Expert answer

Hi John,

Unfortunately, it's not possible to compare pricing in Ireland with that of other countries due to different tax schemes in operation. Our VRT system, for example, greatly increases prices of new cars here – and not just Dacias.

For what it's worth, we think under €40,000 for that Bigster is decent enough value. It's a lot of car for the money and a notable step up from the Dacia Duster. There is a lot of choice in the segment, though, so make sure you shop around. Even so, the Dacia is well-priced.

Expert answer

Hi Francis,

I'm afraid not. There is no plug-in hybrid version of the Dacia Bigster in existence, and Dacia hasn't said anything about creating one in the future. 

Expert answer

Hi Eric,

All versions of the Bigster have a button for starting and stopping the engine.

Expert answer

Hi Ger,

If you’re sticking with automatic, then your choices are very limited. We found only the Opel Grandland and SsangYong Korando, neither of which we’d be huge fans of.

Here are the manual models we found that otherwise fit the brief:

Cupra Formentor: We really like this car as it looks great, and it drives well. You might find it a little too low down for your liking as it’s not as tall an SUV as the Qashqai, but worth a look.

Dacia Duster: Not quite as solid as the Qashqai perhaps, but it’s very comfortable and you’d get more for your money - you could get a 2024 version for example.

Ford Kuga: A comfortable and well-built option. Plenty of them about.

Hyundai Tucson: Very spacious inside and in the boot. Loads of them around as it has been the best-seller for so long. Despite that it still looks interesting outside. Good reliability. Strong reputation shown by the fact that you’d probably only afford a 2022 example with your budget.

Kia Sportage: Identical to the Tucson under the skin so it just comes down to which of the two you prefer the look of. Though the Kia has a longer warranty in terms of time if mileage is low.

Mazda CX-5: Fantastic to drive and feels like a premium car in comparison to most others here. Might cost a little more to run and they’re not very plentiful on the used market.

Peugeot 3008: A stylish replacement for the Qashqai. Solid car. Double-check you can get on with the cabin layout.

SEAT Ateca: Once one of our favourite cars of this size, though it is getting on in years now. Might not feel as modern as some cars on this list, but is still well made, comfortable and spacious.

That’s still quite a long list, admittedly, but hopefully it helps you drill things down to a shortlist. We have our own preferences, and you will, too.

Feel free to come back to us if you want further help of course.

Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

The cars we've seen so far do not have those.

Expert answer

Hi Robert,

I'm afraid we don't have any Irish pricing information for the Bigster and its accessories as yet. 

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

As much as we like the new Duster, the Bigster is undoubtedly a superior machine. It's larger and a little more luxurious, so you can expect it to be more expensive as well, obviously. 

We're beging told that the Bigster will arrive in the second quarter of 2025, while the new Duster has just arrived in Ireland.

Did you see our news piece on the Bigster? Embedded at the bottom of it is a detailed video walk-around of the car if you're interested. 

Expert answer

Hi Ankit,

Let's go through your list for a start:

Suzuki Swift: Even the top-spec model with loads of options comes in under budget, has adaptive cruise control and can be had with an automatic gearbox. Easy to drive, well-specified, should be reliable, though doesn't feel as substantial as some of the other cars listed. Read our Suzuki Swift reviews here.

Volkswagen Polo: Only the Style and R-Line versions come with adaptive cruise control, but those are slightly out of budget if fitted with the DSG automatic gearbox so unless you stretch the budget this isn't an option. That's a shame as it's probably the best car in this list all things considered. Read our Volkswagen Polo reviews here.

Toyota Yaris: The 1.5-litre hybrid is an automatic by default, and as you've identified, the Luna comes with adaptive cruise control. It's the only version in the Yaris lineup within budget with those items and it's an excellent car. The rear seats aren't huge, but the fronts are fine, it drives fantastically, should be very reliable and the hybrid system is efficient and good to drive. Quite likely the pick of the cars here all things considered. Read our Toyota Yaris reviews here.

