Skip advert
Advertisement

New Dacia Duster diesel 2019 review

We drive the revamped Dacia Duster diesel in the UK for the first time to see if it’s the pick of the range

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£573 off RRP*
Find your Dacia Duster
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

The Dacia Duster isn’t the most refined compact SUV you can buy, nor is it the most fun to drive. Other models are more practical, plusher and get better technology, too. However, for pure value for money, nothing else comes close to the Dacia. The frugal new diesel unit is a great match, too, and until the new turbocharged petrol engines arrive in the spring, it’s our pick of the range.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Since the second-generation Dacia Duster hit UK roads back in June, engine choice has been limited to one naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre petrol motor.

By March there will be a couple of more sophisticated motors to pick from: two variants of a 1.3-litre unit found in the Nissan Qashqai and Mercedes A-Class. But, in the meantime, a new diesel has doubled the under-bonnet options for Duster buyers. So does this add to the appeal of this cheap and cheerful SUV?

• Dacia Duster vs Suzuki Jimny

The 1.5-litre dCi is carried over from the old Duster, but has been updated for 2019. Like the upcoming 1.3, it’s found in a range of NissanRenault and Mercedes models.

As elsewhere, the revised engine benefits from a modest 5bhp hike over the old Duster’s diesel, and a useful torque increase thanks to an overboost function. An AdBlue system helps cut emissions, too.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

On the road you’ll notice there’s not much in the way of soundproofing. As a result, and as before, it’s fairly audible on start-up and under hard acceleration. But this isn’t a deal-breaker because, for the most part, it’s among the smoothest small diesels on sale.

Although performance is steady rather than thrilling (0-62mph takes 11.8 seconds), the power delivery is linear and there’s a decent shove of torque throughout the rev range. It’s certainly livelier than the breathless 1.6 petrol which, without a turbo, needs to be worked pretty hard to extract any kind of performance. The petrol has a five-speed manual, while the diesel comes with a notchy six-speed transmission.

The new Duster sits on the same platform as the previous model: a stretched version of the Nissan Juke’s underpinnings. But pronounced body roll and lifeless steering mean it’s not the sharpest compact SUV on the market. That numb set-up is suitably light, however, making the Dacia feel easy to drive and manoeuvre at low speeds.

Advertisement - Article continues below

You’d expect a car with this much ground clearance and high-profile tyres to be really comfy. It’s a bit wobbly around town, but pick up speed and the ride settles down. With that long sixth gear, it’s surprisingly accomplished on the motorway.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s pretty frugal, too. Dacia claims 64mpg, and this example, which we will be running on our fleet over the next six months, has so far averaged 51mpg in mixed driving. Not a bad return for such a bulky car.

For £2,000 more you can add four-wheel drive which, in our experience, makes the Duster one of the most capable small off-roaders on sale. If you’re looking for a cheap, go-anywhere 4x4, little comes close, while its superior road manners saw it beat the new Suzuki Jimny in our road test earlier this month.

Comfort is the third highest of four specs, and is likely to be the most popular. Spare the decadence – by Dacia standards – of this model’s alloys, seven-inch touchscreen sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera and cruise control, and you can get a basic Duster Access for just £9,995; a whole lot of car for something that costs barely £100 more than an entry-level Volkswagen up!. Top Prestige spec adds premium features such as ‘diamond cut’ alloys, climate control and keyless entry.

All Duster models vastly undercut cars of a similar size. Take the Qashqai as an example: match the two in terms of equipment and a Qashqai Acenta Premium with the same diesel engine costs an eye-watering £24,495 – that’s £9,100 more than you’ll pay for the Dacia you see in these pictures.

It makes monthly budgets very tempting. A Duster dCi 4x2 Comfort costs £190 per month on one of Dacia’s four-year PCP finance deals, while even with Nissan’s current zero per cent APR offers, an equivalent Qashqai will set you back £300 a month. That’s a big jump in annual running costs, whichever way you look at it.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Chief reviewer

Alex joined Auto Express as staff writer in early 2018, helping out with news, drives, features, and the occasional sports report. His current role of Chief reviewer sees him head up our road test team, which gives readers the full lowdown on our comparison tests.

Our latest car deals

Dacia Duster

Dacia Duster

RRP £18,745Avg. savings £573 off RRP*Compare Offers
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £27,565Avg. savings £2,986 off RRP*Compare Offers
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,105Avg. savings £3,900 off RRP*Compare Offers
Vauxhall Corsa
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

A used luxury car can be a bargain, if you’re brave enough
Opinion - used luxury cars

A used luxury car can be a bargain, if you’re brave enough

Content editor George Armitage believes that the used car market is filled with prestige bargains, just as long as you’re careful.
Opinion
28 Nov 2024
New 2025 Toyota Aygo X on a mission to keep the city car alive
Toyota Aygo X facelift (camouflaged) - front 3/4

New 2025 Toyota Aygo X on a mission to keep the city car alive

Toyota’s Aygo X will be refreshed next year with a new look and we’ve spotted it testing
News
28 Nov 2024
Audi S3 vs BMW M135: which German brand builds the hottest hatchback?
Audi S3 and BMW M135 - front tracking

Audi S3 vs BMW M135: which German brand builds the hottest hatchback?

BMW’s four-wheel-drive M135 has received a major facelift. We put it up against the Audi S3 Sportback, which was also revised earlier this year
Car group tests
28 Nov 2024