WHEN things come at an unfeasibly cheap price there's usually a snag - unless you happen to be Primark.

The Irish clothing retailer may not sell cars but there's an auto maker selling a new supermini from

£5,995 and, perhaps more amazingly, a full-blown SUV for 9,495.

The company is called Dacia and if you don't know the name, well it's the self-styled ‘shockingly affordable' brand from Romania that's now wholly owned by Renault.

Basically, Dacia offers a car in one class for the price of one from the class below and most of its customers are people who tend to buy used rather than new.

In reality, that means most of us, and with the Duster 4x4 you can nab an entry grade Access model for £11,495.

And we aren't talking soft-roader here either. This is a genuine 4x4 that uses proven Renault-Nissan alliance all-wheel drive technology.

Head off-road and there's a selectable three-mode system that lets you switch from 2WD drive to Auto or Lock to suit the conditions, using a control on the centre console.

You're nowhere near Land Rover territory but there's sufficient ability to cope with quagmire rural conditions short of the Somerset Levels.

What doesn't bring out the best in the Duster is everyday pottering, mainly because it's gearing seems all wrong.

The car doesn't like travelling in low gear even at slow speeds, to the point that 40mph in fourth finds the engine screaming for mercy at 3,500 revs.

Making matters worse is a rubbery shift during which you often find yourself inadvertently selecting the wrong gear.

Drive close to the speed limit on fast roads though and the Duster feels much more at ease.

Standard kit, particularly at the most basic Access grades, is minimal - you don't even get a radio, but there is a raised driving position, adequate interior space for five and a good size boot.

This model featured a 1.6-litre petrol engine with six-speed manual transmission and not much punch. It's okay close to the speed limit on faster roads, but takes an age to get there. Fuel economy could be better too.

But if you don't need to buzz from place to place and aren't fussed about having the most up to date technology then the Duster makes a pretty compelling case.