Dacia Duster Review (2019-present)

Buying a practical family SUV is all well and good but, more often than not, even the entry-level options can still be quite expensive. A new Nissan Qashqai will cost you upwards of £20,000, for example, while an entry-level Skoda Karoq will cost closer to £23,000.

Fortunately, not all is lost, because the second-generation Dacia Duster, which was unveiled in 2018, is a capable family SUV that can be bought new for upwards of £11,000. Even if you want more creature comforts, you’ll be hard-pressed to spend more than £16,000.

The five-seat Duster is much improved compared to the first-generation model. Its exterior styling is more modern and appealing, its revamped interior is a significant step up and its new technology options are more in keeping with what modern buyers want. It hasn’t done away with its utilitarian nature entirely, however, and has retained the original’s practical, rugged approach and off-road capabilities.

As far as interior space goes, there’s a large boot, with a total of 478 litres of storage space on offer in 4x2 models or 467 litres in 4x4 models (though this drops further to 414 litres if you order the optional spare wheel). A Nissan Qashqai, for comparison, offers up to 430 litres of space. While the rear seats can fold in a 60/40 split, they leave a large step in the boot floor which isn’t ideal for carrying larger loads.

Space for rear passengers is good but not outstanding. There’s just enough legroom for somebody who is six-foot tall to sit behind a driver of the same height, and headroom is ample. Where the Duster lags some rivals is in the lack of rear seat flexibility; the backrests don’t recline, and you can’t slide the seats to trade legroom for extra boot space like you can in something like a Renault Captur. The rear bench is just wide enough to fit three adults across and while there is a central transmission tunnel to straddle, it’s at least fairly low.

Up front the Duster has lots of room and a decent amount of adjustment in the driving position, with seats that are wider and more comfortable than in the first-generation Duster. Do be aware, however, that the lack of a footrest next to the clutch is a bugbear for some drivers.

The interior fittings are mostly of the cheaper-feeling variety, with plenty of hard plastics in sight, but given the Duster’s low price point this isn’t entirely surprising.

The engine line-up initially consisted of a naturally aspirated, 113bhp, 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 113bhp, 1.5-litre diesel engine, dubbed the SCe 115 and dCi 115, respectively. Peppy 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre TCe turbocharged petrol engines would later be added, in three different power configurations called 100 (later 90), 130 and 150; numbers that roughly match their bhp figures.

Most Dusters come with either a five-speed or six-speed manual transmission, the only exception being the TCe 150, which comes as standard with an automatic. Adding further appeal to the Duster is the fact that it can be had in four-wheel-drive form, although you’ll have to specify the diesel version if that’s what you want.

The Duster is pleasant to drive when you consider its low price tag. It’s not exciting or involving but, given the price and its intended use, those are moot points. The 1.6-litre petrol engine is not a great option, however, as it doesn’t have much punch; the diesel, or later TCe turbocharged petrols, are more flexible and relaxing to drive.

Expect a comfort-oriented ride that does a reasonable job of soaking up lumps and bumps in the road, as well as being quieter than in the first-generation Duster. Body lean is pronounced, and the steering is light and on the slower side to respond, so this is no sports car – but what did you expect?

At launch, four trim levels were offered: Access, Essential, Comfort and Prestige. The entry-level Access model was a very basic affair, with no stereo or air-conditioning, and despite its astonishing affordability, it sold in very small numbers. As a result, it was axed when the Duster was facelifted in 2021.

Most will want an Essential model or more, though, as the mid-level and range-topping models come with creature comforts such as aircon and a stereo or infotainment system. The more upmarket Comfort and Prestige Versions, built from December 2018 onwards, which are equipped with the touchscreen Media Nav system, also benefit from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support for smartphones.

Overall, the second-generation Dacia Duster remains an inexpensive, straightforward and practical car that represents excellent value for money. The only major downside is that it scored just three stars in crash tests by safety organisation Euro NCAP, so it continues to lag behind mainstream five-star alternatives. But, on the flip side, all of those are much more expensive.

Dacias are not expensive cars to run thanks to their straightforward nature, frugal engines and low kerb weights.

Unsurprisingly, it’s the Blue dCi 115 4x2 model which is the most efficient in the range. It has a claimed average fuel economy, on the more realistic WLTP test cycle, of up to 57.9mpg. Its CO2 emissions are also rated at a sensible 128g/km. The TCe petrols all average in the 40mpg range but their WLTP CO2 emissions are higher, peaking at 162g/km of CO2 for the range-topping TCe 150 in 4x4 specification.

The diesel versions are also the most efficient in the real world, as well as on paper, with most owners citing mpg in the region of 50mpg or above, whereas the petrol versions range from the mid-30s to low 40s in the case of the TCe models. Most, however, are often not far off their claimed economy figures; fuel costs, as a result, should prove more than tolerable for most.

The Dacia will require servicing every year, or when 18,000 miles have been racked up since the last service. The schedule is straightforward, so costs will be low; a cabin filter is the only required servicing item in the first year, for example, then in the second year the cabin filter, oil and oil filter are changed. We’d be inclined to get the oil changed in the first year as well, though, just for peace of mind.

Dacia also offers a range of service plans that can help you control the costs further. A three-year, 30,000-mile plan costs £350, while a four-year, 40,000-mile plan costs £650. This, coupled with Dacia’s warranty and warranty extension options, should protect against any unexpected bills. If you’re buying your new Duster on finance, the service plan can also be paid for monthly.

The Dacia Duster is a comparatively straightforward SUV that uses lots of well-proven parts, so reliability should be good. Some new options and technologies aside, it’s also much the same under the skin as the first-generation model, in which mechanical and electrical gripes were uncommon.

That said, one major issue with the first-generation model was corrosion, but Dacia subsequently resolved that problem so the second-generation should fare better on that front. If you’re looking at one that’s a few years old, however, it’ll be worth inspecting the panels, paint and underside for any flaws, just in case.

Dacia has otherwise often performed relatively well in reliability surveys and, as of 2020, there have been no recalls on the second-generation Duster. A conventional three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is also included with every Dacia, which is on a par with most rivals, and it can also be extended for relatively little money. To lengthen the coverage to four years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, costs just £195; for a total of seven years or 100,000 miles of coverage, you’ll pay a still-tolerable £795.

This could prove a sensible choice if you’re planning to own your Duster for a long time, particularly given that the warranty extension costs aren’t that high. You don’t have to opt into one immediately, however, as all can be applied at any point up to 36 months or 60,000 miles into your ownership. Roadside assistance is provided for the first three years and 60,000 miles, too, and that can also be extended.

If you want a used Dacia Duster, you won’t be able to get a used approved example from Dacia itself as the company doesn’t have an official used approved scheme. The standalone Dacia Retail network will list used examples on offer at Dacia dealers, however, which should make finding the right car a little easier.

If you’re looking at used versions and want to keep costs low, it might be worth seeking out one of the early naturally aspirated SCe 115 petrol models. The 1.6-litre engine is very simple, so it will prove reliable and easy to look after, and it has a timing chain instead of a belt, which will help keep overall servicing costs down. It’s not a great performer though; the diesels and later TCe petrols are more flexible and often more efficient.