Dacia Duster Commercial Review 2024

Dacia Duster Commercial At A Glance

3/5

+Practical and rugged, available with two-wheel or four-wheel drive, entry-level models cost less than £10,000.

-Disappointing handling and refinement, rear windows are vulnerable to damage, full-size bulkhead costs extra, pick-ups offer better payload capacity.

The Duster Commercial is built to the same blueprint as the Dacia car range, which means it's basic and cheap to buy. Prices start at less than £10,000 and all models will carry a Euro pallet and a maximum payload of 550kg. Admittedly, the Duster scores low when it comes to on-road refinement and handling, but it’s near unbeatable on value and surprisingly competent off-road. 

Dacia is no stranger to commercial vehicles – it’s been selling them in Europe since the 1970s – but 2015 marked the first time that it officially offered a factory-built van in the UK. The Duster Commercial is effectively a factory-conversion of the standard car, which means the rear seats have been replaced with a 1.4 metre cargo deck and the rear doors have been retained, along with the windows.

The Duster Commercial has just one engine - Renault's tried and test 1.5-litre dCi diesel - with 107PS and peak torque of 240Nm. Four-wheel drive versions are more expensive, but worth paying the extra for due to their impressive off-roading ability, which allows the Duster to reach rural or remote areas with ease. 

Inside the Duster Commercial is unapologetically basic, with lots of cheap and dark plastics - there's little in the way of standard equipment. The load area is practical though and will take anything up to 1.4 metres in length, while the metre width between the wheel arches allows a euro pallet to be carried sideways.  

The Duster does have a few weak points. There's no protection for the windows, the interior is prone to damage and there's no full-size bulkhead fitted as standard. The rear window also lacks cladding or cover, which allows prying eyes to see what's being carried in the back.  

The Dacia won’t win any prizes for refinement - the engine is noisy and there’s lots of road noise. The handling also lacks precision and feel, while the suspension is prone to pitching heavily in the corners, which usually results in unsecured loads toppling over in the back. Yet, despite its obviously shortcomings, the Dacia Duster is still outstanding value and an attractive choice for those who need a small van with off-road capability.

Driving the Dacia Duster Commercial

The Duster Commercial is offered with just one engine - a Renault-sourced 1.5-litre dCi diesel - which is also used in the Kangoo van. Like the Kangoo, the Duster has lots of low-range torque and is impressive on fuel with even four-wheel drive versions boast a claimed 54.3mpg. 

The four-cylinder diesel will produce 107PS, but return 240Nm of torque from just 1750rpm, which gives it sufficient pace, even when carrying a maximum 550kg. Despite its SUV size and nature, the Duster isn't an outstanding towing vehicle, with two-wheel drive versions offering a modest 1200kg. Things improve if you pay more for four-wheel drive, with its 1500kg limit and selectable drive modes or lockable four-wheel drive. 

The Duster doesn't particularly impress on the road though, with its overassisted steering providing little precision or feedback in the corners. The suspension is also easily unsettled and prone to crashing over potholes and pitching heavily into all but the slightest of corners.

The 1.5 dCi engine can be rather vocal too and the Duster's limited sound proofing makes it a deafening experience when accelerating hard. However, it is cheap to run and front-wheel drive models will return a claimed 56.5mpg. 

The Duster has a comfortable driving position and is bearable enough on the motorway, with the engine noise returning to a low pitched rumble at 70mph. However, the film covered rear windows restrict visibility and this generates some sizeable blind spots when it comes to changing lanes or leaving a narrow junction.  

Dacia Duster Commercial interior

The Dacia Duster Commercial is effectively a factory-conversion of the standard car, which means the rear seats have been replaced with a 1.4 metre cargo deck that will carry up to 550kg. Admittedly, it's no match for a standard pick-up - most will carry at least one-tonne - while the larger Mitsubishi Outlander is better with 705kg. 

The Duster will carry a Euro pallet sideways though, thanks to the metre width between the wheel arches plus the large tailgate makes it easy to load items onto the low plastic floor. The load area is effectively a false floor, which is made up of toughened plastic tray. Two tie down points are fitted as standard, but we'd have liked to see a couple more added due to the Duster's vulnerability to leaning in corners. 