Dacia Sandero Stepway: An automatic gearbox is available, and even the most expensive version is well within budget, but this car can't be had with adaptive cruise control - only the non-adaptive type is fitted. Otherwise, it's a spacious and well-equipped car for the money. Read our Dacia Sandero reviews here.

MG3: All versions are automatic and come with adaptive cruise control, so those boxes are ticked. And even the most expensive version is within budget so it's a realistic possibility. It's the most powerful car here, which is probably not important, but it's quite efficient as well. The Yaris is a more polished product, but the MG has a little more space. Read our MG3 reviews here.

Hopefully that's all of help. I'd strongly recommend you and your wife go check out a shortlist of cars in person and test drive them to see which you prefer, as it will come down to personal preference.

Let us know which you go for.

Expert answer

Hi Una,

Sadly, I suspect not. It's highly unlikely there is enough width on the back seat to accomodate all three. If you already have the infant seats, give it a go to make sure, or bring the car along to a good child seat store and they should help you check it out for size as well.

Please do let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Ruth,

There are lots of good choices for commercial SUVs. If you wanted something really swish, you could go for a Land Rover Discovery Commercial, but it’s a bit pricey. Smaller and more affordable is the Nissan Qashqai van, which is also pretty decent to drive. There’s also the Hyundai Kona Commercial, or if you’re feeling really futuristic, the Kona Commercial Electric. But actually, to be honest, your best bet might be to just buy a compact crossover, most of which are already pretty affordable, spacious (if you fold the back seats down) and which mostly have lower annual motor tax than the flat-rate €333 commercial van tax anyway. We’d suggest starting your shopping list with either the new Ford Puma or, if you’re really looking for bargains, the Dacia Duster. Some of our reviews to help you choose:

Land Rover Discovery reviews

Nissan Qashqai reviews

Hyundai Kona reviews

Ford Puma reviews

Dacia Duster reviews

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

We've not heard of a widespread problem with the window washer motor on the Duster so this could be an isolated case. Not really a major worry, especially if it is being sorted before you get the car.

Expert answer

Hi Abala,

I'm afraid that the 2019 model is the same one as tested by EuroNCAP in 2017, at this link.

Expert answer

Hi Christine,

Well, the new Duster is a pretty good piece of kit and, if you like your current car, then it could be the best bet all round. A Dacia dealer is likely to give you a better trade-in for your current car than would a rival brand, which will help with the finances. The updated Vitara is a very decent car, but it’s noticeably more expensive than the Duster, and that goes ditto for the C3 Aircross. 

Dacia Duster reviews

Suzuki Vitara reviews

Citroen C3 Aircross reviews

Expert answer

Hi Dries,

Without seeing this happening and observing if there is also a warning light, it's very difficult to assess from afar so we would recommend bringing the car to a good mechanic to have it looked at. 

I wonder though, could it be something to do with the seatbelts not being latched correctly, or something on the other seats that moves during braking and causes the car to think there is someone there without a seatbelt on? Long shot, I know...

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

I'm afraid that's a tricky one to assess from afar. Usually, any beeping is accompanied by a warning light of some description, so keep an eye out for that. If you can't work out what it is then I suggest you bring the car to a Dacia dealer to look at.

Expert answer

Hi Deborah,

That sounds to us like one of the safety systems, such as lane-keeping assistance, giving a momentary warning. It probably does show something on the dashboard, but only for a very short amount of time. It's very difficult to assess such a thing from afar, so it's probably best to see if you can replicate conditions that make it happen and then report back to us, or get a good mechanic along to have a look.

Expert answer

Hi Matthew,

The first thing to check is if the auxiliary drive belt is intact and turning the power steering pump pulley as it should be. Then check the fluid level of the power steering system itself. If both of those things appear fine then we'd suggest you need the services of a good mechanic to take a closer look at the pump and perhaps the steering rack too.

Expert answer

Hi Oliver,

Car dealers generally work on a margin of between two to six per cent, depending on the brand, model and individual dealership. They’ll make a little more on accessories and some optional extras, but that’s about the normal margin across the board.

On the Dacia, yes, a value of €12,000 from an original purchase price of €20,000 would be about right, although it may dip a touch more than that. An automatic probably won’t make a huge difference either way — 50-60 per cent depreciation in the first three years is the norm for all cars.

