Fine performer and surprisingly agile, but cheaper and more refined 1.3 makes more sense.

What’s new?All Doblos get a restyled front end, swapping the fussy headlights and black plastic bumpers of old for a simpler, more contemporary look.There’s also an upgraded interior and minor suspension tweaks, plus every engine in the Doblo line-up has either been replaced or reworked.Sitting at the top of the pile is a new Euro 4-compliant 120bhp 1.9-litre turbodiesel with Multijet injection.What’s it like?The range-topping turbodiesel provides a useful step-up in performance over the other diesel engines and, despite having exactly the same amount of torque as before, it never feels out of breath when hauling heavy loads.There’s quite a lot of diesel clatter on start-up, but things improve once you’re up to cruising speed. The Doblo is also surprisingly agile and composed given its boxy shape, although there’s a lot of wind noise on the motorway.Should I buy one?Possibly. The Doblo is spacious, and if you’re considering the seven-seater Family model and regularly travel long distances then the new 120bhp Multijet engine makes a lot of sense.Most people, however, will find the 85bhp of the upgraded 1.3-litre Multijet sufficient. It’s not only expected to be almost £2000 cheaper than the flagship 1.9, but it is also more refined. 

Matt Prior

Matt Prior
Title: Editor-at-large

Matt is Autocar’s lead features writer and presenter, is the main face of Autocar’s YouTube channel, presents the My Week In Cars podcast and has written his weekly column, Tester’s Notes, since 2013.

Matt is an automotive engineer who has been writing and talking about cars since 1997. He joined Autocar in 2005 as deputy road test editor, prior to which he was road test editor and world rally editor for Channel 4’s automotive website, 4Car. 

Into all things engineering and automotive from any era, Matt is as comfortable regularly contributing to sibling titles Move Electric and Classic & Sports Car as he is writing for Autocar. He has a racing licence, and some malfunctioning classic cars and motorbikes. 

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