Saw the Ncap results from Honestjohn. I am actually quite taken by the Dacia Duster, not that I am going to consider it when buying a new car, as I am not keen of its Renault technology.

I was expecting much better Ncap results, given the aforementioned Renault underpinning.

http://www.euroncap.com/results/dacia/duster/2011/421.aspx

Edited 1 February, 201214 yr by My_Yeti

Ncap Dacia Duster Adult Occ 74%, Child 78%, Pedestrian 28%, Safety Assist 29%

Ncap Skoda Yeti Adult Occ 92%, Child 78%, Pedestrian 46%, Safety Assist 71%

Think I know which I would choose!!

I was also expecting a higher rating... but as per Graham's list it might just be the lack of electronic safety gizmos and tons of airbags. They deduct stars for pretty trivial things these days. Renault is good at safety so the basics should be fine. The choice here will be a second hand Yeti or a new Duster. You can't really compare them brand new to brand new in my view.

Elaborating on what Lianigraham said If you compare the diagrams showing the areas of injury to adult occupants in both vehicles and compare the severity the Dacia falls down badly on chest inuries compared to the Yeti as can be seen below.

http://www.euroncap.com/results/dacia/duster/2011/421.aspx

Protection of the chest was rated as marginal for both front seat occupants, based on dummy readings of chest compression. No doors opened in the more severe side pole impact but protection of the driver's chest was rated as weak because of dummy readings of rib compression. Protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision was rated as marginal.

http://www.euroncap.com/results/skoda/yeti/368.aspx

The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal impact and dummy readings indicated good or adequate protection in all body areas. Airbags to protect the chest and the head in a side impact were fitted to the test vehicle. Although they are not standard across the model range, they are expected to be standard equipment in the great majority of sales and met Euro NCAP's requirements for inclusion in the assessment. The airbags helped the car to gain maximum points in the side barrier impact. In the more severe side pole test, chest protection was rated as marginal. Protection against whiplash injury in a rear impact was good.

Considering the number of fatalities from chest injuries I think I'd pick the Yeti against the Dacia every time, even in the 2nd hand market. Bear in mind that NCAP tests are carried out at moderate speed.

http://www.euroncap.com/Content-Web-Page/90769bbc-bb74-4129-a046-e586550c3ece/pole-side-impact.aspx http://www.euroncap.com/tests/frontimpact.aspx

Edited 1 February, 201214 yr by Photoemt

I noticed the knee injuries specifically. Thank God for a knee airbag for the driver. Never had one before; will always have one form now on.

Pricing looks v keen though... £10K+ ?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/261943/

The Duster is built upon the same technology as the Logan. No wonder it shares the same safety problems and low price.

Wow, confirmed 10k! That's really rather good!

What price do you put on safety?

<p>

<br />

What price do you put on safety?<br />

</p>

<p>It varies, but not enough to want to drive a Volvo tank thankyou. Worth paying 25-40% more for a Yeti? Most will think not...</p>

Agree - 25-40% is a lot, the Yeti is good, but is it worth that much more?

Similarly, argument could go towards the Freelander/CRV etc, they are bigger and potentially better but also cost a lot more.

Based on the injury paterns in the NCAP test for the Dacia v the Yeti and working for the frontline services as my day job I don't think I'd be happy taking my chances with the Dacia. The Yeti shapes up well to the Freelander and CRV on these terms.

You will never ever have an accident in a car that remotely replicates NCAP criteria. Never. So cars get designed for these very specific tests. So yes strange that the normally very safe Renault company can design something that does not get full NCAP scoring. BUT a lot of NCAP demerits these days come from software not being present (ESP, etc that is now mandatory) or stupid little things like central locking that don't unlock in an accident. Yes they will help in some accidents but the basic car will be fine. Remember having a slightly different angle in an accident at even 30mph in a five star NCAP car can kill you since the car is designed to do well in ONE or TWO specific NCAP tests... So I will have no issues driving a Duster. You pay less since it has fewer electronic safety gizmos (eg fewer airbags). You still get a huge and very capable car for the money that is leagues safer than a ten year old banger.

