Dacia Duster (2018) Review

August 2017

Second generation Duster revealed

At the front, the Duster’s characteristic grille extends to the head lights positioned at the car’s extreme corners and makes the model appear wider. New front lights, including LED daytime running lights, are divided into three sections.

The new aluminium roof bars, a frequent SUV hallmark, extend the line of the windscreen for a more dynamic profile. 17-inch wheels and prominent wheel arches with black wing arch trims highlight the car’s adventurer credentials.

The Duster also features upgraded travelling comfort thanks to a completely redesigned, quality-feel interior and new equipment.

June 2018

Dacia Duster launched in the UK

The dashboard and interior have been revamped for comfort and quality. The centre console accommodates a higher-positioned (+74 mm), driver-focused MediaNav multimedia touchscreen display for clear, easy access, with one of the shortest viewing distances of any car.

Seats have been completely redesigned with denser foam for improved comfort and support. The front seat cushions are 20mm longer and the driver’s seat comes with an armrest, lumbar adjustment and a new height-adjustment system which travels through 60 mm (compared with 40 mm previously).

Cabin noise has been halved by increasing the percentage of sound-absorbing surfaces in the cabin and engine compartment from 20 to 50 per cent, reducing noise thanks to improved sealants and plugs and using 0.35mm-thicker glass for the front windows. The car is now fitted with larger-diameter 165 mm bicone speakers for enhanced audio quality.

Same dimensions as previously, but no carry-over body panels.

4,341mm long x 1,804mm wide mirrors folded (2,052mm mirrors out) x 1,682mm high 4x4 (1,689mm 4x2) on 2,676mm wheelbase 4x4 (2,674mm 4x2).

16-inch wheels are fitted with 215/65 R16 tyres.

17-inch wheels are fitted with 215/60 R17 tyres.

Storage capacity in the cabin is increased by 20 per cent to a total of 28.6 litres. The 2018 Duster has the same boot capacity as its predecessor: 445 litres for the 2WD version and 376 litres for the 4WD version.

The 2018 Duster also comes with new electric power steering that reduces the effort required to turn the wheel by 35 per cent to help when parking. Climate control is now available for the first time in a Duster and the improved layout of the cabin features three rotary controls for this matching the three air vents located at the top of the dashboard.

The 2018 Duster is also available with Blind Spot Warning. Four ultrasound sensors located on either side of the vehicle both front and rear detect any other vehicles, including motorcycles and trucks, coming from the rear or the side. A warning light flashes in the door mirror housing if any danger is detected and the new car is now safer thanks to its reinforced vehicle frame, new seat frames, curtain airbags and automatic headlight activation – all features never previously seen in the Dacia range.

The Duster carries over the same off-roading credentials that helped to make the previous model such a success. Although visually a much more imposing car, the All-New Duster offers dimensions close to those of its predecessor:

Off roading credentials of the 4x4 include 210mm ground clearance, approach and departure angles of 30 and 33 degrees, Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist make driving easier on sloping terrain, a compass and a vehicle angle monitor.

The 2018 Duster comes with a choice of one petrol and one diesel engine at launch. The SCe 115 (2WD and 4WD versions) and the Blue dCi 115 (2WD) which both use a manual gearbox. (Initially, no EDC twin clutch automatic available.)

October 2018

Dacia Duster gets new 1.3 TCe engine

To reduce particle emissions, the new direct injection petrol engines now integrate a gasoline particulate filter (GPF). Two versions are available:

A 130PS at 5000 rpm and maximum torque of 240Nm at 1500 rpm i.e. +5PS compared to the previous generation.

A 150PS at 5250 rpm and maximum torque of 250Nm at 1600 rpm i.e. +25PS compared to the previous generation.

After having renewed all its diesel engines with Blue dCi on 4x2 and 4x4 versions, Dacia is launching sales of these new Duster petrol engines available on 4x2 versions and from mid-2019 on 4x4 versions. Order-taking will begin towards the end of the year in the UK.

Dacia is also equipping its range with a new version of its Media Nav Evolution multimedia system, providing easier and faster navigation and new features. Android AutoTM and Apple CarPlayTM that can be used to find the best smartphone applications and provide access to messages plus a more responsive touch-sensitive features and improved screen transition offering facilitated access to the menus.

November 2018

Dacia Duster gets 1.5DCi 115 engine with four wheel drive.

Featuring the latest systems for reducing emissions, these new engines guarantee increased performance and optimised consumption, still at unbeatable prices.

