Dacia Duster performance is on a par with its rivals. It was launched with just one petrol and one diesel engine, but a second petrol has since been added to the line-up.

Petrols

The 115hp 1.6-litre petrol engine is adequate for most jobs and even in fifth gear it pulls well. Figures are relative for this size of car and it will complete the zero to 62mph sprint in 11.0 seconds. You’ll need to change down a gear or two and keep the revs high when overtaking at speed, but 156Nm of torque should be enough for most situations.

The turbocharged 1.2-litre TCe 125 engine has 10hp more than the SCe 115 and a useful 205Nm of torque. It’ll also go from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds, so it’s the one to go for if you want the most performance out of the Duster.

One diesel choice

The 1.5-litre dCi diesel is a tried-and-tested engine found elsewhere in the Renault range, as well as various Nissan models. Its 110hp and 260Nm of torque help get it to 62mph in 11.8 seconds from a standstill, although the 4×4 version is slightly slower at 12.4 seconds.

Gearboxes

The SCe 115 comes with a five-speed manual gearbox only, while the TCe 125 and dCi 110 come with six-speed ‘boxes. The sole automatic – a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox called EDC – is only available on the two-wheel drive diesel, and it’s a smooth and economical combination.

The Dacia Duster is never going to attract enthusiastic drivers – it is not a car for those that enjoy B-road blasts of an evening. If you need four-wheel drive and want a car that will make you smile, then you should buy a MINI Countryman. When cornering, the Dacia Duster has a fair amount of body-roll through corners and the driving experience is also hampered by the slow and vague steering.

However, on the up side the ride is comfortable. The Duster soaks up most bumps meaning rear seat passengers should give the Dacia the thumbs up.