Comparison · small SUVs

Volkswagen T-Roc vs Dacia Duster: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen T-Roc does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 90 for the Dacia Duster, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 144,404 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Volkswagen T-Roc	Dacia Duster
3–5 years	106Above average	92Well below average
6–9 years	108Well above average	89Well below average
10–14 years	–	86Well below average
15+ years	–	–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Volkswagen T-Roc	Dacia Duster
2021	91.8%	83.9%
2020	91.9%	80.2%
2019	90.7%	75.3%
2018	89.2%	73.9%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Volkswagen T-Roc	Dacia Duster
Lights & electrics	1.4	18.8
Tyres	4.4	5.5
Brakes	1.8	7.9
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	1.8	6.4
Suspension	0.2	4.9
Body & chassis	0.1	3.1
Emissions & leaks	0.5	1.9
Steering	0.0	2.3

Volkswagen T-Roc: top failures

Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.4%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.1%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.1%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed0.5%
Headlamp aim: too high0.4%

Dacia Duster: top failures

Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.5%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.7%
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.5%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1.7%
Headlamp aim: too low1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen T-Roc or the Dacia Duster?

The Volkswagen T-Roc does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 90 for the Dacia Duster, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Volkswagen T-Roc and Dacia Duster can be compared?

Both were tested for 4 registration years (2018–2021). The Volkswagen T-Roc had the higher pass rate in 4 of them and the Dacia Duster in 0.

What fails most on each?

Volkswagen T-Roc: tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dacia Duster: headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.