In addition to the “selective catalytic reduction” system (SCR), the Blue dCi 115 engines operate with a new Air-Water exchanger, a higher injection pressure (2,000 bars) and new gearbox ratios. The Blue dCi 115 4x4 engine has a CO2 output of 123g/km and achieves 60.1mpg (WLTP) with 260Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm. The Blue dCi 115 4x4 is available with a manual transmission across three trim levels; Essential, Comfort and Prestige.

In Essential trim, the Blue dCi 4x4 engine is available from £15,695 and features 16-inch 'Fidji' steel wheels, body coloured front and rear bumpers, manual air conditioning, heat adjustable driver’s seat, DAB radio with steering-column mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity.

Comfort trim, available from £17,395, adds 16-inch ‘Cyclade’ alloy wheels, front-seat armrest, leather steering wheel, graphite cloth upholstery, rear parking camera and sensors, electric front and rear windows, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, MediaNav 7" touchscreen multimedia system (Satellite navigation, USB and AUX connection points) and a 7-function on-board computer, all as standard.

In top-of-the-range Prestige specification, the Blue dCi 4x4 is available from £18,695 and adds even more luxuries with brand new 17-inch ‘Diamond-cut’ alloy wheels, multi-view camera, blind spot warning, climate control and keyless entry.

The 2018 Duster carries over the same off-roading credentials that helped make the previous model such a success with a high ground clearance of 210mm, approach and departure angles of 30 and 33 degrees respectively as well as Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist. Also as standard on 4x4 versions is a 4x4 monitor that incorporates a compass and notifies the driver of the vehicle’s angle in real time.

Dacia Duster Blue dCi 4x4 Technical Information

DaciaDuster Blue dCi 4x4 Ownership Information & Pricing

December 2018

Prices announced for 2019 Dacia Dusters with new 1.33 TCe petrol engines:

Available with outputs of 130 hp and 150 hp prices start at £14,395 for the Comfort model with 130hp. The new lighter aluminium engine block (shared with Renault, Nissan and Mercedes Benz) includes innovations such as ‘Bore Spray Coating’. This coating technology, used on the inside of the cylinder, through improved management of the heat, allows better performance and increased engine response.

To reduce particle emissions, the new petrol engines integrate a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) and offer better performance than the outgoing 1.2 TCe engines with an increase of 5 hp for the TCe 130 variant and 25 hp for the TCe 150, with the new TCe 150 engine being the most powerful engine ever offered on a Dacia.

The TCe 130 has a CO2 output of 137g/km and achieves 47mpg (WLTP). Torque is 240Nm at 1,600 rpm. The TCe 150 has 250Nm of torque at 1,700 rpm with CO2 emissions of 137g/km and also achieves 47mpg in the WLTP tests.

The TCe 130 engine is available with a six-speed manual transmission in two-wheel drive across two high-spec trim levels; Comfort and Prestige. Priced from £14,395 Comfort trim includes 16-inch ‘Cyclade’ alloy wheels, rear parking camera and sensors, electric front and rear windows and MediaNav 7-inch touchscreen multimedia system, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, all as standard. In Prestige trim, the TCe 130 is available from £15,695 and adds 17-inch ‘Diamond-cut’ alloy wheels, multi-view camera, blind spot warning, climate control and keyless entry.

The TCe 150 with a six-speed manual gearbox is only available in top-of-the-range Prestige specification, priced from £16,295.

Both TCe 130 and TCe 150 are available in 4x4 drivetrains from mid-2019. 1.3TCe 150 Prestige 4x4: £18,895; 1.3TCe 150 Techroad 4x4: £19,555. The All-New Duster range is also available with a SCe 115 petrol engine (priced from £9,995) and Blue dCi 115 diesel engine (priced from £13,695).

2019 Duster TCe 130 & TCe 150 4x2 Technical Information

2019 Duster TCe 130 & TCe 150 4x2 Ownership Information & Pricing

For more information on the 2019 Duster range please visit www.dacia.co.uk.

April 2019

Techroad limited edition announced

Sits above Prestige trim on Duster and is available exclusively in two new colours: Fusion Red and Highland Grey.

On the outside the Techroad editions features special side decals with a grey and red motif and red detailing on the door mirror housings. A red centre cap also features on the Duster's 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

On the inside the Techroad features red and grey detailing and stitching, plus the ‘Duster’ logos embroidered into the fabric in the same colour. The same red detailing is on show throughout the cabin, including on the air vents, around the gear lever and the door handles and even the front and rear protective mats.

