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Help me choose please!

14 replies

herewego9 · 27/01/2025 09:39

Hello, we're in the market for a new family car and have narrowed it down to a Dacia Duster or a Toyota Yaris Cross. Does anyone have any advice or opinion on which to go for?

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SybilEsmeGytha · 27/01/2025 10:41

Two good choices there. A couple of questions to help folks give an informed opinion.

When you say new, do you mean new to you or brand new vehicle?

How are you intending to finance the car? (Cash, PCP, HP, Loan or lease?)

How long do you intend to keep the car for?

Annual mileage?

Max number of people and pets the car would carry on a semi regular basis?

iamallofme · 27/01/2025 10:46

I don't know but all the Japanese cars I've had have been amazing (Mazda, Nissan, Toyota). One I kept for 30 years, only got rid of it because new cars are likely safer, was still running great. The EU ones, not so much...

herewego9 · 27/01/2025 11:01

Thanks! To answer some questions - sorry I meant new to us. Hoping to spend around 20k (cash) which looks like it would get us a brand new dacia or a 2 year old Toyota with around 20k miles. We do hammer the car a bit with our annual mileage being about 20k.

We regularly have two adults and three children, no pets. Keen to run the car as long as possible- last car was 8 years.

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SybilEsmeGytha · 27/01/2025 11:56

There's an interesting review comparing both cars on johnonwheels.com that may be worth a read. The duster looks to give more rear passenger and luggage space and this might be something you want to explore in a showroom

Given the length of time you intend to keep the vehicle and the high annual mileage I would pick the Yaris if the passenger and boot space us suffient for your needs. The technical and safety spec is top notch if you intend to keep for many years where the dacia is less frills and will feel more basic as time goes on. Toyota/Lexus are top of the tree for reliability which I would think is very important given the annual mileage.

Might also be worth having a look at a Honda HRV, Skoda Kamiq or Karoq and Volvo XC40 as a slightly larger options versus the yaris that I think may be a more comfortable option to live with over an 8yr period than the Duster.

herewego9 · 27/01/2025 12:02

@SybilEsmeGytha hugely appreciate your comprehensive response, thanks so much.

I will read that review but had been erring on the Yaris side so thanks again for the info!

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HPandthelastwish · 27/01/2025 12:06

I'd go for the Toyota.
Dacia are just Renault's under a different name and I've not had good experiences with those, although I do know people who love them.

herewego9 · 27/01/2025 14:21

Thanks @HPandthelastwish, think ere going Toyota.

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user1492757084 · 27/01/2025 14:31

Consider the Toyota RAV 4 hybrid. It has a full size spare tyre too.

herewego9 · 27/01/2025 18:53

Thank you but that one looks to be a bit out of budget

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snoopyfanaccountant · 27/01/2025 21:53

Dacia is cheap because it skimps on safety features. Having previously owned a Toyota which didn't fail me in 9 years, I would go for the Toyota.

InveterateWineDrinker · 29/01/2025 17:55

snoopyfanaccountant · 27/01/2025 21:53

Dacia is cheap because it skimps on safety features. Having previously owned a Toyota which didn't fail me in 9 years, I would go for the Toyota.

This is only partly true. Dacia made a conscious decision in the design of its cars not to chase EuroNCAP safety ratings by fitting equipment which all the research shows people just switch off.

I've got a Jogger, new in 2024, which has a one star rating. It was always structurally sound, but lost many points in its test because of advanced driver aids like lane-keeping assist not being fitted. Then, from the start of April 2024 all those features which Dacia had declined to fit became compulsory on new cars in the EU anyway. So my Jogger, built in June, has them but still only the one star rating.

As well as the Jogger we have two Logans, none of them have ever let me down. With your budget you'd be looking at a brand new Duster (new generation, only just gone on sale here) which will have all the safety tech and if you get it serviced at least once a year at a Dacia/Renault dealer then the warranty will be automatically extended out to eight years. That's pretty compelling if you're concerned about reliability.

If you've got three kids, may I also suggest you look at the Jogger? Very similar to the Duster, but seven seats for when the kids have friends along, grandparents, etc. It's the perfect car for us.

Jacobeen · 29/01/2025 17:57

Yaris. Hands down the better long term car

herewego9 · 29/01/2025 18:47

Thanks for the additional info @InveterateWineDrinker, good for thought

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herewego9 · 29/01/2025 18:47

Thanks @Jacobeen

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