Dacia Duster review

The Dacia Duster offers such excellent value for money, you have to wonder why you’d ever spend the extra on a more expensive model. It’s not the most inspiring car to drive, and the interior is lacking in sparkle, but in just about every other respect the Duster is able to hold its own in an increasingly competitive market.

The second-generation Duster received a facelift in 2021, with updates to its exterior design, interior trim and infotainment system all helping to keep it competitive, while Dacia continues to offer the option of all-wheel-drive which means the Duster could be the best value proper off-road vehicle on the market.

About the Dacia Duster

The Dacia Duster is the SUV you can buy for the price of a supermini. In fact, with prices starting from around £15,000 it even manages to undercut the Nissan Micra – not bad for a car that’s roughly the same size as a Qashqai.

Little wonder, then, that the first-generation Duster, introduced to the UK in 2012, forged a reputation for excellent value for money, earning itself a legion of loyal fans. The good news is that the new Duster picks up where the old model left off, and even manages to improve in certain key areas.

Visually, the second-gen car looks very similar to the old model – Dacia wasn’t going to mess with a winning formula – although every body panel is brand new. It’s more attractive and more upmarket than before, and has been further enhanced by the recent refresh which includes revised headlights, a new grille design, a rear spoiler and updated alloy wheel designs. Dacia has since redesigned its logo, although the pictures in this review show models with the previous shield-style badging.

Inside, the addition of upgraded upholstery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and electric rear windows are all welcome features, while mid- and top-spec cars add a practical 1.1-litre storage bin and armrest. It’s still incredibly spacious, too, with ample room for five adults and up to 445 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place.

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The bargain basement Access spec is no longer available, so Essential trim is now the entry point to Duster ownership and includes 16-inch steel wheels, cruise control, air-con and Bluetooth. Expression, Journey and Extreme SE specifications make up the rest of the range.

There are three petrol versions on offer: a 89bhp 1.0-litre TCe 90 and a 1.3-litre TCe unit with either 128bhp or 148bhp, while a Blue dCi 115 diesel engine with 113bhp and the choice of two or four-wheel drive is also on the price list. The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel variant also continues on the price list.

A six-speed manual gearbox is available with all versions, except the 148bhp petrol car which comes with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. If you're after 4x4 capability you'll need to upgrade to Expression trim or above which means you’ll have to spend more than £20,000 for a Duster with four-wheel-drive.  

For an alternative review of the Dacia Duster, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...