Dacia Duster Review & Prices

The Dacia Duster is what you get when you buy Sylvester Stallone from the middle aisle of Lidl. It’s all square-shouldered and rugged, and capable to go with it - yet it costs less than any comparable alternative. It feels a little cheap in places, and it’s not quite as comfortable as more conventional SUVs - but it’s so loaded up on charm that you won’t mind.

The Duster’s key features are its low list price - it starts from less than £20,000, and even the most expensive variant is well below £30,000 - its spaciousness, and its off-road ability. Even the basic models have more ground clearance and sturdier construction than most alternative small SUVs, and there’s even a proper four-wheel drive variant available that can tackle the rough stuff shockingly well.

Its compact dimensions means it’s going to be a natural alternative to cars like the Volkswagen T-Cross, Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur - though at that price, you’ll also consider it as an alternative to cars from new Chinese brands such as the Jaecoo 5 or Chery Tiggo 7.

It definitely stands out thanks to its styling, though. Considering it’s one of the cheapest cars on sale, the square-edged silhouette, crenellated bonnet and chunky cladding combine with the smart front fascia and distinctive light pattern for a car that’s genuinely eye-catching. The comparably-sized Jeep Avenger may come from the better lineage, but it looks nothing like as tough as the Duster.

It isn’t style over substance, either. The Duster’s plastic cladding is made of a tough recycled material called Starkle, which has its colour moulded in all the way down so scratches and scuffs won’t show up as much.

Inside, the rugged look continues with physical controls and hardwearing materials. It’s way smarter than the old Duster used to look - instead of a collection of cast-offs from the Renault Group’s parts bin, it feels like a bespoke Dacia cabin. All versions even get a digital instrument cluster and 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system - seems basic, but when the Duster was launched all the base models got was a phone mount.

It’s definitely built for family life. The surfaces are wipe-clean, and even the standard floor mats are hardwearing rubber rather than posh carpet. The payoff for the Duster’s price tag is that it’s not exactly luxurious - the plastics are all hard rather than soft-touch, and the seat upholstery feels pretty low-rent.

There’s lots of space, though. Adults can stretch out in the back seat and the 472-litre boot is huge for this size of car. The high window line and lowered roof does make it feel a bit dark and claustrophobic back there, though.

Duster engine options include a self-charging hybrid, which is surprisingly efficient and can even be had with a second electric motor to make it four-wheel drive. Basic models use a familiar 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with mild hybrid technology, and the 4x4 model uses this too. Most models have a manual gearbox, so if you want an automatic, you’ll need the hybrid.

Owners of the older Duster might lament the loss of a diesel engine, but the hybrid is so efficient that it acts as a replacement for that model.

The Duster’s grown in sophistication compared to the previous model, too. It feels smoother over bumps than the old car, with sharper, more accurate steering. It’s comfortable and quiet enough on the motorway, and easy to drive in town thanks to the high-set driving position. You’d never call it an enthusiasts’ car, but that’s not the point - the point is maximal car for minimal money, and in that sense the Dacia Duster scores really big.

Check out our best Dacia Duster deals, or get a great price on a Dacia Duster leasing deal. We’ve got deals on other Dacia models, or you can search for a used Dacia for sale. And remember that Carwow can help you to sell your old car when the time comes, too.

The Duster isn’t as arrestingly cheap as once it was (remember the original £9,999 Duster?) but it still represents exceptional value for money if you’re shopping for a compact SUV. A VW T-Cross, for example, is smaller inside but as much as £6,000 pricier.

A Peugeot 2008 is £9,000 more in basic form (although much better-equipped as standard, of course). At least the Renault Captur, mechanically related to the Duster, gives the Dacia a slightly harder time, with only a £3,000 difference in basic form. Of course, the Duster 4x4 gives the Dacia an added edge, and there just aren’t that many other compact SUVs with proper four-wheel drive and serious off-road ability. One of the few is the Jeep Avenger 4XE hybrid, and that’s around £7,000 pricier than the cheapest Duster 4x4, with much less space inside.

A good range of engines and much nicer to drive than before - shame the diesel’s no longer available

In town

The new Duster is much smoother to drive in town than the previous model, particularly if you opt for the 1.6-litre hybrid engine - because this allows you to coast along silently on electric power alone. The other engines aren’t bad, though, and all models benefit from the Duster’s upgraded suspension, which is firmer than it was before. Though this means it doesn’t iron out bumps quite as well as a Peugeot 2008, it doesn’t bounce around as much as the old car did, which means a less sickness-inducing ride for your passengers.

