Dacia Duster – Design, interior & technology

The Duster’s positioning as a value alternative to similarly sized and much more expensive SUVs like the Skoda Karoq and Mazda CX-30 is immediately evident inside. There’s a noticeable amount of hard plastics, but the overall build quality is a step up from the old model, and it feels like it’s built to stand up to tough use. We appreciate that the buttons it has are generally large, which should make it easier to use certain features while on the move. 

The cabin’s design looks neat, with y-shaped inserts in the air vents, and a more uniformed dash layout. You immediately appreciate the lack of an upright, traditional SUV driving position. On lesser models like the Essential, you get hard plastic armrests in the doors, but on higher trims, there’s a soft-touch pad instead, which makes a huge difference in terms of comfort on long trips. 

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The Dacia Duster’s infotainment system is bespoke rather than a restyled version of parent company Renault’s set-up, and it’s found on Expression trim and above. It’s simple enough and generally quick to load, although we found the map (while tidy in design) takes around 15 seconds to fire up initially. 

There’s a range of physical switches beneath the screen for the climate control functions, though we still prefer the more user-friendly dials of the old model. Dacia’s ‘Media Nav Live’ also comes on Expression models and higher – adding four speakers and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which we had no trouble with when pairing a phone to the car.