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Dacia Duster vs Vauxhall Frontera comparison

Compare performance (158 HP vs 145 HP), boot space and price (16,300 £ vs 20,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Dacia Duster or Vauxhall Frontera?

Dacia Duster vs Vauxhall Frontera: Key differences

Dacia Duster

5 (2 Reviews)
rate
  • visibly cheaper
  • only slightly more power
  • a bit more efficient
  • only slightly lighter
  • moderately more trunk space

Vauxhall Frontera

4.5 (3 Reviews)
rate
  • marginally quicker 0–100 km/h

All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

Duster

Roadside First Impressions

The two SUVs arrive with very different attitudes: the Dacia Duster wears practicality like a badge of honor, its lines honest and deliberately unpretentious, while the Opel Frontera aims for a tidier, more composed presence that hints at refinement. Walk around either and you quickly get what they’re trying to be — Duster the rugged, get-on-with-it sort, Frontera the more polished companion for family duties. Both are likeable in their own way; one cheers thrift and durability, the other telegraphs confidence and everyday civility.

Frontera

Behind the Wheel Personality

Driving either brings clarity to the character choices: the Dacia Duster feels upbeat and willing, rewarding nimble maneuvers and forgiving in town where lightness matters, while the Opel Frontera delivers a steadier, more assured ride that soaks up longer runs with composure. Neither pretends to be a sports car, but their tuning gives you distinct moods — Duster is ready for quick errands and dirt tracks, Frontera leans toward calm command on open roads. Both are easy to live with, but they give different kinds of confidence behind the wheel.

Duster

Living with the Cabin

The interiors reflect their philosophies: the Dacia Duster keeps things straightforward and durable, with intuitive layouts and plenty of sensible cubbies that survive family life, while the Opel Frontera leans toward comfort and versatility with a more composed seating feel and useful passenger flexibility. Materials in the Duster are chosen for resilience rather than luxury, which many buyers will appreciate for day-to-day practicality. The Frontera aims to make longer trips more comfortable and gives the impression of a slightly more grown-up cabin environment.

Frontera

Everyday Usability and Tech

When it comes to everyday chores, the Duster’s simple controls and logical layout make it very user-friendly for drivers who want fuss-free motoring, whereas the Frontera offers a touch more polish and convenience features that reward those who value refinement. Visibility, ingress and egress are straightforward in both, but their approaches differ: one prioritises durability and ease of maintenance, the other a smoother, more refined interface. Either choice feels purposeful in daily routines, it’s just a matter of taste whether you prefer blunt practicality or added niceties.

Duster

Character and Positioning

The Dacia Duster positions itself as the sensible, value-driven companion — pragmatic, tough, and refreshingly honest about its intentions — while the Opel Frontera wants to be seen as a more cultivated family-orientated SUV with a few extra comforts to lean on. That contrast informs everything from design cues to driving setup, and it’s what will split shoppers: do you buy for rugged usefulness or for a slightly more refined daily experience? Both have charm, but they appeal to subtly different priorities.

Frontera

Who Should Consider Each One

If your life is filled with city commutes, weekend escapes and an eye on running costs, the Dacia Duster will likely sing to your practical side with its no-nonsense appeal; if you ferry people regularly, crave a bit more on-road polish and appreciate extra passenger flexibility, the Opel Frontera makes a persuasive case. Style-conscious buyers who want their SUV to feel a touch more grown-up may drift toward the Frontera, while thrift-focused shoppers who prize durability will find a strong argument in the Duster’s corner. Neither is wrong — they just suit different lives.

Duster

Keep Reading for the Final Call

Fancy seeing which one gets crowned in our DriveDuel showdown? Read on — the DriveDuel Champion will be revealed afterwards, and you won’t want to miss how the two SUVs stack up in our full test loop.

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Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Duster

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are often the first things buyers look at. Here it becomes clear which model has the long-term edge – whether at the pump, the plug, or in purchase price.

Dacia Duster is visibly cheaper – starting at 16,300 £ , while the Vauxhall Frontera costs 20,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 4,457 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Dacia Duster uses 4.7 L/100km and is a bit more efficient than the Vauxhall Frontera with 5.2 L/100km. The difference is about 0.5 L/100km.

Frontera

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the Dacia Duster offers only slightly more power – delivering 158 HP compared to 145 HP. That’s roughly 13 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Vauxhall Frontera is marginally quicker – completing the sprint in 9.1 s, while the Dacia Duster takes 9.4 s. That’s about 0.3 s quicker.

Looking at top speed, the Dacia Duster is noticeably faster – reaching 180 km/h, while the Vauxhall Frontera tops out at 143 km/h. The difference is around 37 km/h.

Both models offer the same torque – 230 Nm.

Duster

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Seats: Vauxhall Frontera offers more seats – 7 vs 5.