The Duster Techroad is priced from £16,360, £660 more than the equivalent Prestige model, and is available with both the TCe 130 and 150 turbocharged petrol engines, as well as the Blue dCi 115 diesel engine in 4x2 and 4x4 configuration.

Dacia Duster Techroad 1.3 TCe 150 4x4 at £19,955 on the road is almost twice the price of the base Access version. Dacia Duster Prestige 1.3 TCe 150 4x4 also available at £18,895.

June 2019

Dacia Duster Comfort Blue dCi 115 4x4 is awarded Best Budget 4x4 in 2019 Practical Caravan Tow Car Awards. The Towing Capacity is 1,500kg.

August 2019

Dacia Duster gained Good Housekeeping Magazine Reader Recommended accolade, with the magazine’s survey revealing that 92% of Dacia Duster-owning readers would happily recommend the car to friends, relatives and colleagues.

August 2019

Dacia Duster SCe 115 replaced by TCe 100 petrol engine

Dacia has added a new entry-level TCe 100 engine to the Duster line-up, replacing the SCe 115. The CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of the Duster TCe 100 are 18 per cent lower than the SCe 115 that it replaces, at 126g/km CO2 and 48.7 - 49.5mpg (WLTP) respectively.

The indirect injection three-cylinder petrol engine, also used in Nissan Micras and Renault Clios, is lighter and more compact than the engine it replaces. The TCe 100 features a turbocharger with an electrically controlled waste gate, an exhaust manifold partially integrated into the cylinder head, twin variable valve timing for intake and bore spray coating.

The new engine is available in 4x2 drivetrain on the Access, Essential and Comfort trim levels of Duster, priced from £10,995. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the TCe 100 offers better performance both in the city and out on the open road. With 100PS and 260Nm of torque at 2,000rpm, it boasts greater energy efficiency and enhanced responsiveness thanks to the turbo, with 66 per cent more torque than the SCe 115.

Duster TCe 100 Technical Information

Duster TCe 100 Ownership Information & Pricing

January 2020

Special edition SE Twenty model of Duster announced available to order with customer deliveries in March 2020. Sits above Comfort model with unique side decals along the bottom of the doors and a shiny black finish for the door mirror housings. Also a special blue centre cap for both the two-tone 17-inch diamond cut alloys on the Duster. Inside, SE Twenty models there are unique blue mesh fabric inserts for the seats, while the same colour is used to pick out the Duster logos stitched into the front seat backrests. The interior is further enhanced by the addition of blue inserts for the surrounds of both the air vents and bespoke floor mats. The Duster SE Twenty is priced from £15,645, which is £650 more than the Comfort version, and is available with the TCe 130 petrol engine, as well as the Blue dCi 115 diesel in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations. As well as the addition of Blind Spot Warning and a multi-view camera, SE Twenty models feature the same useful list of standard equipment as Comfort models, which includes a 7-function trip computer, air-conditioning and heated and electrically adjusted door mirrors, plus the Media Nav Evolution multimedia system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto®, DAB Radio and Bluetooth connectivity, and the 17-inch Diamond cut alloy-wheels from the Prestige model. Production of Techroad limited edition ended.

February 2020

Dacia Duster Bi-Fuel Announced

Bi-Fuel (Petrol/LPG) version of Dacia Duster introduced. 1.0 litre turbocharged engine offers 170Nm torque on LPG and 160Nm on petrol.

June 2020

Dacia is offering a new dual-fuel powertrain option to its UK range, making it the only mainstream manufacturer to offer vehicles that run on LPG (liquid petroleum gas)

LPG versions of the Dacia Duster, Sandero and Logan MCV models are now available, badged TCe 100 Bi-Fuel. All are powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged dual-fuel powertrain and look identical to their petrol and diesel equivalents.

Prices rise from £7995 for a Sandero ( Essential trim) to £9145 for the Sandero Essential Bi-Fuel, while the Duster Essential Bi-Fuel is priced at £13,195 compared to the £12,795 price tag of the Duster Essential petrol version.

A button on the dashboard switches between the petrol and LPG tanks, offering a combined range of up to 620 miles. The steel LPG tank is mounted in place of the spare wheel, meaning boot space is unaffected.

Dacia says that CO2 is reduced and torque is improved in LPG mode. In the Sandero, the smallest model, the new engine shaves nine per cent off of previous emissions. The Duster sees an 11 per cent drop in CO2 emissions, with up to 2.4 tonnes CO2 saving over a four-year period.