Beyond the Price: These Tips That Make the Dacia Duster Successful

For its 3rd generation, is the Dacia Duster still the best value family SUV in its category?

Born in 2010 and renewed once in 2017, the Duster has established itself by breaking the traditional codes of the SUV market. A nice look, more than decent features, and above all a price that defies all competition. The Duster is a model that, over 13 years of its career, has been produced in over 2.4 million units. With steady sales growth, the Duster was the best-selling SUV in Europe in 2022, across all segments, in the private market. Nearly 1,000 Dusters leave the production lines of the Dacia factory in Pitesti, Romania, every day, which is about one vehicle every minute!

So how to make a very good car at a very good price? Simply by being smarter than others. The new Duster is based on the CMF-B platform, which may not mean much to you. This platform is at the heart of Dacia’s future vision, having been introduced on the latest Sandero and Logan, and recently adopted for the Jogger. Yes, four completely different models using the same platform—imagine the savings! And this approach isn’t new; the first-generation Duster, for example, used doors from the Sandero. The CMF-B platform also positions the new Duster on the road toward electrification by offering mild hybrid and full hybrid powertrains.

Well thought out and well designed

To withstand life’s uncertainties, whether in urban or peri-urban environments, the new Duster is protected by a true belt running all around the vehicle, with no interruptions. The side protections along the sills extend around the wheel arches, which are themselves connected to the front and rear bumpers. They contain 20% recycled material, creating a textured, aesthetic effect that avoids any need for additional paint. Incidentally, the recycling rate is even indicated on some parts! A few years ago, this would have damaged the model’s image, but today it is a sales argument. It’s especially perfect for resisting branches and parking cones. The front and rear skis are also coated in mass, so even scratched or gouged, they never lose their original color.

This smart approach continues inside the cabin with an increased proportion of recycled and recyclable materials. Like the exterior design, the interior is focused on essentials—meaning, practicality. The ergonomics have been carefully considered, with a 10.1-inch central screen positioned within the driver’s line of sight and tilted by 10°. It feels less punishing than in a car without a central screen, and its compact size helps keep costs down.

Who would have thought at the launch of the first Sandero that Dacia would become a cool and trendy brand? Not us, to be honest, but only fools and the haters never change their minds.

READ ALSO: At €19,690, what does the new Dacia Duster offer?