Test Drive - Dacia Duster

Dacia Duster is one of those cars that has managed to win the hearts of millions of people around the world. It is neither a luxury car nor any sort of technological marvel, yet its simplicity, affordability, and reliability make the Duster a sought-after machine even among customers who work in rough terrain.

Dacia, the cornerstone of Romania’s automotive industry, began operations in the 1960s. When Renault acquired the company in 1999, Dacia was essentially on its knees. However, Renault saw in Dacia an opportunity to create simple and affordable cars that would meet the needs of both Europe and emerging markets. This philosophy ultimately led to the birth of the Duster.

Unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Duster was Dacia’s first serious attempt in the SUV segment. Despite initial skepticism, the model quickly proved its worth. The car was developed as a straightforward extension of the Logan platform, sharing many mechanical components, yet offering higher ground clearance, a robust design, and off-road capability that was still expected of a crossover at the time.

From the outset, the first Duster prioritized practicality and affordability. Its design was not luxurious, but it was functional. The car received considerable praise for its robustness and reliability, all while remaining significantly more cost-effective than its competitors.

A key factor was that the Duster offered four-wheel-drive versions, which was hardly common in its price category. This made the Duster an appealing choice for both rural dwellers and young adventurers. Sales of the first-generation Duster exceeded one million units.

In 2017, Dacia introduced the second generation of the Duster. The new model was larger, more comfortable, and more technologically advanced, yet it maintained the same simplicity and affordability. The design became more modern, featuring LED lights, better soundproofing, and an updated interior.

Technological additions included a modern multimedia system, a 360-degree camera system, and active safety features, all of which brought the Duster closer to its competitors. Duster’s engine options also became more fuel-efficient, with choices including gasoline, diesel, and LPG.

The second-generation Duster was not just a hit in Europe; it was also sold under the Renault name in many overseas markets, such as Brazil and India. The vehicle received praise for its capability and versatility, serving both as a city-friendly car and a reliable companion under tougher conditions.

In 2024, Dacia presented the third-generation Duster, maintaining its focus on practicality while taking further bold steps in design and technology. Built on the Renault-Nissan CMFB platform, the new Duster offers improved ride comfort, reduced weight, and higher safety standards—features we will now examine in detail.

The new Dacia Duster measures 4,343 millimeters in length, 1,813 in width, and 1,661 in height, with a wheelbase of 2,657 millimeters. Depending on the version, ground clearance ranges between 209 and 217 millimeters.

The new Duster continues to represent strength and durability by blending rugged elements with modern solutions. The result is a unique combination where Y-shaped LED daytime running lights and a large logo coexist with angular lines and unpainted plastic. You may notice small white flecks in that plastic—these appear during the recycling process, as current regulations mean the vehicle uses as much recycled material as possible. Duster’s plastic, named “Starkle,” is said to offer greater scratch resistance, eliminating the need for paint touch-ups when minor damage occurs.

There’s no need for an extensive discussion about the car’s exterior—a single picture can say more than a thousand words, and the gallery above contains over a hundred photos of both the interior and exterior. Skim through them for a solid overview of what this vehicle looks like. For context, that vertical plastic element on the front doors is meant to symbolize a snorkel, hinting at the Duster’s capable off-road characteristics.

The trunk capacity can reach up to 1,696 liters when the rear seats are folded down, and the cabin has a total of around 29 liters of various storage compartments. One of the coolest features is the roof rails, whose middle section can be tilted at a 90-degree angle, forming an upper load space without needing extra accessories—for example, when installing a roof box.

The engine range consists of a 140-horsepower hybrid, a 130-horsepower mild-hybrid, and a 100-horsepower dual-fuel internal combustion engine. The latter has been used by Dacia for quite some time and allows the car to run on either LPG or gasoline. While the hybrid’s advantages are most evident in city driving, the LPG version is ideal for those who spend most of their time on the highway. The hybrid version is said to manage up to 80% of city trips in electric mode, resulting in lower fuel consumption and reduced CO₂ emissions.

The new 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine with a 6-speed manual transmission and mild-hybrid system reduces fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by an average of 10%. Four-wheel-drive versions are also available, and together with the Duster’s higher ground clearance, these deliver quite respectable off-road capabilities. Although we didn’t put the vehicle through a serious off-road test—our slight detour from tarmac to the lake offered no real challenge to most modern crossovers, and certainly not to the Duster—our driving on paved roads was reasonably comfortable. The steering felt precise, and there were no noticeable rattles. Wind noise was also minimal at permitted speeds, though you could hear some airflow around the A and B pillars on the highway. Quieter tires might yield an even better result. To minimize noise, larger and better speakers were installed compared to the previous generation. By the way, earlier Dusters performed excellently off-road, so hopefully there will be a chance to truly test the new one in tougher conditions. And another welcome detail: the manual-transmission Duster still comes with a good old-fashioned handbrake.

The seats seem on the firmer side, but they are perfectly fine for driving. Interestingly, the seats in the previous-generation Duster also didn’t leave much of an impression at first glance, yet there was one trip where we covered almost 1,000 kilometers virtually in one go, and it wasn’t soul-crushing upon arrival. With the new Duster, the longest stint we did was about three hours, and again there were no issues. So, if the Duster is advertised as a vehicle for family travel, there’s a lot of truth to that claim.

When choosing the multimedia system, customers have the option to save money by using their smartphone along with the Dacia app, which offers nearly the same functionality as the 10-inch Media Display screen. The Media Display, however, does allow you to locate your car on a map remotely and activate the lights or horn to help you find it more easily in a parking lot.

In short, the new Duster is definitely worth considering. It’s simple, but entirely adequate for everyday use.