Remember the old Ladas and Wartburg Knights and more recently the Daewoos?

They were all affordable cars which made a virtue of being plain and simple. They were affordable cars for ordinary folk and they sold in reasonable numbers.

Some people I know even miss the old Ladas for they were solid, dependable and easy to work on.

Now we like to think we live in a more sophisticated age so it will be interesting to see how Dacia gets on. That’s right Dacia, pronounced Darcher, is a modern day affordable car.

Built in Romania, it’s now owned by Renault who have big plans for the marque. Some say it will ‘save’ Renault. Certainly, it will give the company a boost if it sells in the numbers expected.

Dacias have been here a little while and I must say I’m surprised not to see more on the roads. Dacias are good, especially the Duster tested here. It costs from under £9,000 and makes ‘affordable’ models like the Kia Sportage seem a tad expensive.

I expect once people get over the car badge snobbery they will become a common sight. Dacia has lots of qualities and is certainly worth considering.

Duster, tested here, costs from £8,995 and even in this flagship form, costs less than £15,000. Not bad for a car which ticks all the boxes. The Duster Laureate dCi 110 is a proper 4x4 unlike the cheaper versions which are two-wheeled-drive affairs. It’s also very well equipped with power steering, immobiliser, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric windows, airbags, MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity and luggage space for up to 1,570 litres.

In short, I don’t think you can get much more for your money.

Lifestyle SUVs are plentiful these days but affordable, they aren’t. Most are increasingly car-like in their appearance and on-road performance. The Duster retains a chunky-looking, purposeful exterior of a traditional 4x4 but with enough curves to look good.

The emphasis might be on modest performance and equipment levels, but there’s nothing cheap about the Duster. Low power petrol and diesel engines are offered (1.6 litre, 105bhp petrol and 1.5 litre, 110bhp diesel), plus the choice of front or four-wheel drive. The switchable all-wheel drive system allows a driver to choose between front-drive, an auto-sensing mode and a locked up 4x4 setting.

Factor in three trim levels and there’s little else you might want from a standard Duster. Well, apart from air-con, a stereo and alloy wheels. Yes, this is how Dacia can price the Duster so low. If you want these comforts you’re going to have to pick the middle spec. Still, even if you opt for the flagship Duster, you’re not even close to high-spec Skoda Yeti money.

Despite the popularity of Skoda’s compact lifestyle SUV, not everyone wants plush upholstery and highly polished cabin trim in a car that’s destined to be a rough and tumble family holdall or workhorse utility vehicle. And in this respect the Duster trumps its well-established rivals.

The car’s interior looks and feels tough thanks to sensible trim and material choices, although it retains an easy-on-the-eye appearance. Familiar Renault switchgear rounds off the driver-centric side of things, while the Duster’s cabin is a good size and easily capable of accommodating a growing family.

Move rearwards and the car’s boot is equally capacious and the ability to fold the rear seats for extra load capacity is a detail that won’t be lost on active families.

By now only someone spoilt by sat-nav and climate control could find fault with the Duster. In Dacia’s defence it’s all about knowing your audience and, so far, the firm has pretty much nailed it. On the move there’s a similar feeling of accomplishment. While neither engine is bursting with excess horsepower, brisk progress is possible.

The petrol engine might be a little quieter than the diesel alternative but it’s the latter that scores the highest in terms of flexibility and economy. Those attributes alone should have anyone considering using the Duster as a family workhorse to plump for the oil burner.

In the real world it steers and stops just as well, and with the age of the high-rise hatchback truly upon us there’s much to be said for a lofty driving position and good ground clearance. Furthermore, compliant suspension and accurate steering put to rest any notion that low cost equals lack of talent.

By taking a common sense, low frills approach to motoring, Dacia has won many friends and satisfied owners in mainland Europe. Duster is proof that, even in the fashion-led world of lifestyle SUVs, you can succeed with a model which makes all its rivals look expensive.

 

Dacia Duster Laureate dCi 110 4x4

PRICE: £14,995. This is the flagship. Duster starts at £8,995
ENGINE: 1.5-litre diesel unit developing 110bhp via six-speed manual transmission as standard, driving all four wheels through part-time 4x4 system
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 104mph, 0 to 60mph in 12.5 seconds
COSTS: average 55.3mpg
EMISSIONS: 137g/km
INSURANCE: Group 13
WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles