Dacia Duster review

A much-given piece of advice is the old adage “buy cheap, buy twice”. In other words, skimp on a purchase and you’ll regret it in the long run. That may be sage advice when it comes to choosing a new sofa or fridge, but does the Dacia Duster SUV prove that thriftiness can sometimes leave you feeling rather smug?

In the world of wheels, Dacia is the champion when it comes to giving motorists lots of car for their money. The Duster is a family SUV that can cost as little as half the price of a Seat Ateca or Skoda Karoq, and handsomely undercuts the Renault Kadjar. That latter point is particularly significant: Dacia is a sister company to Renault and shares technology with the famous French marque. So, a lot of what underpins the Dacia Duster comes straight from Renault.

The Dacia Duster range has enough variants to suit the broad requirements of most families. The cheapest play the role of a no-nonsense, domestic workhorse, while the top trim levels have plenty of mod cons. And, depending on which of the petrol or diesel engines you opt for, two or four-wheel drive is available.

With so much choice and offering such great value, it’s no surprise that the Dacia Duster has won Best for Value in the family SUV class in our What Car? Car of the Year awards. Naturally, other brands have cottoned on to the Dacia formula, and the MG ZS matches the Duster for size and challenges it on price. Does that make a better buy, or should you stick to the old adage and set your sights on something a little pricier?

Read on to see how it compares with its closest rivals. And, whichever new car takes your fancy, our New Car Buying service is ready to offer you a great discount on the Duster, and many other cars, without any haggling.