The Crittenden Automotive Library

Do A Double-Deal With Dacia

Topics: Dacia Duster

Do A Double-Deal With Dacia

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
November 29, 2013

If you live in Wales - or even if you don’t - and are planning to go to the Royal Welsh Winter Fair then there’s an extra treat in store. If you have always fancied a quad bike, but never quite gone through with it? Then now’s your chance. On Monday, 2nd December, Dacia, the home of truly affordable 4x4s, is launching a unique off-roading duo at the Fair. An ATV (All-Terrain-Vehicle) Pack to go with a Duster, which includes atow bar and trailer fitted to it, plus a quad bike, from as little as £5,400.

The mud-plugging abilities of Duster are widely known, not least by the sizeable collection of 4x4 awards its racked up in less than a year on sale over here. Now Dacia’s looking to plough a new furrow with buyers in rural communities right across the UK.

Chances are a hefty proportion of buyers will end up using their new twin off-roaders for a little weekend fun. In fact, with up to 110hp on tap and weighing a relatively light 1294kg for its size, Duster’s chances against a quad bike in a muddy field drag race might not be quite as clear-cut as you might think. But, there’s a very good reason why they’ve been deliberately let loose at the show in Llanelwedd, which draws in hordes of visitors each year. Which is? The offer’s been cannily timed so that the ATV-equipped Dusters arrive bang on time to coincide with lambing season next February.

Chunky, tough and perfectly at home with the rough stuff, it was probably only a matter of time before Duster was hooked up with a quad bike. In fact, in Access trim, some could say the similarities run even deeper. No radio. Air con. Or, even alloy wheels. But it’s probably the most honest off-roader this side of a Land Rover Defender, wearing its fit-for-purpose style with pride.

Dacia’s flagship model is the perfect workhorse. Even so, just occasionally, its owners might hanker after something just as hardy, but a little more compact. Cue the ATV Pack. Available to buy through official Dacia Retailers, it comprises a Yahama Grizzly ATV, tow bar and Ifor Williams P8e trailer with ramp, the offer can be tweaked perfectly to suit customer needs. Having said that, three combinations are expected to account for the bulk of orders. Firstly, the off-roading option, for both modes of transport. For £7,800 (including VAT), Duster customers, be they custodians of a 4x2 or 4x4 version, will be able to add a Yamaha ATV Grizzly 350 4WD. Teaming it with this country’s most affordable off-roader, Access 4x4 (£11,095), brings it in well under 20 grand. Or, £18,895 to be exact. The most popular option is expected to be the Ambiance dCi 110 4x4, combined with the same quad bike for £21,495.

At the other end of the price spectrum, the two-wheel-drive Yamaha Grizzly 125 can be hooked up as part of a £5,400 offer. Adding it to the entry Duster 4x4 for example, would mean a total outlay of just £16,495.

Ensuring that no owners miss out on the fun, the ATV Pack can be specified with any version of Duster, as well as both new and used. A full Yamaha dealer product handover and a free rider training course endorsed by EASI (European ATV Safety Initiative) are also thrown into the deal. Farmers, like all businessmen, will be able to claim back the VAT element of the ATV Pack. Sadly though, not on the car.

Dacia’s Duster SUV has been rigorously engineered to cope with challenging terrain and climates right across the globe. Backing up its go-anywhere ability, is Alliance partner Nissan’s 4x4 system with selectable three modes, 2WD, Auto or Lock. Allied to which is an especially short first gear that helps with hill starts, steep descents and towing.

In contrast, Yamaha’s Grizzly line-up, or quad bike to you and me, is Europe’s best-selling utility ATV range. Its 348cc engine (Grizzly 350) gives it an impressive turn of speed, plus it includes the proven On-Comand® 2WD/4WD system and a towing capacity of 500kg. For a rugged country alternative, this is a hard double-deal to beat.