- For: Cheap to buy and run, practical interior, long-range ability
- Against: Feels slow, lacks latest safety equipment
- Verdict: A niche option, but one with genuine benefits
Dacia’s decision to bring LPG back to the UK seems to have been a smart move, given the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel. Popular in the early 2000s, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) costs almost half as much per litre as unleaded petrol.
Currently, Dacia is the only manufacturer to currently offer factory-fitted LPG options across its range. These are backed by a regular warranty, with servicing and maintenance unaffected.
For the updated Duster, the LPG conversion sees a 62-litre tank installed in the spare wheel well. It is only offered with the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, which produces 90hp when fuelled by petrol. Swapping to LPG, via a single dashboard switch, ups power output to 100hp.
Twin tanks for a longer range
Neither mode makes the Duster feel particularly quick, with 0-62mph taking 13.8 seconds on LPG. The standard six-speed manual gearbox needs to be worked hard to keep pace with traffic.
Using both petrol and LPG tanks to their full capacities, the Duster Bi-Fuel can cover up to 767 miles. A digital display shows the fuel level in both tanks, and the Duster will automatically switch back to petrol when out of LPG.
Fuel economy when running on LPG is slightly worse than on petrol (40.4mpg versus 44.1mpg), but this is offset by the cheaper cost of fuel. Emissions when burning LPG are lower, too. Your main issue may be finding a fuel station that offers LPG in the first place, but there are smartphone apps that can help.
No price premium for Bi-Fuel
Other than the loss of the spare wheel, going Bi-Fuel leaves the Duster’s SUV practicality unaltered. The boot remains usefully large, and there’s ample space for five adults inside the cabin.
Most impressive of all, opting for the Bi-Fuel version costs exactly the same as buying a petrol-only 1.0-litre Duster.
Whether you need a Duster Bi-Fuel will likely to depend on whether you live near an LPG filling station – and to a lesser extent, if you drive a high mileage each year. In these circumstances, the Bi-Fuel’s lower running costs, and greater long-range capacity, could deliver real savings.
KEY INFO
- Launched: 2017
- Facelifted: 2021
- Due for replacement: TBC