SINCE launching here in January 2013 Dacia's low-price, no-frills approach has struck a real chord with car buyers in austerity-era Britain.

After posting record-breaking figures in 2014, the brand's popularity has continued to increase, with first-half sales this year of 14,465 vehicles - up 11.5 per cent on last year and yet again outpacing the overall car market, which rose by seven per cent.

With a massive 96 percent of those sales so far this year going to private buyers, it's clear that Dacia is a big hit with cash-strapped families.

The Sandero hatchback has been the most popular model to date in a limited range, but the Duster has also played a significant role in the success story.

You are, after all, getting a spacious, family-friendly SUV for less than the price of some city cars and most superminis - if you're happy to make a few compromises.

Available with two and four-wheel drive and three trim levels it certainly looks the part with raised suspension, bulging wheel arches, a muscular grille, big headlights and prominent roof rails all ticking the right SUV design boxes.

Power comes from a choice of two engines, both tried and trusted performers in parent company Renault's vehicles - a 1.6-litre 105bhp petrol unit in entry-level Access models and a 1.5-litre diesel delivering 107bhp in two-wheel drive versions like mine or 109bhp in four-wheel-drive.

The dCi 110 is, in fact, Renault's best selling diesel power pack and proves lively in the relatively lightweight Duster.

Paired with a versatile six-speed manual transmission, it does sound a bit agricultural under hard acceleration but offers plenty of grunt across a wide range and some decent throttle response.

Handling is surprisingly nimble and the ride pretty comfortable as the suspension does a good job of ironing out any imperfections in the road surface.

The pay off for the comfortable set-up and extra ride height is a little body roll in bends, but not to an excessive extent.

There is plenty of space inside too, with ample room for five and good leg and headroom all round, while the boot, at 475 litres puts many more expensive rivals in the shade.

Dacia strongly refutes any suggestion that the Duster's low price means any compromise in safety. It only achieved three out of five stars in the Euro-NCAP crash tests but the manufacturer insists this was largely due to the model tested not having electronic stability control - which is fitted on UK cars.

But at this price point something has to give and it is cabin quality and creature comforts where the Duster's bargain basement credentials are most evident.

There is not a soft-touch surface in sight in the interior, where the dashboard and every other panel is formed from hard, scratchy plastics.

Air conditioning is only available on range-topping Laureate versions, only the front windows are electric, you'll have to adjust the wing mirrors manually and it's surprising how much you miss something as simple as a clock in the dashboard when it's not there.

There is an early-nineties feel about it all that you'd normally only expect in an entry-level city car or work vehicle these days.

That said, the utilitarian approach does mean that all the controls are clear and simple to use - some might even find the lack of bewildering, high-tech instruments quite refreshing.

What you do get with mid-range Ambiance trim is body-coloured bumpers, front fog lights and a basic radio/CD player with Bluetooth and USB connectivity.