Expert answer

Hi Darragh,

I think it comes down to a straight choice between the Fiesta and the Mazda, with the Mazda edging it slightly on the basis of it being better-built and more reliable. The Sandero is fine if all you want is something cheap, but then the Stepway version makes no sense because it’s just a more expensive Sandero with stick-on plastic bits. The i20 is a good outside choice though — very spacious, roomy, and well-made, but you need to upgrade to the 1.0-litre turbo engine for it to be a good choice. Here are a few reviews of those cars for further reading:

Mazda2 review

Ford Fiesta review

Dacia Sandero Stepway review

Hyundai i20 review

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

It depends. If it’s the basic 1.6-litre petrol model, then your VRT will be around €3,000 (ish, depending on spec) and that model already appears on Revenue’s system. If it’s the more expensive version with the 1.2-litre petrol turbo, then it’s trickier as, you’re quite right, Revenue doesn’t have that car on its systems.

I would think they’ll hit you up for around €4-5,000 in VRT for one of those. The process isn’t too difficult, as such, but if you don’t fancy it, the new, updated Dacia Duster will be launching next year, and that should finally come with a petrol engine option here.

Expert answer

Hi Simon,

The Mokka is quite nice, and a bit of an underrated car actually, but we reckon the best car in this class is the Suzuki Vitara, which is affordable, genuinely rugged, reliable and quite nice to drive. Handsome too. The Dacia Duster is actually a terrific machine — you have to allow for a rough and ready interior and an unrefined driving experience, but for the money it’s nigh-on impossible to beat.

Opel Mokka X review

Dacia Duster review

Suzuki Vitara review

Expert answer

Hi Liam,

OK, first off you don’t need and shouldn’t be buying a diesel. With that kind of mileage, and doing most of it in town, you’ll never get enough efficiency out of the engine and you’ll run into trouble with the particulate filter and more potentially.

Of the three cars you’ve mentioned, I think that the Mercedes B-Class might actually be the most sensible, and it’s certainly the roomiest if you’re concerned about carrying big loads. Worth remembering that for similar money you could probably get yourself into a nice C-Class Estate too, which is only a little smaller inside and a whole lot nicer to drive. I’d be tempted to stick with the Mercedes, too, for safety reasons, if your son is going to start learning to drive.

The Tiguan is another very good option, and there are versions with Volkswagen’s excellent 1.4 turbo petrol engine if you shop around. Again, safe and good to drive, if not quite as roomy as the B-Class. I’d avoid the Duster at this point — it’s diesel only, and not as safe as the Merc or Volkswagen.

Expert answer

Hi Jim,

No, it's not. The Duster hasn't yet been offered with an automatic option in Ireland. It is available in Europe, so you could think about importing a left-hand-drive one, or wait and hope it arrives here soon. 

Read our Dacia Duster automatic review here

Expert answer

Hi Steve,

It will depend on the mileage and spec but it should be in the region of €2,300. 

Expert answer

Hi Nigel,

The Duster has been on sale in Europe for more than a decade now and, for the most part, it has built up a decent reputation for reliability. Because it’s so basic, it lacks many of the more modern electronic systems that cause so many problems in more expensive models, which helps. The 1.5 dCi diesel is a sold engine, although you do need to keep an eye out for troubles with the turbo if it hasn’t been serviced properly.

Other things to think about are damage underneath the car from owners trying to drive further off road than the car was designed for. As long as you’re buying one with a full service history I wouldn’t have too many concerns.

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

There is no specific market data for Ireland in this respect. The old rule of thumb still holds true - if you want ultimate reliability, buy a Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Subaru or Mazda. You could probably pretty easily add Kia and Hyundai to that list too now.

