Dacia Duster (2012-2018) Review

If you want a practical and spacious SUV for the price of a city car, the Dacia Duster is the vehicle for you. Headline-grabbing prices when new translate to seriously tempting deals on used Dusters, making this one of the best value second-hand cars in the UK.

It’s not just about the price. Proven Renault parts provide some reassurance, while seating for five and a large boot make the Duster a terrific choice for growing families. It’s like a giant Tonka toy, with proper go-anywhere spirit, especially if you opt for a four-wheel-drive version.

The Duster might not have a premium badge, but if you shop in Lidl or Aldi you’ll know that the feeling of getting more for your money can be quite satisfying. Buy a Dacia and you’ll have more money left for the things that are important to you.

We’re not keen on sitting on the fence – not least because it’s quite uncomfortable – but we’d recommend one of two engines. If you spend a lot of time on the motorway, carrying large loads or towing, the 1.5 dCi diesel is the best option.

It’s a tried and tested unit found in a range of Dacia, Renault and Nissan models, offering a superb balance of performance and fuel economy. However, if you spend most of your time in the city or doing short trips, the 1.2-litre TCe unit is cheaper than the diesel and offers respectable fuel economy. You’ll also pay less at the pumps and have no concerns about diesel particulate filters (DPF).

Trim levels have changed during the car’s lifetime, but we’d recommend the mid-spec Ambiance at the very least for the best blend of price and equipment. Laureate was the top trim on early models, but was more mid-range by the time production had finished, so it’s worth a look.

It would be a stretch to say that the Dacia Duster is a unique proposition, but it does occupy a niche in the UK. From a price perspective, it rivals city cars and budget superminis.

Practically speaking, the Dacia Duster is a rival to the Nissan Qashqai, but value-driven cars like the SsangYong Tivoli, MG ZS and Suzuki Vitara also count as competitors. For off-road antics, the Duster can count the likes of the Fiat Panda 4x4 and Suzuki Jimny as rivals when the going gets a bit ‘Billy Ocean’. These budget mountain goats can climb nearly every mountain and ford the majority of streams.

Everything we’re about to say about the quality and finish should be viewed in the context of the price. Approach the Duster expecting to find the fit and finish of an Audi or a Mercedes-Benz and you will be disappointed. But let’s be honest: you didn’t expect that level of quality, did you?

Instead, you get a cabin that’s fit for purpose, built to a price and, evidence would suggest, hard-wearing. The plastics scratch easily and feel as reassuring as the capsule you’ll find in a Kinder Surprise. We wouldn’t recommend cracking open the Duster’s dashboard, unless you like the look of wires, glue and more plastic.

Touch points like the inner door handles, steering wheel, handbrake and luggage cover feel cheap, so it’s impossible to avoid the impression that you’re driving something at the budget end of the market.

However, buy a Duster with such ‘luxuries’ as a leather steering wheel and grey interior accents and it all becomes a tad more pleasant. Spending too much on a Duster kind of defeats the object of buying a cheap car, but it will be easier to live with over the course of a finance contract.

The Dacia Duster is the kind of car that, could it speak, would bemoan the use of words like ‘infotainment’. You have to venture a long way up the trim ladder to find something resembling an infotainment system, even on the very latest versions of the first-generation car.

The base-spec Duster Access lacks any form of audio equipment, so we hope your passenger’s singing voice is up to scratch. Move up a level and you’re treated to a DAB/FM/AM tuner, although you also get Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

A 7.0-inch MediaNav touchscreen infotainment system is standard on the top trim models (or optional on others) and features navigation, a radio, telephone, music and a reversing camera – but still feels like it’s from a previous generation car. It also sits too low in the centre console, making it difficult to operate on the move.

To say it’s better than nothing feels a little like damning the Duster with faint praise, but without the benefit of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the infotainment system is barely adequate. We’d even recommend opting for a lower spec model and fitting an aftermarket audio unit.

After the slightly negative vibes of the quality and infotainment system, this is the point at which the Dacia Duster hauls itself off the floor and lands a killer blow. Put simply, the Duster’s space and practicality is a knockout punch to the opposition.

You climb up to get into a Duster, which lends the Dacia an unlikely level of prestige. You quite literally look down on humble saloons and hatchbacks. There’s also plenty of room up front, so you can lord it up while your passenger sings the greatest hits of Billy Ocean. Give yourself some Popmaster points if you can name ‘three in 10’.

Once your rear-seat passengers have, ahem… got into the car, they’ll find space for three adults, which isn’t a given in cars of this size. There are ISOFIX points on the outer seats, so you can fit Group 0, 1, 2 and 3 child car seats without a problem.

A small but significant point is the size of the rear side windows, which serve to create a light and airy cabin. Too many manufacturers prioritise form over function, with sloping roof lines and styled windows creating claustrophobic interiors, especially in the rear.

Front-wheel-drive Dacia Dusters boast a 475-litre boot, which is pretty good for a car of this size. For context, a Nissan Qashqai offers 430 litres, while you’ll find 375 litres in a Ford Focus hatchback. Note: the boot in four-wheel-drive versions of the Duster is smaller (443 litres with a puncture repair kit, or 408 with a spare wheel).

The Duster’s tailgate creates a tall and wide opening, with loading made easier thanks to the low loading lip. All versions except the entry-level Access model get a 60/40 split folding rear bench, although the seats don’t lie entirely flat.

There’s a reasonable amount of storage space up front, with door pockets large enough for a bottle of water, two cupholders in front of the gear stick, a good size glovebox and a tray atop the dashboard. Storage for oddments is a bit limited in the back, but high-spec models get map pockets on both front seatbacks. Control your excitement.

