Andy Heiron, Dacia brand manager in the UK, admits that “price is the hook” for the Duster Commercial, but insists customers will benefit from “a practical and functional vehicle”.

The LCV offering is powered solely by a 107hp 1.5-litre dCi 110 diesel engine that comes in two trim levels – Ambiance and Laureate – and in 4×2 and 4×4 drive formats.

Official economy figures are 56.5mpg with CO2 of 130g/km for the 4×2, and 54.3mpg and 137g/km for the 4×4. Prices go from £9595 for the Ambiance 4×2 to £12,545 for the Laureate 4×4, all excluding VAT.

The 4×2 has a load volume of 1.15m3 while the 4×4’s drops to 1.0m3. Both have a payload of 550kg and a flat cargo deck that’s 1400mm long and measures 1000mm between the wheel arches.

Standard kit includes roof bars, a toughened plastic floor with two anchorage points, electric front windows, MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth, aux and USB sockets, ABS with emergency brake assist, electronic stability control and traction control, and four airbags.

We drove a Laureate 4×4, which comes with a wealth of kit for a budget model, including alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, and cruise control with a speed limiter.

Unfortunately, in-cab storage facilities are only adequate, while there is a slightly flimsy feel to the doors and you may have misgivings about the durability of the fixtures and fittings over time. Once on the road, however, the Duster Commercial is civilised and well-mannered.

The steering is light, but precise rather than skittish, and the six manual gears are well-spaced and easy to engage, making for relaxing progress around city streets. When you break out onto a faster stretch of road, though, the engine tends to rev highly and squeal disapprovingly as you work up through the changes. But once in top gear the Duster bowls along contentedly enough.

Finally, the loadbay seems more capacious from inside than would appear possible from outside.