- Details
- Written by: Sophie Nicholson
There are plenty of trips that take days to warm up - and then there are the ones that go from zero to full-throttle adventure before you’ve even unpacked your toothbrush.
My 24-hour mission to Morocco for Dacia’s Duster Camp fell very firmly into the latter category, helped along nicely by a random EasyJet cancellation that chopped my already short trip down to a neat and tidy 17 hours on the ground!
A questionable decision to fly all that way for such a short time? Definitely. Was it worth it, though? Abso-bloody-lutely!
The plan was actually pretty simple: fly to Marrakech, join a small crew of outdoor media putting the new Dacia Duster 150 Hybrid 4x4 (launching 2026) through its paces, and fly back to the UK the next day.
The reality involved a frantic reschedule, a mad dash across airports, and a solo night-time sprint into the desert… but the moment I arrived at Scarabeo Camp — lanterns glowing, stars a-twinklin' in the darkest of skies - the logistical carnage evaporated faster than you could say “final boarding call”.
"I fell asleep to silence and woke to a sunrise that deserved its own cinematic score. Then the real fun started"
Desert dawn, Dacia style
Scarabeo Camp is one of those places that instantly knocks the world down a gear. Luxury canvas tents with woodburners to keep you toasty all night long, fire pits, flickering candles, endless skies, quietly efficient and extremely friendly staff - the kind of refined minimalism that makes even a 17-hour trip feel like a spiritual reset.
I fell asleep to silence and woke to a sunrise that deserved its own feature-length article. Then the real fun started.
Sending it in the Agafay
The day’s mission: to put the upcoming Dacia Duster Hybrid through every challenge the Agafay could throw at it. Within minutes of leaving the camp, we were fully committed - flying across the wide open desert with the Atlas mountains in the background, threading through tight channels, powering up loose inclines and kicking up enough dust to create a camel-coughing sandstorm.
It genuinely was silly amounts of fun, the sort of 'grins-per-mile' behind the wheel adventure that reminds you that driving is about way more than simply 'getting somewhere'. It's about being in the present moment - giving it beans and having a right old hoot.
Dial it in: off-road modes
One thing that quickly became clear out there was just how much the Duster wants to help you get it right. Front and centre is a chunky little dial that lets you flick between different drive modes - sand, snow, eco, auto and full 4×4 lock - the kind of simple, intuitive setup that means even the least techie folks (bonjour...c'est moi!) can feel - and look - like they vaguely know what they’re doing.
"One tap later and the Duster quietly and reassuringly tip-toed its way down said sweat-inducing steep slope"
And then there’s HDC, or Hill Descent Control, situated right in the middle of said dial. Press it and the car basically says, “Step aside madame, I’ve got this,” creeping down steep, uneven slopes at a slow, steady pace while you concentrate on keeping the wheels pointing in the right direction. I wasn’t convinced I’d ever use it - or notice the difference - until I was staring down something that looked suspiciously like a collapsed lunar landscape. One tap later and the Duster quietly and reassuringly tip-toed its way down said sweat-inducing steep slope while I focused on holding my breath and tried not to close my eyes.
Under the bonnet: what makes the new Duster Hybrid 150 4x4 tick
For all the dust, drama and desert hooning, the real star of this trip was the powertrain. The new Dacia Duster Hybrid 150 4x4 is the first time Dacia has paired its famously rugged all-terrain character with genuinely modern hybrid tech. The setup combines a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, producing around 150hp in a way that feels smooth, responsive and surprisingly refined for a car in this price bracket (exact pricing not yet available but expected to sit somewhere between £20 - £27k for a top range model).
"The hybrid boost delivers that little extra shove you want when climbing loose inclines or powering out of sandy turns"
It’s a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which means you never have to plug it in. Instead, it constantly recycles energy as you drive, giving you extra low-end pull when you need it and quiet, efficient running when you don’t. Around towns and lower-speed sections, it can glide on electric power alone; out in the Agafay, the hybrid boost delivers that little extra shove you want when climbing loose inclines or powering out of sandy turns.
Try as we might (and trust me, we gave it a proper go), we never managed to coax the back end out. The Duster just digs in, finds grip and gets on with the job, Much like a footballer playing in a team managed by Pep Guardiola, it just knows exactly what it’s meant to do - and sticks to it.
In short: it’s simple, clever, capable and very Dacia. Nothing showy, nothing over-engineered - just a well-balanced, good-lookin', confidence-building vehicle that makes everyday life easier and off-road adventures a whole lot more fun - or as the brand says, everything you need, nothing you don’t.
Adventure, distilled
By the time we rolled back in to Marrakech, I’d racked up more genuine adventure in a single morning than many trips manage in a week. And that’s the point, really: you can have a proper adventure in a day. You just need the right place, the right people, and - in this case - a very willing 4x4.
Would a longer trip have been lovely? Sure. But there was something brilliantly liberating about flying in, driving hard, watching the Atlas glow in the distance, and flying straight back out again. No pressure to do anything other than razz around in the desert with great people and a very capable hybrid that does exactly what it was built to do.
The verdict
If you’re after a great-value adventure companion that’s as happy on the school run as it is off road, the new Dacia Duster should absolutely be on your list. And if you ever get the chance to test one in the desert - even for just one morning - do it.
Turns out you don’t need a week to feel alive.
Sometimes 17 hours will do just fine.
Thanks to....
Charlie Roper from Dacia UK, Charlotte and the All Conditions Media team for having me along for the ride.
Anna Blackwell for the wickedly wild images.
And Ferg, Fran, Neil and Sian for being excellent desert compadres.
Know how
Getting there
Airlines such as British Airways, easyJet , Ryanair, Wizz Air UK, Jet2, and TUI Airways offer direct flights to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) from numerous cities in the UK.
Private transfers from the airport can be organised via Scarabeo Camp.
Where to stay
Sophie stayed at Scarabeo Camp - Les Roches Noires.
