ARE you someone who essentially regards a car as a means of getting from A to B?Do you appreciate a bargain?

Do you question the sanity of people who spend ‘silly money' on the latest must have motor?Do you require your car to have a fair measure of practicality and be able to fulfil the needs and demands of a family?

If you've answered yes to all these questions (or even some of them) then the Dacia Logan is one model that fits the bill.

Essentially it's perfectly good family estate car that could set you back less than £10,000. Yes - less than £10,000.

While it's some distance from being the most fashionable estate car on the market it's well put together, has a decent and versatile engine and is far from being poor quality.

Renault has breathed new life into Romanian marque Dacia since taking it over in 2004 and seems to have found a niche in the market as a budget brand.

Combining traditional Eastern European affordability with Renault's experience and economies of scale it seems to be a formula for success.

It's hard to believe but true that in many cases Dacias are around half the price of cars they could be considered to be competing against.

Of course they have their limitations but when it comes to value for money they really are out on their own.

The Logan MCV is an estate car - the MCV stands for maximum capacity vehicle - and it's more than capable of fulfilling the needs of a family.

The model range starts at just under £7,000 for a 1.2-litre entry level petrol-powered Access model, though it's worth stressing that come with basic features such as electric windows and a radio, but move up the range and familiar creatures comfort and more besides are included.

Models higher up the range come with all the bells and whistles one might expect, like daytime running lights, metallic paint, cruise control, alloy wheels and a MediaNav Evolution seven-inch touchscreen multimedia system, though even a higher-specced Logan still has a basic kind of feel to it.

There are four trim levels, Access, Ambiance, Laureate and Laureate Prime. This Ambiance - one step-up from the most basic model, is reasonably well equipped.

You get remote central locking with an anti-intruder automatic locking system, an ECO mode plus engine stop/start, hill start assist, front foglights, rear parking sensors, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, a boot light and an MP3-compatible radio/CD player with an AUX input and Bluetooth. To be fair the stereo is actually pretty decent.

The Logan has a huge boot (573 litres) and with the rear seats folded down it's a veritable van (1,518 litres) but it would perhaps benefit from offering those travelling in the rear a little more legroom.

Like all Dacias a large proportion of its components are also used on Renault vehicles too - look closely and you'll even see the badging, meaning there's not that much compromising in terms of quality, even if hard plastics do predominate.

In addition the Logan is actually a decent enough car to drive too and while the suspension is a little spongy at times it rather strangely contributes to a comfortable ride. The handling is okay, though there is a noticeable bit of body roll on occasion.