MG ZS vs Dacia Duster: Which One is a Better Buy?

If you want a compact SUV that offers value, space, and style, you might be interested in the MG ZS and the Dacia Duster. These two models are among the most affordable options in their segment, but they also have some key differences that could influence your decision. In this article, we will compare the MG ZS and the Dacia Duster in terms of design, performance, 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 different approaches to design. The MG ZS is a modern and sleek SUV that features a large grille, LED headlights, alloy wheels, and chrome accents. The Dacia Duster is a rugged and practical SUV that has a boxy shape, roof rails, skid plates, and black plastic cladding. Both models have a five-door body and a spacious cabin, but the MG ZS has a slightly larger boot capacity of 448 liters compared to the Dacia Duster’s 445 liters.

The interior of the MG ZS is more refined and stylish than the Dacia Duster’s. The MG ZS has a soft-touch dashboard, leather seats, panoramic sunroof, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Dacia Duster has a hard-plastic dashboard, cloth seats, manual windows, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the Dacia Duster has more storage space and a more ergonomic layout than the MG ZS.

Performance

The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have different engine options to suit different 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 three-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers 111 hp and 160 Nm of torque. The Dacia Duster offers three petrol engines: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine that generates 100 hp and 160 Nm of torque, a 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 130 hp and 240 Nm of torque, and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 150 hp and 250 Nm of torque.

Both models also offer diesel engines: the MG ZS has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 114 hp and 300 Nm of torque, while the Dacia Duster has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers either 95 hp or 115 hp, depending on the trim level, and either 240 Nm or 260 Nm, respectively.

The MG ZS comes with either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission, depending on the engine choice. The Dacia Duster comes with either a six-speed manual transmission, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, or a continuously variable transmission (CVT), depending on the engine choice.

Both models are available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, but the Dacia Duster has more off-road capabilities than the MG ZS. The Dacia Duster has a higher ground clearance of 210 mm, compared to the MG ZS’s 164 mm, and also has features like hill descent control, hill start assist, traction control, and electronic stability control.

Features

The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have different features depending on the trim level. The MG ZS has three trim levels: Excite, Exclusive, and Trophy. The Excite trim level includes features like air conditioning, cruise control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay compatibility, six speakers, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The Exclusive trim level adds features like leather seats, keyless entry, push-button start, reverse camera, satellite navigation, Android Auto compatibility, panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, six airbags, and 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. The Trophy trim level adds features like red leather seats with contrast stitching, MG Pilot driver assistance system (which includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and intelligent high beam assist), and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Dacia Duster has four trim levels: Access, Essential, Comfort, and Prestige. The Access trim level includes power steering, manual windows, manual mirrors, manual air conditioning, four speakers, and 16-inch steel wheels. The Essential trim level adds features like body-colored bumpers, electric front windows, electric heated mirrors, remote central locking, cruise control, speed limiter, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Comfort trim level adds features like electric rear windows, rear parking sensors, reverse camera, climate control, multimedia system with 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and voice recognition, leather steering wheel, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Prestige trim level adds features like keyless entry, push-button start, blind spot warning, multi-view camera, heated front seats, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Safety

The MG ZS and the Dacia Duster have different safety ratings from the Euro NCAP. The MG ZS received a five-star rating in 2017, with scores of 90% for adult occupant protection, 80% for child occupant protection, 62% for pedestrian protection, and 52% for safety assist. The Dacia Duster received a three-star rating in 2017, with scores of 71% for adult occupant protection, 66% for child occupant protection, 56% for pedestrian protection, and 37% for safety assist.

The MG ZS has more standard and optional safety features than the Dacia Duster. The MG ZS has features like an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), brake assist (BA), tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), seatbelt reminder, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and six airbags. The Dacia Duster has features like ABS, EBD, BA, TPMS, seatbelt reminder, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and four airbags.

The MG ZS also has the MG Pilot driver assistance system as an optional feature on the Trophy trim level. This system includes features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and intelligent high beam assist. The Dacia Duster only has blind spot warning as an optional feature on the Prestige trim level.