Visibility isn’t the best, thanks to a shallower window line and narrow rear windscreen. But all models above the base car do get a reversing camera, and the turning circle and light steering do mean the new Duster is pretty manoeuvrable in town.

On the motorway

All versions of the Duster do need a bit of a boot getting up to motorway speeds. The basic 100hp bi-fuel engine is is fine as long as you’re not carrying a full load, or are four-up with big adults, while the mild-hybrid 130hp 1.2 and the 140hp hybrid have ample power considering the Duster’s light weight - they just occasionally need working harder than, say, the 150hp engine of a Volkswagen T-Roc.

One problem on long journeys if you have a manual Duster is that there’s limited space for your left foot, which can lead to a bit of cramp.

Once you’re up to speed, the Duster feels very stable and secure, albeit slightly noisier than alternatives thanks to less sound deadening. All the hard plastics on the interior do tend to amplify the sound, too, and the hybrid in particular can sound quite coarse when it’s revving high. It’s much quieter than the diesel used to be, though. Hopefully, the Duster hybrid will shortly get an upgrade to Dacia’s new 1.8-litre hybrid engine, as seen in the Bigster, as this is smoother and more economical.

On a twisty road

You’re not going to mistake the Duster for a hot hatchback any time soon, but with the stiffer suspension it feels much more precise and controlled than before. It stays flatter in bends, instead of leaning like a ship, though it does feel like it fidgets about a bit over rougher surfaces.

Four-wheel drive models have more sophisticated rear suspension which should improve comfort levels slightly, as well as the benefit of those driven rear wheels helping to push you out of bends and adding traction when the roads are slippery.

If your idea of a twisty road is one that involves deep ruts and mud rather than sweeping corners, then you’ll really love the 4x4 version of the Duster. It’s really capable, with plenty of ground clearance, good grip levels and useful additions such as selectable drive modes and hill-descent control. While you won’t be chasing down Land Rover Defenders, it’s certainly by far the most capable off-roader you can buy new for less than £50,000.

Roomy for its size, but the Duster is still a small SUV

Practicality is a high point for the Dacia Duster. The rear seats have plenty of space and the boot is larger than some cars from the size above.

The driver’s seat does have height adjustment, but it misses out on additional features such as an extendable seat base, and the lumbar support can’t be adjusted up and down. The front seats are squashy and comfortable but don’t feel as though they’d hold you in place while cornering, and the driving position can be a bit awkward for taller drivers, especially when it comes to manual versions. The hard wearing upholstery appears more expensive than you’d expect given the Duster’s budget leanings, though, with rugged denim-like upholstery for most models, or a microfibre that feels almost like wet-suit neoprene for top-spec Extreme Dusters.

There are plenty of storage slots for odds and ends, including a shelf perfectly sized for your smartphone, a pair of cupholders and large door bins. There’s also a clever modular system called YouClip that Dacia’s developed, with mounting points across the cabin and boot - you’ll be able to attach clamps, phone or tablet holders or even lights. Expect to see a whole range of Dacia accessories developed to fit this in the future.

Space in the back seats

The rear doors open nice and wide, and the flat rear bench lends itself well to accommodating three adults - assuming they can fit width-wise. It’s comfortable for two six-footers, though, even if they’re sat behind a driver of a similar size. Headroom is fine although the seat is set quite high, which can feel a touch enclosing for taller people.

There’s USB-C charging available for rear passengers, as well as one of the aforementioned mounting points - ideal for mounting a tablet so that those in the back can watch a movie or play a game on a long journey.

Boot space

Boot space varies depending on the model you select. Two-wheel drive petrol models get 472 litres of space, which is one of the biggest boots in a car of this size - more than the 385 litres of the Volkswagen T-Cross or 400 litres of the Skoda Kamiq. Four-wheel drive and hybrid models lose some capacity as they have mechanicals to accommodate under the rear - raising the boot floor by a few inches, reducing the hybrid’s boot volume to 430 litres. Still decent, though.

The rear seats fold easily with tabs on the top edge, but they do leave a significant hump in the load floor when flat. They go down in a 60:40 split, and there are bag hooks and an optional rubber liner to keep the carpet clean.

