia Pop-Up closedBlack Friday bargain-hunters shopping at Westfield Stratford will not be able to buy a new Dacia car today – because the value brand has shut up shop for 24 hours, in protest at rivals’ one-day savings.

The marketing gimmick is intended to highlight the firm’s year-round value – and win favour from the two in three people it surveyed who said Black Friday is nothing more than a marketing gimmick.  

Louise O’Sullivan, head of Dacia UK, said: “At Dacia, we offer great value every day and not just on one day a year.

“We hope that closing our Westfield Stratford pop-up on the day synonymous with ‘bargains’ will show UK shoppers that, at Dacia, Black Friday is just another Friday – exceptional value should be every day.”

Dacia cars are still the most affordable new vehicles in the UK, adds the firm. The Sandero range costs from £5,995, while the Duster SUV is Britain’s cheapest mid-size crossover – costing from £9,495.

Dacia Pop-Up closed

So, Dacia is keen to stress, Black Friday is just another day. Luckily, if you are desperate to buy a new car at Westfield Stratford, the new pop-up store reopens early on Saturday morning…

Don’t go there expecting to find any sort of special offer sales deals, though, adds Dacia. Seventy three percent of people said they were suspicions of firms that offer continual sales offers, so it won’t be going down that route.

You could argue this is exactly the sort of gimmick Dacia insists it’s protesting against. Nonetheless, we still like the idea of someone shutting up shop for the day on Black Friday. And there’s still the firm’s website, if you’re super keen…

NEXT> The best Black Friday car deals

The new Dacia Duster looks a little different

The new Dacia Duster looks a little different

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The new Dacia Duster looks a little different

Everyone’s favourite Tesco Value crossover has been given a revamp in time for next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

It’s an evolutionary step-up in terms of design for the 2018 Dacia Duster, but just enough has been done for a more upmarket look. A larger front grille extends to the bigger headlights, while the rear lights have been pushed to the corners. A wider track should improve handling, while the windscreen is more steeply raked and 100mm further forward than before.

More Frankfurt Motor Show news on MR:

New 17-inch alloys fill the wheelarches, while black arch trims “highlight the car’s adventurer credentials,” says Dacia, as does a new orange colour.

We’ll see tweaked versions of the current 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines under the bonnet, while buyers will be able to choose between front- or four-wheel-drive.

We’re yet to see the inside of the new Duster, but the manufacturer says it’s been “completely redesigned,” with a quality feel and extra kit as standard. Expect to see the addition of Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

All this sounds like Dacia could be preparing us for a price increase, but doing so would take away the Duster’s USP. With the current model starting at £9,495, expect prices to remain broadly the same when they’re announced after Frankfurt.

Rumours have previously suggested that Dacia could offer a seven-seat version of its Duster to undercut the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq, but bosses have now insisted this won’t happen.

The new Dacia Duster looks a little different

Best first cars for new drivers

Best first cars for new drivers

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Best first cars for new driversResearch from HPI discovered that 21% of UK drivers have paid more for a car than its true value. However, that figure was markedly higher (30%) among 18-24 year olds, with 17% of that demographic admitting they rushed the purchase of their first car out of eagerness to get on the road.

Helpfully, HPI has also compiled a list of the cheapest new cars to run, to make that decision process a little easier. The data takes into account price, depreciation (loss in value over time), insurance, fuel economy and, tax. Join us as we count down the top 10 cars.

10. SEAT Ibiza Sport CoupeBest first cars for new drivers

In at number 10 is the SEAT Ibiza Sport Coupe 1.0 E petrol, a stylish supermini based on the Volkswagen Polo. The more practical five-door Ibiza is only marginally more expensive to run.

Over a typical three-year/60,000-mile ownership period, the Ibiza would cost £261.60 a month, or 31p a mile. The total cost of ownership works out at £9,417.56.

9. Nissan NoteBest first cars for new drivers

Nissan is actually phasing out its Note mini-MPV in favour of the more upmarket new Micra. So if you want one, you’ll need to be quick.The 1.2 Visia petrol has the lowest running costs.

The practical Note will cost you £9397.25 over three years and 30,000 miles of motoring. That equates to £261.03 a month and 31p a mile.

8. Suzuki SwiftBest first cars for new drivers

Choose the Swift with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and this supermini struggles to live up to its name. However, it is very cost-effective to run, with the SZ2 version offering the most for your money.

The cost of running a Swift over three years ducks under £9,000 – at £8,949.02. Your total monthly bill should be £248.58, or 30p a mile.