The best I can do for you is to point you towards the results of the JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study for the UK market in 2015. An independent research agency, JD Power ranks the various brands surveyed by problems per 100 cars - although it's worth remembering that those problems can range from minor electrical niggles to total engine failure, so you can't read everything into the stats. The last set of figures, ranked from best-performing to worst, were:

Expert answer

Hi Rose,

The thing is that they're totally different cars. The Sandero is a small and very, very cheap, hatchback - about the size of a Ford Fiesta, but not as good to drive. It's cheap, cheerful and gets the job done, but that's about it. By contrast, a Skoda Yeti is a crossover SUV, much bigger than a Sandero, with a far larger cabin and boot, and is much better built and nicer to drive. It depends what you need - a cheap runaround? Or something more sophisticated?

Expert answer

Hi Caroline,

The Yaris. Dacia actually has a pretty good reliability record and, in spite of their cheapness, they do seem to be solidly built. But a Toyota is a Toyota and the Yaris is the only small hatchback built to withstand a tactical nuclear strike. Not really, but you get the idea.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

The Sandero is one of those ‘Ronseal’ cars – it does what it says on the tin, and the tin is pretty cheap. It’s a very simple, small hatchback that’s long on value but short on refinement or excitement. The front is perfectly comfy for a long journey but the back seats are rather cramped if you’re trying to squeeze taller passengers or kids in big car seats in. It’s a solid, practical and pretty reliable thing though. Nothing wrong with it, and at that price point, that’s the point. The diesel though? It’s a very good engine, that 1.5, but in a car like the Sandero you’re probably better off going for either the basic 1.2 or the really impressive 900cc turbo petrols as you’ll be a long time getting the extra purchase price of the diesel back in fuel savings.

Read our Dacia Sandero review here

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

Simple really; it's a car that's in demand in the second hand market, hence values are bouyant and dealers can keep their prices on the high side.

Incidentally, our review of the Dacia Duster continues to be one of our most popular pages.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

Yup, a 1.2 16v Pop model starts at €13,400.

Read our review of the updated Fiat 500 here

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

A Dacia Sandero 1.2 16v 75hp in its most basic Alternative trim can be snapped up for €9,990. Other than stumbling across an outrageous one-off discount, you're not going to get any new car cheaper than that.

Read our Dacia Sandero review here

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

Not bad, but you have to go in with your eyes open. They're cheap and they're cheap for a reason - comfort, quality and dynamics are all well behind the curve compared to the more expensive opposition. That said, it's not bad - spacious, OK to drive, good diesel engine and they have a good reputation for reliability. Worth remembering though that you only get safety gear like stability control if you upgrade to the top spec model.

Dacia Duster review

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

Well, with CO₂ emissions of 99g/km it's in Band A2 so that means 15 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP), which is whatever the Revenue Commissioners reckon it's worth. 

Expert answer

Hi Terence,

We certainly have. Read the Dacia Logan MCV review here.

Expert answer

Hi Eva,

The Stepway just isn't worth the extra money over the standard Sandero so avoid that. If you want something compact, with a bit of height that won't break the bank, track down a Suzuki SX4 hatchback. Good to drive, high-ish riding and ruggedly reliable too. We found a 2010 1.6 diesel for just over €10k.

Further reading:

Dacia Sandero Stepway review

Suzuki SX4 review

Expert answer

Hi John,

OK, there's good news and bad news here. The good news is that the four marques of which you've spoken have all really lifted their quality and reliability games. Renault especially has come on a long way since the dark, unreliable days of the early 2000s. While electrical gremlins are pretty much guaranteed further down the line, that's something you could equally say of any Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi.

Dacia tend also to make very reliable cars, in no small part because they're so simple and lacking in the sort of high-end electronics that festoon other models. The brand regularly features very high up in the European JD Power customer satisfaction rankings.

Fiat tends to do less well in those rankings, but much of that is down to a dealer network that's still trying to get its head around modern customer service requirements. The fact is that Fiats these days are no more or less well made or reliable than any other brand (mostly - more on that in a tic). Certainly, we know of many Fiat customers who've had trouble-free motoring for many, many years.

Citroen too has really lifted its game and the latest generations, such as the C4 Picasso and C4 Cactus are really well put together. Long term reliability is still an unknown of course for these new models, but in general, longevity seems to be on the up.

