Dacia Duster gets new engines, more kit

Perennial PH favourite receives Bigster power update - it's on sale in November

By Matt Bird / Thursday, 4 September 2025 / Loading comments

Good car, the Dacia Duster. While more stylish and more capable than the Dacias that came before, it hasn’t lost sight of what made the original so likeable: it’s useful, it’s good value, and it’s no nonsense. Now the third generation DD is getting an update; and if you’re thinking that’s a bit soon, us too - the Duster was only reviewed on PH less than a year ago.

The changes are modest, at least, so those who’ve already got one shouldn’t feel too put out. The refresh focuses on powertrains, mainly, the Duster borrowing from the new Bigster for a bit of extra power and efficiency. The Hybrid 140 is gone, replaced by the 155hp alternative; where a 1.6-litre engine was providing some of the power, it’s now a 1.8, with 110 combustion horsepower and 50 from a motor (with a high voltage starter generator along for the ride). The latter pair are supplied by a 1.4kWh battery, with power arriving at the wheels via a six-speed (four for the engine, two for the electric bits) clutchless auto. Which all does sound a bit confusing, but does work nicely in the bigger Bigster. It’s more efficient than before as well, which is handy, with seven grams per kilometre less of CO2 (105g/km) and an eight per cent improvement in fuel consumption to 61.4mpg.

If the Hybrid 155 sounds overly complex for a relatively simple SUV, there’s a small improvement for the lightly electrified Duster also. What was a mild hybrid 130 is now a mild hybrid… 140. Every little helps and that. It still makes use of a Miller cycle 1.2 three-cyl turbo, with drive through a six-speed manual. Along with a smidge more power, both CO2 and mpg improve a couple of points on before as well, the mild hybrid 140 officially rated at 122g/km and 52.3 respectively.

The new Duster gets some spec changes as well, with 18-inch black wheels for the Extreme as well as ‘a new interior look with exclusive upholstery and matching trim on the Journey finish’. Both of those models also now have adaptive cruise as standard. Prices and availability for the new Duster are due in November; plenty of time to work a deal out on a current one, then. This Hybrid 140 Extreme has more pounds off its RRP than miles under its wheels…