VS

Toyota Yaris Cross vs Dacia Duster comparison

Compare performance (130 HP vs 158 HP), boot space and price (23,700 £ vs 16,300 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Toyota Yaris Cross or Dacia Duster?

Toyota Yaris Cross vs Dacia Duster: Key differences

Toyota Yaris Cross

4.2 (15 Reviews)
rate
  • barely more efficient
  • slightly lighter
details

Dacia Duster

4.6 (4 Reviews)
rate
  • considerably cheaper
  • a bit more power
  • somewhat quicker 0–100 km/h
  • clearly more trunk space
details

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

By Achim Sedelmaier

Yaris Cross

Overview: Dacia Duster VS Toyota Yaris Cross

Dacia Duster VS Toyota Yaris Cross pits a blunt‑instrument utility SUV against a refined, efficiency‑focused compact crossover, and the matchup is all about trade‑offs rather than one‑size‑fits‑all superiority. The Dacia Duster plays the role of the practical workhorse: roomy, robust, and aimed at buyers who prioritise usable space and low purchase cost. The Toyota Yaris Cross leans into hybrid efficiency, everyday refinement and city friendliness, targeting commuters who value low running costs and polished systems. Both cars aim to solve similar daily problems, but they do it with noticeably different priorities that shape comfort, packaging and long‑distance manners. Read on to see which set of compromises fits your routine.

Duster

Character and driving feel

The Dacia Duster feels deliberately utilitarian and composed, trading crisp handling for a softer, confidence‑oriented ride that soaks up rough roads and feels at home off the beaten track, while the Toyota Yaris Cross drives with a lighter, more urban‑tuned character centred on its hybrid system and smooth automatic operation. Duster’s set‑up gives a higher, planted feel and the option of real 4x4 makes it the one to choose if you escape to gravel tracks or tow small trailers on occasion. Yaris Cross rewards city traffic and economy with frequent electric propulsion and a gearbox tuned for ease rather than engagement, which makes commuting effortless but less lively on sweeping B‑roads. If you want predictable, soft compliance and utility pick the Dacia Duster; if you want nimble, low‑effort urban progress and hybrid efficiency, the Toyota Yaris Cross is more on point. Both are safe and steady, but they ask you to accept different driving personalities.

Yaris Cross

Comfort, cabin feel and perceived quality

Inside the Dacia Duster the impression is practical: robust plastics, straightforward controls and surfaces designed to handle dirt and family life without fuss, whereas the Toyota Yaris Cross presents a neater, more finished cabin with softer touches and a more modern infotainment experience. That durability in the Duster translates to confidence for dog owners, muddy boots and heavy use, but it also feels less refined on long motorway stretches where wind and tyre noise are more obvious. The Yaris Cross feels more grown‑up at first touch, with a calmer cockpit and smoother interface, but that refinement comes with a tighter rear seat that will feel cosy for taller passengers. So the trade‑off is clear: Duster favours toughness and space, Yaris Cross favours material polish and everyday tech civility.

Duster

Practicality and everyday usability

When it comes to hauling gear or packing for a weekend away, the Dacia Duster makes life easier with a boxier boot and a layout built for flexible loading, while the Toyota Yaris Cross offers a clever variable floor and tidy day‑to‑day usability that suits shopping and city errands better. The Duster’s higher boot and rugged fittings mean it’s the more tolerant packhorse for bikes, camping kit or muddy boots, though that taller lip demands a little more elbow grease when lifting heavy items. The Yaris Cross is easier to live with in tight urban environments: smaller overall footprint, nimble turning and an interior organised for quick access, but its optional all‑wheel system eats into luggage space. Choose Duster if practical cargo space and rugged convenience are priorities; choose Yaris Cross if compactness, tidy interior packaging and smart city usability matter more.

