Auto Express has named the Dacia Duster as the best small 4x4 currently on sale in the UK, with the Land Rover brand failing to secure a place in the top three. The ranking, compiled by the motoring experts, highlights the Duster's comfort, space, and well-designed interior, describing it as "genuinely desirable."
Top Three Small 4x4s
The Dacia Duster took first place, praised for its family-friendly practicality and off-road capability. Auto Express noted, "We’re fans of the Dacia Duster here at Auto Express because few cars offer the same combination of family-friendly practicality and off-road capability. It’s such a competitive offering that we couldn’t help but crown the Dacia Duster as our Small SUV of the Year in 2024."
Second place went to the all-electric Volvo EX30 P8 AWD, priced at £42,360. It was commended for its performance, efficiency, and comfortable, stylish interior. However, reviewers criticized its "fiddly" infotainment system and described the Cross Country variant as "fairly pointless."
Third place was awarded to the Toyota GR Yaris, priced at £46,196. Reviewers praised its real-world usability, styling, and punchy power delivery, but noted a stiff ride, high price, and awkward rear seats. They added, "The rear seats will feel a little on the cramped side for taller passengers, but for short journeys it shouldn’t be much of an issue. The 174-litre boot is on the small side though, so don’t expect to carry much more than a light shop."
Wide Variety of Choices
The top three highlight the wide variety of four-wheel-drive cars available, catering to different driving preferences, budgets, and powertrains. The list includes vehicles from various manufacturers, but Land Rover, Toyota, and Volvo did not claim the top spot.
New Hybrid Powertrain for Dacia
Earlier this year, Dacia announced that the Bigster and Duster family SUVs will gain the option of a new hybrid powertrain later this year. Both models will be available with a new 'hybrid 150' engine, which shares many components with the current 'hybrid 130' unit found on the Duster. The new setup uses a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine mated to front and rear-mounted electric motors to create all-wheel drive. It produces a total of 148bhp and up to 317Nm of torque, while all cars come as standard with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
