See all Used Car Buying Guides
What’s it like?
The first-generation Dacia Duster was a cheap ’n’ cheerful, budget alternative to the mainstream crossover elite, and it always sold quite well. The Mk2, though, which arrived in 2017, considerably ramped up the quality and refinement levels, so while it was still a super-affordable way into something which looked vaguely like an SUV, it felt more like a genuine bargain rather than a cut-price compromise. The second-gen Duster is big enough to be considered a rival to the likes of the Nissan Qashqai from the class above, but it was priced – and remains so, on the used market – at a highly competitive level for the smaller crossovers of the world, such as the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008, among more.
Which model to go for?
Although the Duster landed just about the time the Irish car-buying populace starting falling out of love with diesel, the vast majority of used examples are dCi diesel models. These have either 1.5- or 1.6-litre engines, delivering either 110- or 115hp, and it’s on the diesels that you can sometimes find one of the rare 4x4 all-wheel-drive Dusters as well.
Petrol power was more widespread. The Duster launched originally with a non-turbo 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine called the SCe 115, the number a reflection of its horsepower, and while it was willing enough, it needed working hard to keep up with regular traffic flow. Better, therefore, to go for one of the TCe models, which means they are turbocharged and have more torque (flexibility). There are 1.0-litre 90- and 100hp three-cylinder models, and then there’s a rarer (but not impossible to find) 1.33-litre four-cylinder engine with 130hp. Other markets did get a 150hp variant of this same engine that was fitted with a dual-clutch gearbox, but it’s not likely you find any of those here.
The interesting one is the 100hp 1.0 TCe, because it’s actually a BiFuel model – meaning it can run on both petrol and liquid petroleum gas (LPG). It has tanks for both fitted and, with both of them brimmed, the outright range of the Duster BiFuel is in the region of 1,280km, which is mighty impressive.
Does anything go wrong?
Very little, because Dacia makes durable cars, and the Duster is no exception. It has been reported there are some minor electrical niggles and issues that can manifest, but in general the main mechanicals are all simple, tried-and-tested and ultimately highly reliable, so you can buy the Dacia crossover with confidence as a used car.
Dacia issued six recalls for the this generation of the Duster, which were for an issue with the auto stop-start system; incorrect welding on the positive terminal of the 12-volt battery; a weak frame for the rear seat; a fault with the ignition barrel that might result in a burnt-out starter motor; incorrect welding of the LPG fuel tank on the BiFuel model; and potentially faulty curtain airbags.