Toyota C-HR vs Dacia Duster
Figures updated
The Toyota C-HR and Dacia Duster are two of the UK's most popular small SUVs. We compare the Mk2 (2023–) C-HR and the Mk3 (2024–) Duster on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 145,556 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Toyota C-HR for the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance, or the Dacia Duster for the lower price and the bigger boot.
- The Dacia Duster is the cheapest to buy new: from £21,845, £9,850 less than the Toyota C-HR.
- The Dacia Duster has the biggest boot: 517 litres, 129 more than the Toyota C-HR.
- Euro NCAP safety: Toyota C-HR 5 stars (2024), Dacia Duster 3 stars (2024). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- The Toyota C-HR has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Dacia Duster fails its MOT about 54% more often.
- The Toyota C-HR is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £290 a year less than the Dacia Duster at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the visibility on a Toyota C-HR: it fails on them 1.8 times as often as the average car.
- Watch the lights and electrics on a Dacia Duster: it fails on them 2.5 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Toyota C-HRMk2 (2023–), 5-door SUV | Dacia DusterMk3 (2024–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £31,695 to £44,095June 2026 price list | £21,845 to £26,845July 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 388 litres / 1,155 | 517 litres / 1,609 (best) |
| Length | 4,362mm | 4,343mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,832mm | 1,813mm |
| Height | 1,558mm | 1,656mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 140–223 PS (best) | 140–155 PS |
| 0–62mph | 7.4–9.9 sec (best) | 9.2–9.9 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2024) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 56.5–60.1 mpg | 45.6–58.9 mpg |
| CO2 | 19–111 g/km | 113–141 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £994 (58.9 mpg) (best) | £1,284 (45.6 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £1,269 (53.3 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £994 (petrol) | £1,269 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 109Above average (best) | 71Well below average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 14.7% (best) | 28.4% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 10.0% (best) | 17.0% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 16.1% (best) | 26.1% |
| Failed at 10 years old | – | 40.9% |
| Most common MOT fault | Wipers (5.0% of tests) | Headlamp aim (3.9% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Visibility (1.8×), Lights and electrics (1.3×) | Lights and electrics (2.5×), Steering (2.4×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 76,434 | 69,122 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Small SUV | Small SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 9,000 | 8,200 |
| On sale | 2023 on | 2024 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Toyota C-HR or the Dacia Duster more reliable?
The Toyota C-HR. Like for like on age and mileage, the Dacia Duster fails its MOT about 54% more often (reliability scores 109 and 71, where 100 is average). 14.7% of Toyota C-HRs and 28.4% of Dacia Dusters failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Toyota C-HR or the Dacia Duster?
They're almost the same length (4,362mm and 4,343mm). The Dacia Duster has the bigger boot: 517 litres against 388.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Toyota C-HR or the Dacia Duster?
The Dacia Duster: new prices start at £21,845, £9,850 less than the Toyota C-HR (from £31,695). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Toyota C-HR or the Dacia Duster?
Comparing petrol versions, the Toyota C-HR costs about £290 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£994 against £1,284), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Toyota C-HR or the Dacia Duster?
Euro NCAP gave the Toyota C-HR 5 stars (2024) and the Dacia Duster 3 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Toyota C-HR or the Dacia Duster?
Pick the Toyota C-HR for the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance, or the Dacia Duster for the lower price and the bigger boot. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.