Jaecoo 5 vs Dacia Duster: Mat Watson tests two budget-friendly SUVs

Small SUVs are hugely popular right now, and with new cars getting more expensive there’s an even bigger appetite for affordable ones. Two of the best-value small SUVs on the market right now are the Dacia Duster and the new Jaecoo 5, but are either worth considering? And if so, which one?

Well I’ve given both cars a thorough review, and I can tell you that each car has its pros and cons. Here I’ll walk you through what’s good about them, what’s not so good and which one is more worthy of your cash.

Dacia Duster vs Jaecoo 5: prices and value

Let’s start by talking brass tacks, because the main draw to either of these cars is the price tag.

The Dacia Duster starts from just under £22,000, and you can save an average of around £1,500 through Carwow at the time of writing. You get a decent amount of standard equipment – with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 17-inch alloy wheels all included.

If you want to add luxuries like a surround-view camera, as well as heated seats and a heated steering wheel, you’ll have to step up to the top spec Extreme model. This car costs a shade over £24,300, which is still a couple of hundred pounds cheaper than a basic Jaecoo 5.

The Jaecoo 5 costs £25,500 in its most basic form, but it does come with loads of kit as standard. All cars come with a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a surround-view camera, LED lights and adaptive cruise control. That last one is important, because it’s a feature which isn’t available on any Duster.

So it may cost a smidge more, but the Jaecoo takes the win in terms of value for money.

Dacia Duster vs Jaecoo 5: design and desirability

Just because you’re shopping for a cheap SUV doesn’t mean you don’t value style, and both of these cars look good in their own way.

The Duster has really shaken off its budget image compared to the old car, because it doesn’t look cheap. The bluff nose and chunky black cladding give it a rugged look, and I like the blacked-out rear windows as well. Nothing about this car’s design betrays its low price tag.

You could say the same of the Jaecoo 5 because there’s more than a bit of Range Rover about the design. Up front you have a big imposing grille on the petrol version, although I tested the electric model which has a smoother bumper. From the side it has a very similar, squat stance to a Range Rover Evoque, and it’s the same at the back as well.

So both of these cars look more desirable than the price tag suggests, and picking between them will come down to personal preference. If you like a tough, off-roady vibe then pick the Dacia, or for a posher, more premium image then the Jaecoo is better.

Dacia Duster vs Jaecoo 5: interior, technology and quality

You spend a lot more time sitting in your car than looking at the exterior, unless you’ve broken down of course, so it’s important that the interior is up to scratch.

And this is an area where the Jaecoo stands out, because the interior feels much more expensive than the actual cost of the car. The design is minimalistic with, once again, a Range Rover vibe thanks to the big floating touchscreen. Material quality is also really good inside, with plenty of soft-touch plastics and leatherette making it feel posh.

There was one area of quality which surprised me though, and it was actually outside the car. I noticed that the paint match between the back door and the quarter panel was way off, which is something you don’t expect to see on a brand new car. I’m sure it was just a one off, but it’s worth checking when you take delivery of your car.

Compared to the Jaecoo, the Duster does feel a bit cheaper inside. All the materials are hard and scratchy, but that said it does all feel really solid. I also like the fact you get physical climate control switches, something the Jaecoo does without.

The big portrait touchscreen in the Jaecoo 5 is easy to use, which helps make up for the lack of proper buttons. It’s also bright and responsive, and packed with features. I lost count of how many settings you can fiddle with.

By contrast, the Duster’s smaller screen seems a bit old-school. It’s easy enough to use, and it comes with the all-important smartphone mirroring which you’ll use most of the time, but it’s not quite as impressive as the system in the Jaecoo. The reversing camera isn’t as good either, with a really grainy image making it tricky to use.

I do think the Dacia Duster feels a touch more robust, but ultimately the Jaecoo 5’s interior has more of a wow factor about it. You’ll feel like you’re driving something much more expensive than it is.

Dacia Duster vs Jaecoo 5: space and practicality

The Jaecoo 5 has a decent amount of rear kneeroom, and headroom is good as well. I also like the sculptured seats, but I found that the floor is a tad too high resulting in a lack of under-thigh support. Also, if the person in front has their seat quite low then you can’t slide your feet under it.

I had no such issues in the Dacia. Kneeroom is ever so slightly more generous, and you can indeed slide your feet under the seat in front. I like this because it makes it easier to stretch out, making you feel less cramped.

If you go for the non-hybrid Duster, you get a respectable 517 litres of boot space. This drops to 430 litres in the hybrid thanks to some electrical gubbins under the floor, which is 50 litres less than the Jaecoo 5.

Both are really practical though, with low load lips and square openings to make it easy to pack heavy items. The Duster is also available with a range of accessories which can be clipped in the boot, such as additional lights and storage pouches.

Despite its smaller boot in hybrid guise, I think the Dacia Duster is the more practical car out of these two thanks to its more spacious rear seats.

Dacia Duster vs Jaecoo 5: engines and driving

The Jaecoo 5 is only available with one engine, a 1.6-litre petrol with 140hp, and if I’m honest it does let the car down a bit. It’s noisy under acceleration, the gearbox is slow and jerky and, with a claimed economy figure of 41mpg, it’s not all that efficient either.

You can get your Duster with a 1.2-litre mild hybrid petrol engine putting out 140hp and paired to a six-speed manual gearbox, and this car will return up to 52mpg. Then there’s a full hybrid with 155hp, and that car will return up to 61mpg.

Both engines in the Duster feel smoother and more refined than the Jaecoo, and this theme continues with the driving experience. Neither of these cars is a thrill ride on a twisty road, but the Duster feels more planted through the bends. It’s also smoother over bumps than the Jaecoo, and the driver aids aren’t as intrusive. You can also switch them all off easily with one button.

However, you can also get an all-electric version of the Jaecoo 5 called the E5, and removing that naff engine improves things massively. It still doesn’t handle all that well, but feels much more refined.

I can look past the Jaecoo’s lacklustre handling because it’s so well equipped and posh-feeling inside, but ultimately the Duster is a much nicer car to drive.

Dacia Duster vs Jaecoo 5: Mat’s final verdict

So then, which of these cars should you buy?

Well I do like the Jaecoo 5, and it has a lot to offer. It’s packed with standard kit, feels much more premium inside than the price tag suggests and it looks pretty desirable as well.

However, it’s not quite as spacious inside as the Dacia Duster, and that noisy petrol engine is a real sticking point. If you’re after an electric SUV, the Jaecoo E5 is a great shout.

But between these two cars, if it were my money, I’d buy the Dacia Duster. It may not feel as posh, and you do sacrifice some standard equipment, but there’s a rugged charm about the Duster which makes it very easy to like. It’s also much nicer to drive than the Jaecoo, which seals the deal for me.

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