Is a used Dacia Duster a good buy?

As a new car, the Dacia Duster is already the cheapest SUV you can buy in the UK, but you can reduce the cost further still if you turn your attention to great value used car deals. If you're looking for a capable SUV at the lowest possible price, a used Dacia Duster represents the best value for money.

We're looking at the version that's been on sale since 2018, but the original Dacia Duster that was available previously is even cheaper.

The Duster is a similar size to the SEAT Arona and the Vauxhall Mokka, yet it’s quite a bit cheaper than all of those models. It’s also a little more basic, but if you're in need of a cheap but rugged and dependable family car, then the Dacia Duster is a great choice. Dacia prides itself on offering more affordable motoring, but you shouldn't let the low price put you off, because there's plenty else to like about this car.

It's available as a 4x4 if you need a bit of off-road capability, although the two-wheel drive version is generally cheaper and more common.

A manual gearbox also helps to keep costs down and improve fuel economy. Being an SUV, the Dacia Duster also benefits from a higher driving position, which ought to make it feel easier to drive, while it’s also relatively comfortable, if a little noisy in the cabin compared to other more upmarket (and more expensive) alternatives.

One of the best parts about the Dacia Duster is how practical it is. There’s plenty of room in the back for adults, and the boot is very spacious considering this is a relatively small SUV. There’s even a commercial version that could be useful for those after a small van that can tackle rough terrain, though that's not our focus here. There's little here to complain about if all you need is something cheap to manage the school run.

Read our full Dacia Duster review

Which used Dacia Duster should you buy?

Unless you're really looking at back to basics motoring on a budget, we'd avoid the basic Access model - they are few and far between anyway. Much better is the Comfort, which is also the most popular version on the secondhand market. We'd stick with a 4x2 unless you really need four-wheel drive.

What used Dacia Duster trim levels are available?

There are quite a few different versions of the Dacia Duster: Access, Essential, Comfort, SE Twenty and Prestige. Read on for all the best Dacia Duster deals and help getting your head around exactly what standard equipment comes with each specification.

Dacia Duster Access

The Dacia Duster Access was one of the cheapest new cars you could buy when launched with a list price starting of just £12,000. It’s perhaps not the ideal choice for many drivers, though, as it’s very basic.

It’s only available in two-wheel drive form, with a 100hp petrol engine and a manual gearbox. It comes with electric front windows, Isofix points for child seats, hill start assist, daytime running lights and a speed limiter function. There’s not a lot else. For example there’s no radio or air-conditioning in this version, so most drivers are likely to want to spend a bit more to get additional kit.

Dacia Duster Essential

The Dacia Duster Essential is the starting point for most people in the Duster range and it cost from around £13,000 when new. It’s available with a 100hp petrol engine or an LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas - an alternative to petrol) version of this engine.

It comes with all the same equipment as the Access model plus a radio with Bluetooth and USB connections, air-conditioning, 16-inch wheels with a different look, roof rails and an adjustable steering column.

Dacia Duster Comfort

The Dacia Duster Comfort costs from about £15,000 when new, and adds extra equipment over Essential trim and is available with two extra engines: a 130hp petrol and a 115hp diesel with the option of four-wheel drive.

The Comfort model lives up to its name with more modern creature comforts, for example a touchscreen media system that includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also has a reversing camera built in, plus a digital radio and sat-nav. There’s a leather steering wheel and 16-inch alloy wheels, too.

Dacia Duster SE Twenty

The Dacia Duster SE Twenty model is only available with the 100hp LPG and 130hp petrol engines in two-wheel drive form, and costs from around £16,000 when new.

This model comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, extra cameras around the car for parking or off-roading, exterior decals, electric rear windows, parking sensors, a blind-spot warning, cruise control, front fog lights and all the other equipment from the lesser models.Heated seats and leather upholstery are on the options list for this model when new, so look out for those on used examples.

Dacia Duster Prestige

The Dacia Duster Prestige was the highest-specification car in the range and it cost from around £16,000 when new. There’s a wide choice of engines here. There’s an 90hp petrol engine, the 100hp LPG unit, two more petrol engines with 130hp and 150hp, and then a 115hp diesel engine with either two- or four-wheel drive options.

The Prestige model comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome door mirrors, climate control, keyless entry and the option of heated front seats and leather upholstery, though these are not included as standard.