However, just as these Franco-Italian brands have improved, so too have the Japanese and Koreans. There is still a distinct gap in overall solidity between the Japanese brands (Honda especially) and everyone else. It's still the case that if you want genuinely trouble-free motoring, the Japanese are still kings, with the Koreans and Skoda hot on their heels.

That said, I reckon if you bought any Fiat, looked after it properly and made sure it was fully serviced to schedule, you wouldn't have any major problems.

Expert answer

Hi Breda,

Dacia is a stand-alone brand, not an actual Renault model (although the company is owned by Renault and shares its components with various Renault models). They're cheap and cheerful - you really do get what you pay for, which is basic, no frills transport. Nothing wrong with that, and by and large reliability seems to be a strong point, but don't go in expecting sophistication.

Expert answer

Hi there,

We are not aware of any issues with Dacia starter motors and after a little time searching the internet for them we conclude that there don't seem to be any widespread problems.

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

Not a lot is the unfortunate answer I'm afraid... A Hyundai Coupé of that age retails for between €2,500 and €3,500, and you can generally knock €1,000 to €1,500 off to find the trade-in value. On top of which, Dacia dealers are already operating on super-slim margins so as to keep the price of the cars down, so there's even less wiggle room for a decent trade-in than there might be with other dealers. Sorry about that...

Expert answer

Hi David,

OK, a couple of points to deal with there. I can well remember my first drive in the Dacia Duster, which was a left-hand drive 4x4 model and I happened to drive it from Galway to Waterford and back on some of the wettest days of 2012. I can honestly not remember feeling that the wipers were inadequate to the task, and I'm generally pretty sensitive to things like that, so I'd say you might be crossing the car off your list somewhat unfairly. I can certainly remember thinking that the Duster felt unusually well-planted on the road and sure-footed in what were truly appalling conditions.

Incidentally, it's worth noting that we also take almost all of our test cars on week-long tests, and occasionally even longer ones. The full CompleteCar.ie team also endeavours to drive each car personally so that we can put together a fully rounded opinion on every model, and we always try to drive them in as many different conditions as the prevailing weather will allow.

Expert answer

Hi John,

It's quite a likeable car at first and many will be sold on its looks alone, but we couldn't logically say it's worth the extra over the regular Dacia Sandero. Then again there aren't really many direct rivals at the price. Saying that, the price rises rapidly once you want a few niceties such as air conditioning...

For a full review of the Sandero Stepway on Irish roads click here.

Expert answer

Hi Kellie.

Generally speaking, they should be OK. All the mechanical bits are old, proven Renault and Nissan parts, and thanks to the fact that Logans are pretty well shorn of equipment, there's not that much that can go wrong. Dacias also come with an optional five-year warranty, which should put your mind at rest.

However, it's worth pointing out that the Logan estate we tested recently had a wonky driver's door, putting some doubt over the quality of the assembly and the German TUV (the national safety and quality testing organisation) rates the Logan as having a 13 per cent fault rate. Now, that figure is only a guideline and it does encompass the old Logan (the one that was never sold here) as well, but just for comparisons, the TUV rates a Ford Fiesta at a 4.8 per cent fault rate.

In other words, they're probably fine, but try and make sure you buy one with lots of warranty left, just in case.

Expert answer

Hi Chris,

We checked with Renault on this and here's the response we got:

"There is nothing technical to stop a customer carrying out an LPG conversion on the TCe 90 engine, but there is no manufacturer support to do it.  There is no such thing as 'an approved convertor'  for LPG on any Renault/Dacia so the customer would need to be satisfied themselves in the quality of work and warranty provided by whoever carries out the conversion.

"Additionally, carrying out a conversion does not necessarily invalidate the manufacturer warranty as a whole and is still valid for non LPG related parts. However, if an incident arises that is directly or indirectly found to have been caused by the conversion, that would not be our responsibility. In other words, normal warranty applies on anything that is not in any way connected to the conversion (e.g. an internal electrical defect with an alternator would not have been influenced by the conversion)."

