If you are looking for a budget-friendly SUV that offers good performance, comfort, and practicality, you might be interested in the MG ZS and the Dacia Duster. These two models are among the cheapest SUVs on the market, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we will compare them in terms of design, engine, features, safety, and price and help you decide which one is a better buy for you.
Design
The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have distinct design styles that appeal to different tastes. The MG ZS has a more modern and sleek look, with a large grille, LED headlights, and chrome accents. The Dacia Duster has a more rugged and robust look, with a high ground clearance, roof rails, and black plastic cladding. Both models have a spacious interior, with enough room for five passengers and their luggage. The MG ZS has a slightly larger boot capacity of 448 liters compared to the Dacia Duster’s 445 liters. However, the Dacia Duster has a more versatile boot space, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and an adjustable floor.
Engine
The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have different engine options that suit different driving needs. The MG ZS offers two petrol engines: a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 106 hp and 141 Nm of torque and a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 111 hp and 160 Nm of torque. The Dacia Duster offers three petrol engines: a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 90 hp and 160 Nm of torque, a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 130 hp and 240 Nm of torque, and a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 150 hp and 250 Nm of torque. The MG ZS also offers an electric version, called the MG ZS EV, which has a 44.5 kWh battery pack that delivers 143 hp and 353 Nm of torque.
The MG ZS has better fuel efficiency than the Dacia Duster, with an average consumption of 6.2 liters per 100 km for the 1.5-liter engine and 6.9 liters per 100 km for the 1.0-liter engine. The Dacia Duster has an average consumption of 6.5 liters per 100 km for the 1.0-liter engine, 7.2 liters per 100 km for the 130 hp 1.3-liter engine, and 7.4 liters per 100 km for the 150 hp 1.3-liter engine. The MG ZS EV has an estimated range of 263 km on a single charge.
The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have different transmission and drivetrain options as well. The MG ZS comes with either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox and is only available in front-wheel drive. The Dacia Duster comes with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.
Features
The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have different levels of features and equipment that affect their comfort and convenience. The MG ZS has three trim levels: Explore, Excite, and Exclusive. The base model Explore comes with standard features such as air conditioning, electric windows, remote central locking, cruise control, rear parking sensors, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, six speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports, and a leather steering wheel. The mid-range Excite adds features such as alloy wheels, fog lights, roof rails, leather seats, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, a rearview camera, a navigation system, climate control, a sunroof, and an additional USB port in the rear. The top-of-the-line Exclusive adds features such as LED headlights and daytime running lights, a digital instrument cluster, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, and blind spot monitoring.
The Dacia Duster has four trim levels: Access, Essential, Comfort, and Prestige. The base model Access comes with standard features such as power steering, electric front windows, remote central locking, airbags, ABS, ESP, and hill start assist. The mid-range Essential adds features such as air conditioning, a radio with Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, and steering wheel controls. The Comfort adds features such as alloy wheels, fog lights, electric rear windows, cruise control, speed limiter, rear parking sensors, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a leather steering wheel. The top-of-the-line Prestige adds features such as a rearview camera, climate control, keyless entry and start blind spot warning, and a multi-view camera system.
Safety
The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have different safety ratings and features that affect their reliability and security. The MG ZS has a four-star rating from the Euro NCAP, while the Dacia Duster has a three-star rating. The MG ZS comes with standard safety features such as airbags, ABS, ESP, hill start assist, tire pressure monitoring system, emergency brake assist, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The MG ZS also offers some advanced driver assistance systems, such as lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and speed limit recognition. The MG ZS EV has some additional safety features, such as regenerative braking, a battery temperature management system, and a battery safety cut-off.
The Dacia Duster comes with standard safety features such as airbags, ABS, ESP, hill start assist, tire pressure monitoring system, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The Dacia Duster also offers some optional driver assistance systems, such as blind spot warning and multi-view camera system. However, the Dacia Duster does not offer some of the features that the MG ZS does, such as lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and speed limit recognition.
Price
The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have different price ranges that reflect their value and affordability. The MG ZS has a starting price of $14,500 for the 1.5-liter engine with manual transmission and Explore trim level. The most expensive version of the MG ZS is the 1.0-liter engine with automatic transmission and Exclusive trim level, which costs $19,000. The MG ZS EV has a starting price of $28,000 for the Excite trim level and $30,000 for the Exclusive trim level.
The Dacia Duster has a starting price of $12,000 for the 1.0-liter engine with manual transmission and Access trim level. The most expensive version of the Dacia Duster is the 150 hp 1.3-liter engine with automatic transmission and Prestige trim level, which costs $18,000.
Conclusion
The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster are both attractive options for SUV buyers who want to save money without compromising on quality. However, they have different advantages and disadvantages that make them suitable for different preferences and needs. The MG ZS has a more stylish design, better fuel efficiency, a higher safety rating, and more features than the Dacia Duster. However, the MG ZS is also more expensive than the Dacia Duster and does not offer four-wheel drive or diesel engines. The Dacia Duster has a more rugged design, a more powerful engine, a lower price, and more versatility than the MG ZS. However, the Dacia Duster also has a lower safety rating, a higher fuel consumption, and fewer features than the MG ZS.
Ultimately, the choice between the MG ZS and the Dacia Duster depends on your personal taste, driving needs, and budget. We hope this article has helped you compare these two models and make an informed decision.