The Dacia Duster's dimensions are 4315mm in length, 2000mm wide and 1625mm height.

The Dacia Duster was launched with a choice of two Renault engines. A 1.6-litre 16v petrol was offered on the entry-level Access trim, while the familiar 1.5 dCi diesel powered the Ambiance and Laureate models. Throughout the Duster’s life, the 1.5 dCi 110 was the engine of choice, thanks to its excellent fuel economy, CO2 emissions and performance. The 0-62mph time is a leisurely 11.8 seconds, but with peak torque at 1,750rpm, the 1.5 dCi isn’t short of pulling power.

On paper fuel economy of 64.2mpg in the front-wheel-drive version is likely to result in a real world figure of 50mpg-plus, depending on your driving style. There’s a 4.0mpg penalty for choosing a four-wheel-drive version.

A 1.2 TCe 125 turbocharged petrol engine was added to the second-generation Duster range mid-way through its life. It helped to close the gap between the petrol and diesel engines, and is the unit to opt for if you spend most of your time doing short journeys. The TCe 125 delivers a claimed 46.3mpg in the front-wheel-drive Duster, or 44.1mpg in the 4x4.

Later models also came with an all-new 1.6-litre 16v SCe 115 petrol engine offering improved acceleration and better fuel economy. We still prefer the other two units, mind.

Most models are fitted with a manual gearbox – five-speed on the SCe 115 and six-speed on the TCe 125 and dCi 110 – although a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is an option on the front-wheel-drive Duster diesel.

Having spent the last couple of minutes extolling the virtues of the diesel engine, we’re about to chuck a fly in the ointment. The 1.5 dCi is as old as the hills and isn’t the last word in refinement. It’s rather vocal at idle or under heavy load, which might have the effect of drowning out your passenger’s singing voice. You can decide whether or not this is a good thing.

The 1.6-litre 16v unit also lacks refinement, especially if you’re accustomed to the lazy acceleration of a turbocharged petrol engine. Peak power is at the top of the rev range, so you’ll have to work it hard to get the best from it. It also feels noisy at motorway speeds and you’ll be craving an additional sixth gear.

You could find that the 1.2 turbo provides the best compromise, especially as it offers the benefit of a sixth gear. This makes it the best petrol engine for motorway driving, but it can’t match the long-leggedness of the diesel.

There’s a fair amount of road and wind noise, which is especially apparent on the motorway. It’s also a significant problem in the Access model because you can’t crank up the volume of the (non-existent) stereo to mask the noise.

The Dacia Duster was awarded a middling three stars for safety when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2011. Scores of 74 percent and 78 percent for adult and child occupant protection were pretty decent, but 28 percent and 29 percent for pedestrian safety and safety assistance systems were well below par.

Part of the Duster’s problem is its lack of driver assistance tech. The Duster is no less safe today than it was in 2011, it’s just that the technology has moved on and the Euro NCAP test is more stringent.

Perhaps we’re cutting the Dacia Duster too much slack. Emergency brake assist, driver and passenger airbags, front airbags and two ISOFIX points isn’t a great arsenal when viewed in the context of key rivals. It’s also not great when the brochure lists a high-level third rear brake light as a core feature.

It’s worth noting that only the four-wheel-drive versions come with a spare wheel – the others have a tyre inflation kit. A spare wheel is an option across the range, so see if the Dacia Duster you’re looking at has one in the boot. A reverse parking camera is only standard on the top models, optional on mid-range models and not available on low-spec versions. In fairness, visibility is excellent, but a camera can be useful when the boot is full of gear.

The Dacia Duster scored a highly impressive 9.67 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey - higher than many cars from more prestigious brands costing thousands more.

Better yet, Dacia came first overall in the same survey, making it the UK's best-rated car brand. Owners have high marks for ease of use, fuel economy and low repair costs as well as reliability. High praise indeed.

Insurance groups range from eight to 12, depending on the engine and trim level. It’s interesting to note that four-wheel-drive versions of the 1.6 SCe are a group lower than the front-wheel-drive versions, with insurance companies recognising the benefits of all-weather traction and grip.

The Nissan Qashqai’s lowest insurance group is 13, while the Suzuki Vitara’s is 11. This just goes to prove that the Duster should be a relatively inexpensive car to run.

The Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) tax bands changed throughout the first-generation Duster’s lifecycle, but the very latest models incur a flat rate of £165 from the second year.

Costs are different for Dacia Duster models registered between the start of production and 31 March 2017. The lowest you’ll pay is £30 a year for a front-wheel-drive 1.5 dCi. Meanwhile, the maximum rate is £215.25 for a four-wheel-drive 1.6 SCe. Put simply, to pay the least amount of tax, buy a pre-2017 Duster diesel.

Trim and equipment levels varied throughout its lifespan, but the Dacia Duster Access was always the base model. Dacia Duster Ambiance and Laureate were the other offerings at launch, but these were joined by the Dacia Duster Prestige and SE Summit before the Duster made way for the new version.

Also look out for special editions and packs, including Black and Laureate Prime.

Dacia Duster Access and Ambiance models left the factory without air conditioning, which makes them hard to recommend. This makes Laureate the realistic entry-level model, as it offers the basics required for the modern motorist. You’re a modern motorist, aren’t you?

Don’t forget the SE Summit, which offers diamond-cut alloy wheels, exclusive grey metallic paint, wheelarch extensions and the aforementioned burnt orange air vent surrounds. It’s arguably the best looking first-generation Duster.