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Can a £23,000 Dacia SUV beat a £74,000 off-road specialist around an off-road course?
Well, it’s time to find out as we line the Dacia Duster up against the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser!
When it comes to off-roaders, most people will automatically think of the Land Cruiser. This new edition comes equipped with a 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel that produces 204hp and 500Nm. So the power output may not be massive, but there is so much off-roading tech built into it, from a low range mode, locking centre and rear differentials, and of course, several different driving modes. The thing is, while it can clearly perform off-road, it doesn’t come cheap!
In contrast, the Dacia we have here comes in at just a third of the price of the Land Cruiser! It’s also down on power, with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine producing 130hp. It comes with an off-road mode, but otherwise, it lacks all of the off-road tech that the Land Cruiser comes equipped with. Moreover, the Duster is only fitted with winter tyres, while the Land Cruiser has all-terrain tyres.
But the Dacia does have one trick up its sleeve. While the Land Cruiser weighs in at 2,335kg, the Duster tips the scales at just 1,390kg! Could that prove decisive during the off-road drag race? There’s only one way to find out!