7. Nissan MicraBest first cars for new drivers

We’re not big fans of the outgoing Micra, but it is cheap to run. As with the Nissan Note, the 1.2 Visia petrol is the cheapest version for new drivers.

You could be driving a Nissan Micra for £228.81 a month all-in. Over three years and 30,000 miles that means a total bill of £8237.02 – a modest 27p a mile.

6. Citroen C1Best first cars for new drivers

The sixth-placed Citroen C1 is twinned with the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 108 city cars, both of which appear slightly further up this list.

Choose the C1 and running costs are almost identical to the Micra, at £228.42 and 27p a mile. Your total outlay over three years and 30,000 miles would be £8222.97.

5. Toyota AygoBest first cars for new drivers

We’d have an Aygo 1.0 over the equivalent C1. It’s funkier-looking and the Toyota badge probably boosts resale values. The Aygo retains 40% of its original purchase price after three years and 30,000 miles, versus 38% for the C1.

Your total bill for driving an Aygo adds up to £8,123.97, which breaks down as £225.67 a month and 27p a mile. But there are four new cars that are cheaper still…

4. Dacia Logan MCVBest first cars for new drivers

Up until this point, every car on our list has been a small hatchback. But you can run a versatile estate car on a tight budget, too. Meet the Dacia Logan MCV (that’s ‘Maximum Capacity Vehicle’, in case you were wondering).

Interestingly, the most cost-effective Logan is the 1.5 dCi – the first diesel in our list. Getting some Maximum Capacity into your life will set you back a modest £223.30 a month, or 27p a mile. The overall, three-year bill is £8,038.70.

3. Peugeot 108Best first cars for new drivers

Here’s the last of the C1/Aygo/108 – and the Peugeot takes the title as the cheapest to run. The best 108 to go for is the 1.0 Access, which finishes third in HPI’s list.

While both the Citroen and Toyota will cost you 27p a mile, the 108 comes in at just 25p – thanks in part to a strong 45% retained value after three years and 60,000 miles. The monthly cost is £212.42, while the overall figure is £7,646.97.

2. Dacia SanderoBest first cars for new drivers

In entry-level Access spec, the Dacia Sandero is Britain’s cheapest new car. However, stronger resale values for the Sandero Ambiance mean this plusher version works out cheaper overall. As with the Logan MCV, the 1.5 dCi diesel is the engine to go for.

It won’t make your neighbours jealous, but after three years/60,000 miles the Sandero will owe you just £7,212.17. Not bad for three years of driving in a brand new car. That cost breaks down as £200.35 a month and 24p a mile.

1. Suzuki CelerioBest first cars for new drivers

The Celerio blotted its copybook early with a highly-publicised brake test failure. Thankfully, those issues have now been resolved and this likeable city car redeems itself with first place in the HPI list.

A Celerio makes an excellent first car for drivers on a tight budget. Opt for the 1.0 SZ2 and you’ll pay £7,099.95 over three years and 30,000 miles. That equates to £197.22 a month and a mere 24p a mile. It’s cheaper than walking… almost.

Dacia fans to take over Bruntingthorpe... but it's not what you think

Dacia fans take over top-secret test track

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Dacia fans to take over Bruntingthorpe... but it's not what you think

Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome has been used for high-performance car testing since the 1970s – with supercars regularly topping more than 200mph along its old RAF runway.

But it’s set to hold a slightly different event this weekend, with Dacia owners invited to bring their cars and families along for the fourth annual Dacia Day.

What does a ‘Dacia Day’ entail, you may wonder? No, nobody’s expected to V-Max their Sandero – but a wide range of activities will be on offer to suit the Duster’s ‘lifestyle’ image.

These include archery, falconry and, to coincide with the launch of the Duster Rugby League special edition, a taste of rugby. There will also be an off-road track for demonstrations of the Duster’s rough terrain capabilities.

The event has been organised in association with independent Dacia website, the Dacia Forum.

Dacia UK head Louise O’Sullivan said: “Dacia Day promises to be a fun-filled free event with something for everyone. We love to see all of our customers enjoying themselves and many look forward to sharing experiences with other Dacia owners.

“A strong sense of community is one of the reasons why owners rate Dacia so highly, so we’re really pleased to be involved with this fourth annual Dacia Day. We encourage everyone to bring a picnic with them and to make the most of the day!”

Dacia Day follows on from the long-running ‘Dacia Picnic’ events first held in France in 2008, where Dacia owners meet for a family day out with activities, socialising and picnics.

The event will take place in Leicestershire on 13 August 2016. If you’re a Dacia owner and want to attend, simply fill in the form here.