Ambiance 1.5 dCi 4x4 5dr 4 X 4

I think I bought myself a bargain - a good rugged 4-wheel drive "that does what it says on the side of the can".

I bought the car to replace a much loved Berlingo with 150K miles on the clock. I really needed a rugged car because I live in a remote part of the UK and drive long distances on minor and B roads. My Berlingo was excellent but I went through quite a few springs on the rough terrain I drive through, so I took a chance on a Duster.

The 6 forward gears are good once you have got used to the ratios. The lower 4 are designed for rough terrain and good for those minor single track roads and B roads with mega pot-holes. Also ideal for driving around town. 5th and 6th gears are ideal for the better country roads and the car slugs along nicely at 60 mph on the main roads. The gear box is very nice to operate. The car is generally every bit as powerful as my old Berlingo, so I am happy with the overall performance. The Duster needs to be run-in per the instruction manual and the performance of the car noticeable improves in the first 2000 miles of use.

For fuel consumption I am getting around 45 to 50 miles per gallon, partly because I have roof bars (reduces economy) and partly because I live in a very hilly area (mountainous by London standards). I think this is good for a 4 wheel drive and compares well with other makes of 4 wheel drives owned by my friends which generally achieve around 35 mpg. So I have no complaints.

The driving position is better than the Berlingo and the Duster feels safer to ride in. There is a good amount of space for both front and rear passenges making it a very comfortable car for long journeys. The general interior finish is good, with the materials used being to a good practical standard (as opposed to luxury fittings). The steering controls are easy to use and the music/radio system is excellent. The boot is roomy, but not as much space as the old Berlingo (but you can't have everything).

Overall I am very pleased with my Duster with it meeting my needs for a good practical no-frills 4 wheel drive car at an affordable price.

Update - I have now had the car for over a year and 18,500 miles. Still going great. No noticeable rust problems. Great on long journeys. A good, basic, practical car - so don't expect a luxury motor if you buy one. I can see why it has been such a success abroad.

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