Yaris Cross

Long‑distance behavior versus city friendliness

The Dacia Duster is reassuring on uneven surfaces and long country drives thanks to its comfort‑biased suspension, yet it becomes characterful on longer motorway stints where wind and tyre noise are more noticeable, whereas the Toyota Yaris Cross is the sharper city companion—exceptionally frugal in stop‑start traffic—but can sound strained under sustained high load. In town the Yaris Cross’s hybrid system and automatic feel reduce driver fatigue and fuel bills, making it an obvious commuter choice, while the Duster’s higher seating and simpler controls make urban manoeuvres straightforward even if visibility rearwards can be limited. On cross‑country trips the Duster’s space and composure pay off for families and equipment, but if a whisper‑quiet high‑speed cruise is your priority you’ll likely prefer rivals focused on NVH over either car. In short, Duster leans toward long‑weekend versatility; Yaris Cross leans toward weekday economy and ease.

Duster

Buyer fit and who should consider which car

If you’re budget‑minded, need a forgiving interior for family, dog or outdoor gear and want an actual off‑road option now and then, the Dacia Duster will suit your life better than the Toyota Yaris Cross. If your driving is mostly urban commute and you prize low running costs, smooth automatics and a slightly more refined cabin, the Toyota Yaris Cross fits that brief more closely, with the added benefit of an AWD‑option for winter regions. Both cars trade something to gain something: Duster trades refinement for usefulness, Yaris Cross trades rear space and some utility for hybrid civility and tech. If you want to move from impression to specifics, the technical comparison that follows will unpack how power delivery, real‑world consumption, luggage packaging and payload affect these everyday differences.

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

Yaris Cross

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 considerably cheaper – starting at 16,300 £ , while the Toyota Yaris Cross costs 23,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 7,414 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Toyota Yaris Cross uses 4.5 L/100km and is barely more efficient than the Dacia Duster with 4.7 L/100km. The difference is about 0.2 L/100km.

Duster

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 a bit more power – delivering 158 HP compared to 130 HP. That’s roughly 28 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Dacia Duster is somewhat quicker – completing the sprint in 9.4 s, while the Toyota Yaris Cross takes 10.7 s. That’s about 1.3 s quicker.

Yaris Cross

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, Toyota Yaris Cross is slightly lighter – 1,180 kg compared to 1,377 kg. The difference is around 197 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Dacia Duster offers clearly more boot space – 517 L compared to 397 L. That’s a difference of about 120 L.

When it comes to payload, the Toyota Yaris Cross carries a bit more – 510 kg compared to 453 kg. That’s a difference of about 57 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Dacia Duster is clearly superior overall 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 £16,300
Duster

Dacia Duster

  • Engine Type Petrol MHEV, Full Hybrid, LPG
  • Transmission Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 115 - 158 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 4.7 - 7.6 L/100km
Toyota Yaris Cross
Dacia Duster

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

Toyota Yaris Cross

The Toyota Yaris Cross blends the maneuverability of a small hatch with the higher driving position and practicality of a crossover, wrapped in Toyota's dependable build quality. It suits urban buyers who need easy parking, flexible cargo space and a comfortable, economical daily driver.

details

Dacia Duster

The Dacia Duster is a straightforward, budget-friendly SUV that prioritizes practicality and value over flashy features. Its rugged styling and simple, roomy interior make it a sensible choice for buyers who want capable everyday transport without paying for extras they won’t use.

details
Toyota Yaris Cross
Dacia Duster

Costs and Consumption

Price
23,700 - 34,300 £
Price
16,300 - 24,900 £
Consumption L/100km
4.5 - 4.8 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
4.7 - 7.6 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
101 - 108 g/km
co2
107 - 140 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
SUV
Body Type
SUV
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,180 - 1,290 kg
Curb weight
1,377 - 1,559 kg
Trunk capacity
320 - 397 L
Trunk capacity
348 - 517 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,765 mm
Width
1,813 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
485 - 510 kg
Payload
402 - 453 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Full Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Full Hybrid, LPG
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
CVT
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automated Manual, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
116 - 130 HP
Power HP
115 - 158 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
10.7 - 11.3 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
9.4 - 11.7 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
-
Torque
190 - 230 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Power kW
85 - 96 kW
Power kW
84 - 116 kW
Engine capacity
1,490 cm3
Engine capacity
1,199 - 1,789 cm3

General

Model Year
2026
Model Year
2,025 - 2,026
CO2 Efficiency Class
C
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, C
Brand
Toyota
Brand
Dacia
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.