1.0 TCe 100 Bi-Fuel Essential

Underrated bargain workhorse, with a great engine.

I needed a family car that was cheap to run, could take loads of gear for the kids and had the security of a manufacturer warranty.

The Dacia Logan ticks all these boxes. It's a utility car - not a status symbol nor overcompensating for something. I like it all the better for that.

Sure, its basic and won't win any design awards, but it's actually simple and clearly laid out inside. The ride is old-school comfortable - the kids prefer it to our "nicer car". There's space for everything and it's remarkably well screwed together.

The engine is a cracker - running on either LPG or petrol. It's powerful enough for long motorway runs or when fully loaded, and actually pretty decent around town. A full tank of LPG is about £20, from which you get 300 miles. Combined with a full tank of petrol, this car could do 800 miles before bothering a forecourt again. It makes a nice, non-intrusive 3 cylinder noise too.

I think there's something reassuring about a family car with big balloon tyres that can charge through Britain's terrible potholes without frightening your bank manager, and go for the basic white colour like I did so when your kids bang the door open onto a stone wall (which they will), you can touch up the paint with Tippex.

New big, comfy car for about the cost of a big shop every month? Happy days.

Report as offensive