RENAULT'S bargain brand Dacia confounded critics with its amazing success in the new car market and now it is becoming a star brand on the used car lot.
In its recently released figures on used car trends, Mycarcheck.com's data experts highlighted the Dacia Duster SUV as one of the clever used buys.
The site's valuation services team manager, Jon Wheeler, said: "If you're in the market for an affordable two-three year-old SUV, the Dacia Duster must be a contender.
"Considered a bargain new, residual values are strong and you get a lot of car for your money. If you opt for the 1.5-litre diesel, expect to see a return of 56mpg and annual road tax of around £110. Insurance should be reasonable too, with most models sitting in groups 6-11 out of 50.
"As with all newer cars, check before you buy, because a higher than average proportion of Dusters we checked in 2017 were still on finance."
As to market trends, Wheeler said: "January proved another challenging month for new car registrations with diesel once again taking the hardest hit, down 25.6 per cent against 2017.
"It is clear the perception of diesel has changed dramatically, we think somewhat unfairly. Modern diesel engines are cleaner and more efficient than ever before, and still make financial sense for some users.
"Another significant trend is the rise of AFV (alternative fuel vehicle) sales: up 23.9 per cent on the previous year, market confidence is growing and they now account for 5.5 per cent of all current registrations. Dealers' focus on the new 18 registration plate should soon shift back to the more profitable used stock as part exchange and de-fleet vehicles flood into the market throughout March."