Dacia Duster review - Reliability and safety

With the budget price comes one or two compromises, but safety is something many buyers will be unwilling to sacrifice. In an age when many cars seem to receive a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, the new Dacia Duster can only muster three stars.

Not only is this the same rating it received in 2011, but two of the scores have actually decreased in the six years between the two tests. Of course, the test has become tougher, but adult and child occupant protection scores of 71% and 66% respectively aren’t even close to class best. Scores of 57% for pedestrian safety and 37% for safety assist technology are nothing to write home about, either.

Safety devices such as autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping assist simply aren’t available, while blind spot monitoring is only offered on the top-spec Prestige model.

The Duster finished in a creditable 16th place on a 75-car list in our 2021 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, while the manufacturer itself has managed to move up a few spots from 30th (and last) position in the Best brands poll, to 27th.

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Warranty

The Duster’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty is merely adequate for this sector, especially considering Hyundai offers a comprehensive five-year warranty, while Kia and SsangYong offer seven years of protection, and Toyota provides up to ten years cover.

Still, at least the Duster is covered by an additional two-year paintwork warranty and six years of anti-corrosion cover. Extended warranties are available, for up to six years or 100,000 miles. You’ll pay between £150 and £650, depending on which package you opt for.

Servicing

Dacia recommends getting the Duster serviced every year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. Service Plans range from £399 for a three-year/30,000-mile deal to £999 for a four-year/60,000 plan, although this also includes an extended warranty. Monthly payment plans start from £9.99 per month.