Dacia Duster Journey Hybrid - long-term review

With our full hybrid Dacia Duster away to have the Sleep Pack fitted (more on that next time), I’ve been handed a replacement: a mild hybrid Duster TCe 130 4x4 in Extreme trim. Same badge, different flavour.

Straight away, the contrast is clear. Around town, the full hybrid has the edge. It’s smoother, quieter, and has more punch off the line thanks to the 1.6-litre engine and electric motors. The 4x4, by comparison, is more basic. The 1.2-litre petrol engine comes with mild-hybrid assistance, no auto option, and lacks the low-end shove of the full hybrid. It’s not something you’ll be darting around town in a hurry.

But where the 4x4 starts to shine is when things get more adventurous. This version gets a drive mode selector with settings for Snow, Sand-Mud, a 4WD Lock mode for constant all-wheel drive, and Hill Descent Control. Add in some helpful on-screen graphics showing incline angle and power distribution, and it starts to feel surprisingly legit.

I took it onto some rough terrain with deep ruts and it handled it all without fuss. No low-range or locking diff malarky, but enough traction and ground clearance to go exploring without getting stuck.

The multi-view camera, which I regularly use around town for threading through tight spaces, also proved handy for avoiding what looked suspiciously like a ditch you don’t drive out of. The Extreme trim brings a few nice surprises too. Heated seats and steering wheel, modular roof bars, MicroCloud upholstery (synthetic leather to you and I), along with some other fancy trim bits.

And that brings us to the real decision. As tested, this 4x4 Extreme and our 2WD full hybrid Journey both cost £26,595. They’re aimed at very different use cases: the 4x4 is more fun, more adventurous, and definitely feels like the one you’d want on a camping trip. The hybrid, on the other hand, is a better companion for the weekly shop or urban commuting, especially with a baby seat in the back.

Now, I haven’t driven the 2WD version of the mild hybrid, but it’s worth pointing out that in Extreme trim it's £3,000 cheaper than the full hybrid in the same guise. So is that extra £3k worth it for an auto gearbox, modestly improved fuel economy, and a touch more power? Honestly, you’d be hard pushed to say it is.

If you want the best of both worlds, there’s talk of a full hybrid 4x4 with auto coming later this year with an electrified rear axle. That would be the sweet spot, though it’ll almost certainly be the priciest Duster yet.

Whichever powertrain you go for, the extra £800 for the Extreme trim feels like money well spent if you can stretch the budget. It adds that final layer of comfort and polish, without straying too far from what makes the Duster appealing in the first place.