While I appreciate NCAP tests are at low speeds and specific angles and may not cover every scenario, items that may seem minor such as fewer airbags can make a significant difference in terms of injury, again check out the injury paterns on both the Dacia and Yeti, equate these paterns to potential time unable to work, not able to meet bills etc. The clip on the test where the Yeti was crashed into the Superb thats freely available online shows how well the Yeti stands up.

... items that may seem minor such as fewer airbags can make a significant difference in terms of injury,...

You are probably right, but Yeti's don't come with ESP as standard in some models (not sure if no of airbags varies too from E to Elegance). So "safety" is also trim-specific. Mind you, arguments on perceived safety also drive alot of full-size SUV sales especially in the USA.

Regardless it will be interesting to see how Skoda respond to this new-to-UK alternative East European challenger. I wonder how the sales figures stack up in other countries where they are both available?

Some might want to know how the Duster compares to the Yeti: there is a long article in Russian (original, machine translation to English) comparing Suzuki SX4, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai, Chevrolet Niva, Renault Duster and the Yeti. Of course, it was Yeti that received the most points from the journalists (results, translation)

Edited 24 March, 201214 yr by briskycat

I wonder how the sales figures stack up in other countries where they are both available?

For every 10,000 Dusters sold I'd wager Škoda sells about 2,000 Yetis. The Duster sells like hot cakes in Europe. The Yeti not so much. See here:

http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2012/03/24/world-2011-now-with-the-top-100-best-selling-models/

Duster at 96 and Yeti is not even in the top 100. You can peruse the rest of that website to see country by country sales (especially France and Germany) and you'll see the same.

... See here:

http://bestsellingca...selling-models/

Duster at 96 and Yeti is not even in the top 100. You can peruse the rest of that website to see country by country sales (especially France and Germany) and you'll see the same.

2011 numbers were interesting for Germany - 22K Dusters vs 20K Yetis. Sentiment seems to be "cheap enough to be a knockaround car" on the Duster on the comparisons I read. Will be interesting to watch what happens...

Hmm pretty sure this isn't a PR stunt

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17834461

Hmm pretty sure this isn't a PR stunt

http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-17834461

Thankfully my name has two n's and I don't drive a Duster.

Dusters seem to be multiplying like rabbits in France. I, too, would much rather drive my Yeti but agree with Johann that accidents seldom replicate the very specific conditions of NCAP tests and that any modern car is oodles safer than what we were driving even 10 years ago.

Now this puts this car into perspective all of a sudden:

£8,995!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/dacia-duster-suv-%C2%A38995

That is only a tiny bit more than a new Škoda Citygo for a car that has five doors and is HUGE in comparison.

Old second hand Ford Focus, new baby Citygo or a new SUV?! Interesting choice indeed.

I looked at a Dacia Duster about half an hour ago at Liverpool Renault.It was Left hand drive in silver and in Laureate spec'.

If this car retails for £13000-00 as suggested then Renault have got a winner on their hands-Looked more like a 23K car than 13k.

That is only a tiny bit more than a new Škoda Citygo for a car that has five doors and is HUGE in comparison.

Old second hand Ford Focus, new baby Citygo or a new SUV?! Interesting choice indeed.

Funny though - if you price up a 4x4 diesel top trim with a few packs eg towbar, rear sensors... it comes to 16.5K. With a bit of haggling I'd expect a 2.0 4wd Yeti SE to be 17.5K with towbar prep... so not a million miles out.

However the base 4wd model is 11K - truly a Farmer Joe special (or even a basic 4wd machine for the off road brigade?).

Some people might pick up something that isn't a yeti or a duster and will be a lot safter than in either

No idea how anyone managed to bread over the last 200 years though, without 5* rated cars.

Oh hang on, maybe they just drove slower and took less risks, knowing they'd likely be fatal if a mistake was made.