Dacia Duster review

Is the Dacia Duster a good car?

Buyers are spoiled for choice when it comes to family SUVs, but finding something that offers great value for money is tricky. The Dacia Duster has always delivered its own unique charm in a class where many cars try to be sporty or aggressive, and the Romanian brand is aiming to carve its own niche once again with the third-generation model. 

We’re pleased to report that the Duster hasn’t lost its way, because the third-generation SUV offers great-value motoring and family car practicality at an affordable price. It’s not the most refined or luxurious SUV for sale, but the car’s honesty makes it easy to enjoy, while the tough yet modern looks mean it can turn heads. 

The latest Duster uses the same CMF-B platform as the likes of the latest Renault Clio and Captur – plus the Dacia Jogger – and that means the current model takes a significant step forward from its predecessor, with an improvement in tech and a grown-up feeling on the road.

How much does the Dacia Duster cost?

The simple, honest Dacia Duster was launched in Europe in 2010 and crossed the Channel in 2013, when the brand first arrived in the UK. Since then, in excess of 2.4 million Dusters have been sold worldwide, with more than 100,000 of those finding homes on British soil. All of that was accomplished by the first two generations, and now the Mk3 has arrived. 

Dacia has enjoyed big success with customers prioritising value for money above anything else. This formula still applies with the all-new model, although it does combine this with an element of adventure as Dacia attempts to move away from being solely a budget brand. At a time when you’ll pay nearly £26,000 for a basic Ford Puma, and the Renault Captur starts at just over £21,000, the latest Duster is available from under £19,000, which is only a slight rise over the model that it replaced. 

What’s even more impressive is that the latest Duster isn’t just a heavy facelift – it’s an all-new car. It sits on the Renault Group’s CMF-B platform that underpins the Renault Clio, as well as the Dacia Sandero and Dacia Jogger. 

The entry-level Essential model is only available with a TCe 100 Bi-Fuel engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder motor can run on petrol or LPG, but because it only produces 99bhp, 0-62mph takes 14.1 seconds. 

The rest of the range comes as standard with a TCe 130 mild-hybrid petrol engine, which is the one we’d recommend. This 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit delivers 128bhp and 230Nm of torque, so delivers a more reasonable 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds. Meanwhile, mild-hybrid assistance helps it to return official economy of 51.4mpg. Front-wheel drive is standard, but you can add four-wheel drive to this engine for an extra £2,200. The only gearbox option is a six-speed manual.

If you want an automatic, you’ll have to choose the Hybrid 140 powertrain. This is a tried-and-tested full-hybrid system from Renault, and is also used in the Dacia Jogger Hybrid. It features a 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission that are paired with an electric motor to drive the front wheels, plus a separator starter-generator motor that helps bring the engine to life and take some load off the powertrain, too. Combined power is rated at 138bhp, while the main e-motor delivers up to 205Nm of torque. Dacia says that the Duster Hybrid can drive using electric-only power for up to 80 per cent of the time in urban environments.

The Duster’s trim structure starts with the base Essential, leading to the mid-range Expression, then branching into two equal range-toppers – the off-road biased Extreme and the slightly more family-focused Journey.

Essential trim is aptly named, because it offers a smartphone holder on the dashboard to use with an app-based infotainment system, plus analogue dials with a 3.5-inch TFT display, manually adjustable door mirrors and air-conditioning. Safety kit includes cruise control, driver attention warning and advanced emergency braking. 

The better equipped Expression version adds a 10.1-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a seven-inch digital driver’s display, reversing camera and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Upgrade to the Extreme or Journey, and you’ll find the kit list includes keyless entry, a wireless smartphone charging pad, 18-inch wheels, adaptive headlights and automatic air-conditioning, while sat-nav is added to the central screen.

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Overall the Dacia Duster delivers what you need from a family SUV, because it’s set up to be comfortable rather than fun. While the Hybrid version is excellent around town, the TCe 130 provides the best balance between costs and performance. Refinement is fine on the whole, but there’s a fair bit of wind noise at motorway speeds. The four-wheel-drive version is surprisingly capable off-road, so it should have no issues with a muddy farm track or campsite. Read more about the Dacia Duster's engine, performance and drive…

Mild-hybrid and full-hybrid technology will help the Duster to be more affordable to run than ever. We saw a return of 46.3mpg from the TCe 130 mild-hybrid model, and averaged 52.3mpg in the Duster Hybrid on test, so the claimed figure of 55.3mpg is within reach. Reasonably low emissions combined with value pricing mean the Duster is a relatively competitive company car, too. Read more about the Dacia Duster's MPG, emissions and running costs…

Rugged looks are a Duster trademark, with chunky bumpers and lots of protective cladding outside. The interior is similarly robust, with hard plastics used for most of the surfaces, and Dacia has made these a feature, rather than trying to disguise them. The Duster retains physical controls for frequently used functions, which helps make it easier to use on the move, but the touchscreen set-up on Expression trim or above is still pretty good. Read more about the Dacia Duster's interior, design and technology…

With larger exterior dimensions than most rivals at the same price point, the Duster offers plenty of space in the front and back. There’s also a big boot with a wide opening to make it easier to load bigger items, although adding four-wheel drive or opting for the hybrid version reduces overall capacity a little. Dacia’s new YouClip storage system means that various handy accessories can be mounted around the interior. Read more about the Dacia Duster's boot space, comfort and practicality…

Steadily improving manufacturer scores in the Driver Power owner satisfaction survey show that Dacia’s formula of using tried-and-tested kit from elsewhere in the Renault Group is working well. Unfortunately, the Duster has only received a three-star Euro NCAP safety rating. This is down to the stricter tests conducted by the safety body, though, and the latest Duster has more safety assistance technology than its predecessor. Read more about the Dacia Duster’s reliability and safety…

Dacia Duster alternatives

The Dacia Duster finds itself in a relatively unique position, because it’s larger than most SUVs at the same price point. There’s no end of small SUVs to choose from, though. The latest Citroen C3 Aircross is probably going to be the closest competitor on the money front, although pricing has yet to be confirmed.

For a more refined all-rounder, the Hyundai Kona – the Auto Express Car of the Year in 2023 – is available in petrol, hybrid and full-electric forms, as is the chunky Jeep Avenger. For something a bit more fun to drive, then you’ll need either the entertaining Ford Puma or SEAT Arona. While the Duster can be had as an efficient hybrid, the Toyota Yaris Cross has the edge in terms of efficiency, and can also be had in four-wheel-drive form.