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

The Stepway gains some SUV-like styling and a 4cm higher ride height over the conventional Sandero, so it's a little bit more bouncy on rougher roads as a result, and it will roll a bit more in bends over its relation. That's a hyper critical road tester's view though, as the soft, comfort-biased suspension is fine at nornal speeds.

The SUV-look suits it, really smartens it up and makes it stand out, though the trade off for this - thanks largely to the addition of those roof bars - is an appreciable increase in wind noise at speed. That's fine unless you're doing lots of motorway miles in it.

Rear legroom isn't overly generous, while the trim and materials are all fairly uninspiring, though robust. The diesel isn't very refined, but should return excellent economy, the petrol three-cylinder engine is more willing and more refined, but less economical.

All in I rather liked it though, good honest transport.

You can read my colleague Neil's Irish road test of the Dacia Sandero Stepway here.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

OK, at that budget you have plenty of good options. How about a Hyundai i10? Crackingly good little car that - nice to drive, safe, economical and really reliable. Circa €9,000 should get you into a 2012 model, and that will still have around three years of its original warranty left to run. Want something a little cheaper than that? Try a Suzuki Swift. Budget around €6,000 to €7,000 to get a 2009 or 2010 model. Again, a cracking little car to drive and Suzukis are exceptionally well made and reliable. Finally, if you max out your budget, you could get into a brand new Dacia Sandero 1.2. Not the most sophisticated car out there but simple and solid and it comes with a full warranty.

Let us know which way you go

Expert answer

Hi Shaun,

No. White is the only colour that comes as standard on a Duster. Black (and metallic ‘Pearl Black’ is the only available version) costs an extra €520.

Dacia Duster review

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

You'd be surprised how many engines still make two with two valves per cylinder (i.e. eight valves in a four-cylinder engine) and actually, more valves are not always better. Generally speaking, an eight-valve engine has better low down torque, where as a 16-valve design allows freer flowing gas at higher engine speeds, releasing more power. However, the eight-valve engines are often more rugged and reliable and of course cheaper to produce.

Expert answer

Hi Gabriel,

Dacias are fine, to be honest, you just have to make sure you know what you're getting into. They're not sophisticated, nor are they especially modern, but they're cheap and genuinely quite cheerful. Best of the bunch is the Sandero supermini, which combines decent build quality with surprising refinement and a  emptingly low price.

The Duster SUV is also pretty good, albeit it's quite an old design now and lacks things like electronic stability control as standard. Still, it's rugged, tough and refreshingly simple. The newer Logan estate and Stepway crossover are just variations on the Sandero theme and are there for those who need either an enormous boot (Logan) or a bit of 4x4-esque style (Stepway).

Expert answer

Hi Katy,

Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

Whether it's a case of giving us the poor mouth or not I'm not sure but Irish dealers by and large operate on a margin of between 8 and 12 per cent. That can vary wildly between brands, of course. Dacia dealers for instance will probably tell you they work on a margin closer to five per cent, so don't go asking for discounts. Premium brand dealers will obviously have broader margins so there is a little more scope for discounting there. 

The UK market has a number of advantages over us when it comes to seeking out bargains. For a start, there's no VRT to pay, whereas anything from 30 to 50 per cent of every Irish dealer's sale goes straight into the tax man's pocket. Competition in the UK is also much more cut-throat and the big dealers have to compete with the likes of car supermarkets, so they're keener to offer discounts.

If you're looking for bargains at the moment in Ireland, the best thing to do is watch for pre-registrations. To meet their market share targets, many importers are pressuring their dealers to register cars that will then be sold as 'nearly new' or 'demo model' at a significant price cut. The best thing to do is shop at the start of the month, as most pre-registering will be done on the last working day of the previous month and dealers will be keen to off-load pre-registered stock.

Hope all that helps

Expert answer

Hi Chris,

Well, the simplest answer to your rain problem is that it sounds as if the door or window seals are gone, or it could possibly be a leak from the air conditioning system. A quick trip to the garage should sort that out. As for the Duster, it’s a fine car for the money — they’re reasonably nice to drive, certainly rugged and reliable and very practical too, but you’re going to have to put up with seats that are less than stellar on longer journeys, and a dashboard made of the lowest-grade plastics around.

