Pros: Innovative hybrid setup, LPG option
Cons: Not very low emissions, automatic only
Dacia has introduced a new all-wheel-drive variant of the Duster, combining hybrid technology with the option of a bi-fuel LPG setup. The system will initially be offered with Dacia’s bi-fuel setup, but a petrol-only hybrid will follow. Despite the new transmission, the rest of the Duster remains the same, featuring its rugged looks, smart interior features and affordable approach to doing things.
Dacia Duster Design
The current Dacia Duster has been around for a couple of years now, and its design plays into the rugged SUV image that many desire. But it’s also tinged with a high degree of functionality, especially in the range-topping Extreme variant that gets a reprofiled front bumper to increase its approach angle for off-road situations.
It has some clever touches to its exterior, such as plastic cladding that has a mottled appearance due to its higher content of recycled material. Other sections have a light grey colour injected into the plastic, rather than being painted, to prevent any future scratches from being obvious. Other nifty features include built-in roof rails that can swing through 90 degrees to form a set of roof bars for a bike carrier or roof box.
At 4.3 metres in length, the Duster is a direct rival for cars including the Toyota C-HR, Nissan Qashqai and MG ZS, but while many of these now offer some form of electrification, not all offer an all-wheel-drive option.
Dacia Duster Interior
Much like its exterior, the current Duster has a rugged-looking interior, but it’s far better finished than previous generations’, including how it’s laid out. Dacia still clings to its no-frills approach with an entry-grade model that comes with analogue dials and a phone holder to serve as the infotainment system. However, the majority of buyers are likely to opt for one of the higher-grade models that all feature seven-inch digital instruments and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that is angled slightly towards the driver.
It’s a healthy balance of form and function inside, and features such as proper buttons on the multifunction steering wheel, as well as for the temperature and climate settings, are welcome. The infotainment is basic, and not the more elaborate Android-based system that Renault uses. Still, we’ve no complaints with its simplified layout and having wireless smartphone mirroring with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is likely to be of greater importance and relevance to most users. There are USB-C ports and on some versions a wireless phone charger too.
There’s a reasonable amount of storage dotted throughout the interior and in the door bins, while being only an automatic that is operated by a stubby rocker toggle helps to free up more space between the front seats. The two cupholders are of average size, and there’s a small storage bin underneath the central armrest. Unlike some of its competitors, there is no ISOFIX mounting point in the front passenger seat, but you do get two in the outer rear seats.
Dacia also has a proprietary accessory system called YouClip, consisting of square mounting points around the interior, the boot and on the dashboard, which allow for assorted items to be slotted on easily and without tools. These include additional cupholders, torches and phone holders. The boot is average in volume at 400 litres.
Dacia Duster Hybrid-G 150 4x4 Performance & Drive
While few Duster owners are likely to tackle any serious off-road conditions, this electrified 4x4 system can be just as effective at maximising grip in poor weather conditions on the road. The setup is an interesting one, made up of a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that has mild-hybrid technology to help prolong its driving range. This engine is paired with a dual-clutch six-speed automatic gearbox that drives the front wheels. That’s backed up by a rear axle that contains a 31hp electric motor and a two-speed gearbox of its own that can drive the car electrically at up to 140km/h. It features a 0.84kWh battery.
That may all sound complicated, but for the driver, it couldn’t be easier as the Duster’s brain works out how best to utilise its powertrain when you leave it in the default Auto mode. At slower speeds, the electric rear axle does as much of the driving as it can, until its small battery depletes, though it’s equally quick at recharging itself. In this mode, power delivery is adequate at lower speeds and smooth.
When the petrol engine needs to take over, it can do so in as little as 100 milliseconds, and its belt-starter generator enables it to turn over with more refinement. The petrol engine is enough for the relatively lightweight Duster and, although it’ll need just over ten seconds to reach 100km/h from a standing start, it generally doesn’t feel underpowered. The hybrid system can provide some extra torque when needed, and its peak 154hp output is matched with 230Nm of torque from the petrol engine and 87Nm from the rear motor.
Under harder acceleration, the petrol engine can sound strained, so it’s best to let it get on with its work rather than hurry it along unnecessarily. Away from the tarmac, the Duster is more capable than some might expect, partly due to the good amounts of ground clearance and being able to send drive to each corner as required. Go for the Extreme specification, and the front bumper gets shaved back slightly for a more generous approach angle.
Back on the road, the hybrid system does its best work, consistently shifting between combustion and electric propulsion. In slow-moving city traffic that can mean as much as 60 per cent of the driving being done with electric power, and during our time in such conditions, we saw the fuel consumption drop below five litres/100km.
One further trick up the Duster’s sleeve is that it’s available with Dacia’s bi-fuel system that includes a 50-litre LPG tank in the space normally occupied by the spare wheel. With this setup, the driving range can extend up to 1,500 kilometres between the two 50-litre tanks, enabling drivers to switch between petrol and LPG with a simple press of a button on the dashboard. Dacia remains one of the only companies offering such a system, though with LPG availability patchy in Ireland, we expect most to opt for the petrol-only hybrid version.
Dacia Duster Hybrid-G 150 4x4 Pricing
With the Duster Hybrid-G 150 4x4 not set to arrive until closer to the middle of 2026, there is no official pricing as yet, but it is likely to be one of the more expensive models in the Duster line-up.
Carzone Verdict
The Duster deserves its household-name status, and this current generation is by far the best yet. Its design is a big step forward from where the brand started in 2012, and while it continues to be a value-driven offering, this latest hybrid setup demonstrates how the company is innovating beyond merely being cheap and cheerful.