Dacia is about to unleash a new generation of low-cost cars to the UK market and we've got behind the wheel of the new Dacia Duster to see if it feels, well, cheap. Cheap is a word Dacia is keen to avoid with its UK range. Instead the Romanian, Renault-owned car maker has gone for the term 'shockingly affordable' in its marketing material. This is entirely accurate; the new Dacia Duster costs less than £9,000 for an entry-level model which is on par with a city car or budget supermini - think stripped back Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa. Except the Duster is actually an SUV with bulky design, five-seats and the availability of a 4x4 option amongst its variations. Shockingly affordable indeed, and that entry-level price is coupled with a potential seven-year warranty to entice buyers. Never before has a new car attacked the used car market with such gusto, but Dacia believes the recession-hit UK is ready for a new car that anybody with a spare £10k can afford. Pre-orders are up to four figures in the UK and the first deliveries of the car will begin in January from 127 different dealerships. A couple of months before launch we got behind the wheel of a left-hand drive version of the Duster to see how it fares. Inside the Dacia Duster The main question from buyers will be simple; does the Dacia Duster feel like a car where corners have been cut? In short, the answer is no. The 2013 Dacia Duster will never feel like a luxury car or even a more premium offering such as the Mazda CX-5 but it does feel solid enough inside. The plastic dash, cloth upholstery and uncluttered, simple instrument panel will not excite but it won't have you worrying about bits falling off either. Some of the switch gear and other instruments are lifted straight from parent company Renault and the interior looks and feels very much of that ilk - which is no bad thing for such a low price. A longer test drive may possibly reveal some failing with the interior but from an initial drive it felt solid enough to cope with family life and Renault's backing, along with that impressive warranty, means we can be optimistic about the long-term quality of the car. Dacia Duster equipment Standard equipment is, as you would expect, fairly basic. Entry-level Access models come with roof bars, power-assisted steering, electric front windows and a folding set of back seats. There's no radio, CD player or air conditioning in Dacia Duster Access models but they at least come with anti-lock braking system, driver, passenger and front side airbags and automatic locking for added safety and security. The majority of buyers will go for the mid-range Ambiance trim, which adds radio, CD player, Bluetooth, fog lights and a split-folding back seat combination. However, Electronic Stability Control, which helps cars stay upright around corners and is a necessity across the range to secure a top five-star safety rating, is still only available as an option on Ambiance models. At the top of the range the grandly-named Laureate trim adds a touch of leather to the steering wheel, alloy wheels, air conditioning and electric rear windows - while prices remain at around £13,000 for two-wheel drive versions. Dacia Duster first drive We drove a 4x4 version of the car; a £15,000 Laureate range-topper with all the trimmings, and were instantly impressed with the feel of the car. You can get a 4x4 version of the Duster for under £12,000 and, although it doesn't have all of the little details of a standard SUV, on-the-road it is a very good car. With Renault engines and a Nissan drivetrain the Duster is surprisingly supple and fun to drive. This is helped by compact dimensions, Renault says it matches the Megane in terms of width and length, and tight steering coupled with pliable suspension. In fact, the 4x4 system offers a drive that is equal to any mainstream SUV on the road today and is sure to be the main selling point - after the price - of this car. The engine range is limited to just two units; a 1.6-litre 105bhp petrol and a 1.5-litre 110bhp diesel. The former falls towards the top end of the SUV market in terms of running costs but the diesel is affordable with just 130g/km of CO2 emissions (137g/km in 4x4 versions) and 56.3mpg. Should I buy a Dacia Duster? Going into a first drive as a sceptic has quickly turned into admiration for a car that will not win many beauty prizes. A drab exterior, albeit with traditional SUV styling including a chunky front end and raised ground clearance, gives way to an impressively-put-together interior. At all times the Duster feels like a more expensive car and on-the-road it is the equal of its Renault counterparts. At just £8,995 for entry-level models and with the option of a superb warranty, the Dacia Duster is a car you should be considering, particularly if you are looking for a potentially more polluting used SUV for around the same price. The Dacia Duster will go on sale in the UK in January 2013 but pre-orders are available now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZfS1uu7bpM
