Overall rating:

The automotive equivalent of denim jeans, the Dacia Logan MCV estate is inexpensive, practical and robust, it's also dirt cheap

Key Facts

Model tested: Dacia Logan MCV Laureate TCe 90
Pricing: £9,795
Engine: 898cc three-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: front-wheel drive, five-speed manual
Body style: five-door estate
Rivals: SEAT Ibiza ST, Skoda Fabia Estate
CO₂ emissions: 116g/km
Combined economy: 56.5mpg
Top speed: 109mph
0-62mph: 11.1 seconds
Power: 90hp at 5,250 rpm
Torque: 135Nm at 2,500rpm

In the Metal:

With its lines dictated by the need for inexpensive production rather than the whim of a designer the Dacia Logan MCV isn't exactly dripping in stylistic flair. The Sandero-aping front panels with its simple grille and headlights are the only stand-out feature in truth, the flanks largely featureless and flat, though the lower portion features a pressing to help break up the large expanse of bodywork. This Laureate edition gains body-coloured door mirrors and handles, 15-inch alloy wheels and a chrome front grille.

Inside, it's similarly functional; the plastics feel and look tough. The Logan's interior is more about durability than desirability. There are flat seats and very little glitz, though this range-topper gets some graphite and chrome trim pieces and a leather gear knob and steering wheel, but the cabin's most appealing attribute is the space. Four adults could be comfortable in there, while the rear is massive. MCV in the Logan's name stands for Maximum Capacity Vehicle. The 573-litre boot is extendable to 1518 litres, while a folding front passenger seatback allows the Logan MCV to swallow even the lengthiest of loads.

Driving it:

Assessing the Logan MCV by the same criteria we might any other new car isn't really relevant here, as the Logan is bought by people who simply couldn't care less about its dynamics. It does the basics - it goes, stops and steers- but it's unremarkable in every way. It's quiet enough, though wring the three-cylinder diesel out and it's vocal. Road noise is not too terrible and wind noise - at the sort of speeds you're likely to reach - is okay, too. There's some boom in the cabin thanks to all that space and hard surfaces, but it's difficult to be overly critical given the Logan's brief, and price point.

The suspension does what it can to keep everything in check, but body roll and pitch will come into play if you ask too much of it in bends or at speed. Still, that does make for a half decent ride on our pock-marked roads. The cabin is functional due to its utter simplicity, though throw Dacia a few hundred quid more and you can have an integrated touch-screen satnav system.

The three-cylinder turbodiesel engine delivers 90hp, which isn't going to set any speed records, but neither will it hold up traffic. It needs a fair amount of revs to make progress though, and it's not going to feel any faster with a full complement of passengers or with that sizeable boot fully loaded. Adequate, then, and nothing more.

What you get for your Money:

The £9,795 price you pay for this 90hp diesel model in Laureate trim is on the more expensive spectrum of the Dacia Logan MCV range so comes fairly comprehensively equipped. There's Bluetooth connectivity, alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, remote central locking and smarter interior and exterior styling elements. If you can do without these, and opt for the 1.2-litre petrol Access model, you can have a new Logan MCV for just £6,995. You can pay for a longer five-year/60,000-mile warranty for £395, or seven years and 100,000 miles for £850.

Worth Noting

While the Logan MCV is a lot of new metal for your money, it is of course possible to buy a used car from a more established brand for similar cash. The Euro NCAP score of four stars might not be as good as more expensive new cars, but with NCAP's standards becoming ever stricter, a four-star car will provide similar levels of protection to an older five-star recipient.

Summary

Spacious and new, the Dacia Logan MCV is not a remarkable machine to drive, but as transport goes it doesn't get more honest, and there's something refreshingly appealing about that.