2025 Dacia Duster Review: Specs, Price, and What to Expect
The 2025 Dacia Duster is set to make waves in the compact SUV market, offering a blend of affordability, practicality, and updated features. As one of the most budget-friendly family SUVs available, it combines stylish design with functionality, all while delivering impressive fuel efficiency and a range of tech upgrades. In this review, we will delve deep into the specifications, pricing, performance, and more, to give you a comprehensive understanding of what to expect from this new model.
2025 Dacia Duster: An Overview
The Dacia Duster has long been known for its affordability and practicality, and the 2025 model continues this tradition, albeit with some noticeable upgrades. With prices starting from approximately £18,000 (up from the previous model's £17,000), it provides a significant leap in terms of modern design, tech, and performance. While it may have doubled in price since its original launch in 2012, the new Duster is still a competitive option for those seeking a budget-friendly family SUV.
Design and Exterior: A Fresh Look
The 2025 Dacia Duster features a sharp, modern design that marks a departure from its previous, more utilitarian appearance. The new model boasts sleek LED headlights, a redesigned front grille, and an overall more refined silhouette. The exterior cladding, which is made from 20% recycled materials, not only adds a rugged appeal but also helps minimize the visibility of scratches. Despite its new look, however, the Duster retains its practical features, such as the roof bars and large door mirrors for better visibility.
While the Duster looks more modern than ever, some of the exterior plastics, particularly around the lower areas, are prone to scratches. This minor issue aside, the Dacia Duster’s exterior has become a far more desirable SUV, offering a look that blends ruggedness with elegance. The Duster's reworked chassis also plays a significant role in improving the vehicle's handling and overall driving experience.
Interior: Practicality Meets Simplicity
Inside, the 2025 Duster offers a refined cabin with modern touches but still maintains its emphasis on practicality. The dashboard layout is clean and straightforward, with physical buttons for the climate control, ensuring ease of use. The new digital driver’s display adds a touch of sophistication, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality help integrate tech seamlessly into the driving experience.
Despite the improvements, the interior materials remain basic, with hard plastics found throughout. While this is understandable given the vehicle's budget-friendly nature, it does mean that the cabin doesn't quite match the premium feel of some higher-end competitors. Additionally, the armrests could be more comfortable, and the absence of a vanity mirror light in the sun visors may seem like an oversight.
However, the Duster does offer plenty of space for both front and rear passengers. The backseat area provides ample knee and headroom, while the boot capacity stands at 430 liters in the hybrid model, which is slightly smaller than some competitors. The non-hybrid version offers a more generous 520 liters of storage space, making it ideal for families or long road trips.
Engine Options and Performance
The 2025 Dacia Duster offers a range of engine options to suit different driving needs. The hybrid model combines a 1.6L petrol engine with an electric motor, producing 140 horsepower. While the hybrid performs well at low speeds in electric mode, there is some noticeable noise when the petrol engine kicks in, affecting the overall smoothness of the driving experience. Despite this, the Duster’s fuel economy remains impressive, with an average of around 48 MPG.
For those who prefer a more traditional powertrain, the 2025 Duster also offers a petrol version, including a 1.0L Bi-Fuel engine and a more powerful 1.2L turbocharged option producing 130 horsepower. While these engines don’t provide the same fuel economy as the hybrid, they offer a more affordable alternative with strong performance.
One significant change is the removal of the diesel engine from the lineup. Previously, the Duster was available with a 1.5L diesel engine, which was highly regarded for its fuel efficiency. While the hybrid is meant to replace the diesel, its fuel economy is slightly lower, averaging around 55 MPG.
In terms of performance, the Duster accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 10.1 seconds for the hybrid model, which is comparable to the diesel version. The new Duster offers a smoother and more refined driving experience overall, thanks to the hybrid powertrain and automatic transmission.
Handling and Driving Experience
The Dacia Duster’s driving experience has been significantly improved with the new chassis and suspension. The ride is firmer than before, but it remains comfortable, especially on long trips. The hybrid model feels much smoother and more refined than the previous diesel model, especially at lower speeds. While it’s not as luxurious as higher-end rivals like the Peugeot 2008, the Duster handles well for its class, offering good maneuverability in tight spaces, though the turning circle is slightly larger than its predecessor.
For those who need more capability, a four-wheel-drive version of the Duster is available. This version offers enhanced off-road capabilities, with various terrain modes, including mud, sand, and snow. Hill descent control further adds to the vehicle's off-road prowess, making it a great choice for those who need an SUV that can handle more rugged environments.
Technology and Features
One of the standout features of the 2025 Dacia Duster is its updated tech offerings. The car now comes equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing for seamless connectivity without the need for cables. The infotainment system itself is fairly intuitive but occasionally suffers from glitches, such as when the screen freezes and requires a reset. Despite these minor issues, the overall tech package is impressive, especially for a vehicle in this price range.
Additionally, the Duster offers a range of safety features, although it only achieved a three-star Euro NCAP safety rating, which is lower than some competitors. While it lacks some of the latest safety tech found in other models, the Duster still provides adequate occupant safety.
Pricing and Value for Money
The 2025 Dacia Duster starts at £18,000 for the base model, which is a reasonable price considering the car’s level of equipment and modern features. While the price has increased slightly compared to previous models, it still represents excellent value for money in the compact SUV market.
The hybrid version of the Duster offers great fuel efficiency but comes at a higher price point. For those who are budget-conscious, the petrol versions offer a good balance of performance and fuel economy at a more affordable price. With a range of trims and configurations, the Duster can cater to various customer needs, making it a strong contender in the small SUV market.