2016 Dacia Duster review (post-facelift)

2012 Dacia Duster review

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

Dacia Ireland has just today confirmed that it will be in Irish showrooms by the end of November. Are you considering buying one?

Expert answer

Hi Sylvester,

First up, I assume you know that the petrol version of the Duster is not offered on the Irish market. It's sold in the UK though, so it could be imported.

In fact, the Duster is offered for sale as an LPG car in some parts of Europe with the 1.6-litre engine so it should be relatively easy to do the conversion - assuming nothing in the right-hand drive configuration gets in the way.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi John,

The front-wheel drive Dacia Duster powered by the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine returns 56.5mpg (5.0 litres/100km) on the combined cycle. The four-wheel drive version is a little more thirsty at 53.3mpg (5.3 litres/100km). Naturally most people don't achieve these official figures, but it's a good benchmark figure.

Expert answer

Hi Peadar,

Dacia Ireland told us it has no plans to introduce a seven-seat model to the Irish market at this stage.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi David,

Lots. If you’re buying new, you can easily get into such models as a Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo, SEAT Mii, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Fiat Panda, Fiat 500, Ford Ka+, Suzuki Celerio and many more . If you’re buying used, it all depends on what you want and how old a car you feel like buying. Could be anything from a Dacia to a Mercedes.

Come back to us if you want us to go into detail in one area.

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

It does. The 1.5-litre dCi diesel model will do an easy 50mpg on average, as long as you don’t drive it like you stole it. The 4x4 version is a little thirstier, maybe more like 40-45mpg.

Expert answer

Hi Vincent,

Our prices were correct at the time of each article - the date is displayed in each case. For clarity, at the time of writing this, the pricing is as follows:

- Dacia Duster Alternative: €15,990

- Dacia Duster Signature: €17,990

- Dacia Duster Signature 4x4: €19,990

All are powered by the same 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine producing 110hp. The front-wheel drive cars are in Band B1 and the 4x4 one is in Band B2.

Hope that clears it up?

Expert answer

Hi Rolande,

The €14,990 price quoted in our first drive is for the entry level, two-wheel-drive, Duster in 'Alternative' specification with the Signature 4WD model that we tested coming in at €18,990 as you say.

For reference, information from manufacturer sites should always be checked, as prices and specifications can change over time and every once in a while a car will slip through the cracks when we update test drives.

We hope that clears things up for you. 

Expert answer

Hi Stan,

The price, as stated in the text of the article (€14,990) is a starting price for the line-up, not the 4x4 model. The sole four-wheel drive version, in Signature trim, costs €18,990.

Hope that makes things clearer.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Best place to start is www.dacia.ie, as it has a "Find a dealer" facility. We're informed that there are cars in all dealers right now for test drives.

Let us know how you get on.

In case you've not seen it, here's our first drive of the Dacia Duster on Irish roads.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

It makes a lot of sense for the money. It does everything that the likes of an entry-level Nissan Qashqai or Skoda Yeti does but for a way lower price. For its basic price you could only afford a three- to four-year old Qashqai for instance.

However, it isn't as impressive in terms of ambience as the established makers' cars. Neither is it as polished on the road.

Nevertheless, its running costs are low, equipment levels generous and of course it comes with a new car warranty...

Read Paul's first drive here for more, but if you have any specific questions please do come back to us.

Expert answer

Hi Paul.

It's true, Lada's owners, which include the Renault-Nissan alliance, have said that it makes sense to bring the brand back to this side of Europe. If that happens it's also likely that the cars will be made in right-hand drive for the UK and Ireland.

I agree it'll take some marketing genius to turn around the image side of things, but bear in mind that Skoda was once seen as no better than a Lada - and look at it now.

The reasoning behind all this is apparently to beat the Chinese car makers to it. Renault-Nissan will be represented at the super-cheap end of the market by Dacia and Lada before the likely arrival of a handful of Chinese manufacturers.

Whether they'll be successful in Ireland or not remains to be seen. You reckon that the budget end is already pretty busy? Maybe there's room for new cars at an even lower price.