Adventurous sorts will enjoy the optional Sleep Pack, which takes the form of a bespoke wooden box in the rear. Using the dropped seat backs, you’ll be able to fold out a futon-style double bed for comfortable in-car camping, although the Duster’s shape means your face will be quite close to the roof, so it works better in the slightly taller Jogger, or the massive Bigster.

Hard wearing and well-built, but far from plush

Basic models of the Dacia Duster really live up to that title - they don’t even get a central infotainment screen. Instead, you get a mount for your phone in the middle of the dashboard, from which you can run a bespoke Dacia app or your own choice of sat nav and media. The car does still have a radio if you don’t want to plug in your phone; you can control this via the small screen in the instrument panel and the buttons on the steering wheel. For serious value-hounds, this is the one to get.

Most models come with a 10.1-inch touchscreen instead, which is much brighter, slicker and better-looking than in any Dacia that’s come before this. It offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as displaying the reversing camera, while top-spec models also get built-in sat nav. Thankfully, Dacia — like Renault — sticks with some decent physical buttons for air conditioning below the screen, which makes life much easier.

The overall style is sort of cyberpunk meets lumberjack. It’s clearly designed for hard work outdoors, with rubber floor mats, wipe-clean surfaces and nice touches like off-road specific information available on the infotainment screen. But it’s also quite cool and angular, and uses interesting textures and patterns to hide the fact that the materials are quite a long way from plush.

Though the steering wheel and gear selector feel posh enough in the hand, areas such as the door cards and armrests are made entirely of hard, unyielding plastics. These will no doubt stand up to some real punishment but they don’t conjure up a very premium feel - nor are they that nice to touch. That is to be expected given the car’s price, though.

MPG figures for the Dacia Duster aren’t half bad considering the car’s spacious interior and blocky silhouette. The mild hybrid 1.2-litre petrol officially returns 51mpg, or 46mpg if you opt for the four-wheel drive version. You should be able to achieve reasonably close to to these official figures on a long run, though it will inevitably drop if you spend lots of time in town.

The hybrid model officially returns 55mpg, and we’ve found 50mpg to be very achievable, although the newer 1.8-litre hybrid in the Dacia Bigster seems more economical again, so hopefully it slots into the Duster soon.

The hybrid Duster doesn’t lose too much economy in stop-start traffic, either, as it cycles between petrol and electric running to make the most out of it. We’ve seen well over 60mpg from this engine in other Renault and Dacia cars, so with careful use you should be able to eke out more than the claimed figure.

The Bi-Fuel 1.0-litre could be an interesting proposition if you live close to an LPG filling station. LPG is typically around half the price of petrol, and could result in much lower running costs. It returns an official figure of 43mpg when running on petrol, and around 35mpg on LPG - so savings could be significant. This engine is however only available on the very cheapest Duster.

The hybrid offers the lowest CO2 emissions of the Duster’s engines at 114g/km, and so the lowest road tax or company car rates. Opting for a higher trim level or a 4x4 variant will see emissions increase, with a corresponding rise in tax - though at 135g/km for the petrol 4x4, it’s not too shabby all round.

If you’re getting a Duster as a company car, BIK (Benefit in Kind) tax costs start from around £107 per month if you’re a 20% tax rate payer.

Dacia’s official Euro NCAP scores often suffer as the firm tends to shy away from fitting active driver aids to keep costs low. And so it proves with the latest Duster, which has scored three stars out of five in safety testing. Child occupant protection is pretty good at 84%, but the 70% adult occupant score is quite disappointing.

Despite scoring poorly for driver assist technology, the new Duster comes equipped with all the basics as they’re now required by European law - so you get autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition with a speed alert, lane-keeping assist, driver attention monitoring and rear parking sensors. It’s also nice that Dacia fits an easy shortcut to turn the more annoying of these features off with just two presses, so you don’t have to root through menus.

Historically Dacia’s no-nonsense engineering has led to reasonable reliability - less to go wrong! The new Duster introduces a lot more software and safety systems to the fray, but the engines and oily bits are well-proven and should be pretty dependable.

Dacia's Zen warranty gives you up to seven years of cover, provided you continue to service your car at an approved Dacia retailer. The mileage limit for this is 75,000 miles. As standard, you get three years of cover, with a further four unlockable through the Zen program. That's really good, and matches all but the very best on sale - MG and Kia both have seven-year warranties, but Toyota has a similar service-linked policy offering up to a decade of cover.