New vs used hybrid SUVs: Dacia Duster or Toyota RAV4?

The hybrid system has two motors, one for electric drive, the other to harvest energy from braking and to start the engine. This Duster pulls away quietly on electric power and generally switches slickly between its power sources, although harsh acceleration can cause the 1.6-litre petrol to wail. The upside is 56.5mpg (on the official cycle) and 114g/km of CO2, so road tax is fairly cheap.

The Duster’s soft suspension makes for a very comfy, calming ride. And despite its compact 4.3-metre length, the car packs good interior space and a 349-litre boot (the hybrid’s battery eats a little capacity).

One of the benefits of buying new is to get the latest infotainment and safety kit, and despite Dacia’s no-frills mantra, all Dusters bar the Essential trim have a 10.1-inch touchscreen with simple but clear graphics. A reversing camera comes on Expression models.

Regulation now forces Dacia to include forward emergency braking and lane-keep assist, and while Euro NCAP rates the Duster pretty well for on-board adult and child protection, its performance safeguarding cyclists and motorcyclists, and warning of pedestrians while reversing, plus having no internal rear seatbelt alert, mark it down to a three-star rating.

Being so new, this Dacia is yet to feature in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but the previous version topped the charts in 2024, thanks to its easy-to-use controls, cabin stowage and spaciousness. The latest Duster doesn’t appear to have compromised any of those virtues.