We review the Dacia Duster from price to economy and all its features

THIS is a real head-turner - the public will be wondering what the hell you are driving as you bumble past.

I've not seen many on the roads over here yet, but there is something about the Duster that I guarantee will catch people's attention - the price tag! With prices starting at £9,495, what you get here is a genuinely cheep option - a family crossover for less than a Smartcar.

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Different... Dacia Duster

If you're buying for practicality it probably offers more space than the Qashqai

What's more, the basic model is the pick of the bunch. They are made in a factory in Chennai, India, primarily out of Renault and Nissan parts, so I don't see an awful lot to trip you up.

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Cheap... Dodgy interior

Need more convincing? If you're buying for practicality it probably offers more space than the Qashqai and there aren't many things a family of four couldn't squeeze in this boot.

I congratulate any company trying to make family driving more affordable, and Dacia is doing it successfully at the moment, but don't buy anything other than the basic model because above that price point you would be better buying a higher quality motor second-hand.

That means don't expect loads of toys. We've got electric mirrors, automatic door locking and a USB stick, even a radio in this higher spec model we're testing. My tip? Simply ignore the option list and save your money.

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Loud... The Darcia has a noisy engine

It's a cheap looking interior - if they make many of these there won't be a lot of plastic left in the world - but you buy this car with your eyes open.

If you are desperate for a new crossover on a very tight budget then this is the vehicle for you

On the road it's like a jet engine taking off - not for speed, but sound. The amount of noise in the cabin would start to frustrate on a long journey when the engine's working hard.

Put your foot down and it takes ages to respond. It's more grind than grunt, the gearbox is clunky, the clutch is heavy, the steering vague and the ride is poor but please keep on reminding yourself it only cost a few thousand.

My major issue with this as a family car is it only received a three-star NCAP safety rating. Although Dacia said the wrong model was tested, and it did score highly on child safety, this concerns me. As a new dad, and given it's 2014, safety cannot be compromised in any way. So reassure yourself on this point before you fork out.

It lacks polish but if you are desperate for a new crossover on a very tight budget then this is the vehicle for you.