The Duster lacks any meaningful load area protection, with the plastic trim that covers the doors and pillars easily marked and scuffed. The cabin is also carpeted - carried over from the passenger car- which again will easily be damaged and marked. Given the choice, we'd have liked to see the Duster get a tough rubber floor, which would have been far easier to clean. 

The rear windows are vulnerable to damage too and only have a light film covering for privacy. The tailgate window lacks any form of protection - or indeed covering - which makes it easy for anyone to see what you're carrying in the back. There's no full-size bulkhead either, although a steel or mesh bulkhead can be specified as an additional option. Two-wheel drive Dusters gets 1150 litres of load space, while four-wheel drive models lose 150 litres to accommodate the all-road running gear. 

Standard equipment includes roof bars, electric front windows and Bluetooth. Laureate versions add alloy wheels, satin chrome roof bars, side sills and scuff plates, as well as cruise control with a speed limiter and air conditioning. 

Dacia Duster Commercial models and specs

Dimensions
Length 4315 mm
Width 1822–2000 mm
Height 1625–1695 mm
Load Volume 1.0–29.0 m3
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1235–1329 kg
Payload 550 kg
Warranty 3 years / 60000 miles
Servicing 12000

Duster Commercial

Version List Price MPG  
2WD 1.5dCi 110 Ambiance £9,595 56.5 mpg Details
2WD 1.5dCi 110 Laureate £10,845 56.4 mpg Details
4WD 1.5dCi 110 Ambiance £11,295 54.3 mpg Details
4WD 1.5dCi 110 Laureate £12,545 54.3 mpg Details
Cmmrcl 1.5 dCi 110 Ambiance 4x2 £9,595 56.5 mpg Details
Cmmrcl 1.5 dCi 110 Ambiance 4x4 £11,295 54.3 mpg Details
Cmmrcl 1.5 dCi 110 Laureate 4x2 £10,845 56.5 mpg Details
Cmmrcl 1.5 dCi 110 Laureate 4x4 £12,545 54.3 mpg Details

Model History

April 2015

Dacia launched Duster Commercial

The new Duster Commercial models – available in 4x2 and 4x4 guises – have been created at the specific request of Dacia UK and Dacia Ireland, where car-derived vans account for 30 per cent of the LCV market.

Thanks to a false floor with load protection, Duster Commercial has a load capacity of 1,150 litres (4x2) or 1,000 litres (4x4), a payload of 550 kg and a flat cargo deck almost 1.4 metres long and more than a metre width between the wheel arches. The new models are expected to appeal strongly to local and regional businesses as a mobile toolbox, while their low price will be especially attractive to charities.

Dacia has sold more than 16,000 Dusters in the UK since launching the car here in January 2013, and the Commercials will add to the sales potential of the range.

The Duster Commercial is available solely with a 1.5-litre, 107PS dCi 110 diesel engine, but offer buyers the choice of Ambiance or Lauréate equipment packages, each with the option of two- or four-wheel drive.

Standard equipment on all models includes roof bars, a chrome grille, chrome interior highlights, a toughened plastic floor with two anchorage points, electric front windows, a height-adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat, luggage area lighting, a four-speaker radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth, AUX and USB sockets, ABS with Emergency Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control and four airbags.

Lauréate versions add alloy wheels; satin chrome roof bars, side sills and scuff plates; piano black interior detailing; black door sill protectors; a seven-function trip computer; heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors; cruise control with a speed limiter; and air conditioning. All-wheel-drive versions have a centre differential lock with selectable 2WD, AUTO and LOCK modes.

Model Price
Commercial Ambiance dCi 110 4x2 £9,595 + VAT
Commercial Ambiance dCi 110 4x4 £11,295 + VAT
Commercial Lauréate dCi 110 4x2 £10,845 + VAT
Commercial Lauréate dCi 110 4x4 £12,545 + VAT

What does a Dacia Duster Commercial cost?