In terms of curb weight, Dacia Duster is only slightly lighter – 1,377 kg compared to 1,394 kg. The difference is around 17 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Dacia Duster offers moderately more boot space – 517 L compared to 460 L. That’s a difference of about 57 L.

For maximum load capacity, the Dacia Duster offers very slightly more capacity – up to 1,609 L, about 9 L more than the Vauxhall Frontera.

When it comes to payload, the Vauxhall Frontera carries visibly more – 570 kg compared to 453 kg. That’s a difference of about 117 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Vauxhall Frontera has only a minor advantage in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £20,700
Frontera

Vauxhall Frontera

  • Engine Type : Electric, Petrol MHEV
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 110 - 145 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 5.2 - 5.3 L/100km
  • Consumption kWh/100km : 15.8 - 18.3 kWh/100km
  • Electric Range : 305 - 408 km
details
Dacia Duster
Vauxhall Frontera

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Dacia Duster

The Dacia Duster is a no-nonsense compact SUV that delivers rugged practicality and surprisingly comfortable everyday driving without fuss. It might not win any beauty contests, but its honest design, easy-to-live-with cabin and tough attitude make it a smart pick for buyers who want reliable transport without luxury frills.

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Reviews Dacia Duster

5 (2 Reviews)
rate
Buh
14 Dec 2025, 22:40:05

I find the difference between the two very minimal.
And for almost €20k more 💶 I would absolutely not choose the Tiguan.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): Family car
Value for Money

Vauxhall Frontera

The Opel Frontera wears its rugged, go-anywhere intentions proudly, serving up a simple, no-nonsense package that feels as comfortable off the beaten track as it does at the supermarket. It won’t set hearts racing with glamour, but its honest practicality and rugged charm make it a smart pick for buyers who prefer substance over style.

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NewOpelFronteraElectric
NewOpelFronteraElectric (1)
NewOpelFronteraElectric (2)
NewOpelFronteraElectric (3)
NewOpelFronteraElectric (4)
NewOpelFronteraElectric (5)
NewOpelFronteraElectric (7)

Reviews Vauxhall Frontera

4.5 (3 Reviews)
rate
H. P.
19 Dec 2025, 13:27:19

Opel has clearly skimped here. Misaligned panel gaps, no position/parking light, patchy workmanship and ill‑fitting parts — for example the partition between the passenger footwell and the engine bay — the owner's manual is inadequate and at times reads like a fairy tale; many of the functions it describes are nowhere to be found. They simply don't exist. And the claimed fuel consumption? Even with normal driving — that is, without acceleration orgies — it's unattainable.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): Leisure / Weekend driver
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money

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If you need a proper SUV silhouette, more room and rough-road confidence, the Dacia Duster is the sensible adventurer — higher ride height, optional 4x4 and a generous boot make it the one to choose for family trips and gravel tracks. But if you mainly commute, squeeze into city parking and care …
Dacia Duster
Vauxhall Frontera

Costs and Consumption
Price
16,300 - 24,900 £
Price
20,700 - 30,000 £
Consumption L/100km
4.7 - 7.6 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
5.2 - 5.3 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
15.8 - 18.3 kWh/100km
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
305 - 408 km
Battery Capacity
0.6 kWh
Battery Capacity
-
co2
107 - 140 g/km
co2
0 - 119 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
50 L
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
SUV
Body Type
SUV
Seats
5
Seats
5 - 7
Doors
5
Doors
5
Curb weight
1,377 - 1,455 kg
Curb weight
1,394 - 1,610 kg
Trunk capacity
348 - 517 L
Trunk capacity
460 L
Length
4,343 mm
Length
4,385 mm
Width
1,813 mm
Width
1,795 mm
Height
1,656 - 1,659 mm
Height
1,635 mm
Max trunk capacity
1,414 - 1,609 L
Max trunk capacity
1,600 L
Payload
402 - 453 kg
Payload
436 - 570 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Full Hybrid, LPG
Engine Type
Electric, Petrol MHEV
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automated Manual, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Reduction Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
115 - 158 HP
Power HP
110 - 145 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
9.4 - 11.7 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
9.1 - 14.2 s
Max Speed
180 km/h
Max Speed
143 km/h
Torque
190 - 230 Nm
Torque
125 - 230 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Number of Cylinders
3
Power kW
84 - 116 kW
Power kW
81 - 107 kW
Engine capacity
1,199 - 1,789 cm3
Engine capacity
1,199 cm3

General
Model Year
2,025 - 2,026
Model Year
2,024 - 2,025
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, C
CO2 Efficiency Class
A, D
Brand
Dacia
Brand
Vauxhall
What drivetrain options does the Dacia Duster have?

The Dacia Duster is offered with Front-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive.

DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.