The first car to go on sale (for pre-order) is called Duster and deliveries will begin in January 2013.
Duster is a Qashqai-sized SUV, available in two- and four-wheel drive versions, and which retails for an incredibly low €14,990!
Power comes from a 110bhp, 1.5-litre, tax band 'B', dCi diesel engine that can be found in many Renaults and Nissans.
Dacia says the retail price for the entry level two-wheel drive version is 40% less than Nissan's biggest selling Qashqai.
A brief test at the weekend on an off-road and green lane route in Wicklow demonstrated how capable the new car is.
Dacia will be sold through nine dealerships in Ireland that have strong Renault connections.
Dacia will deliver more cars to the market shortly, with the Sandero hatchback next, followed by an estate and then a cross-over version of the Sandero in 2013.
Duster is a handsome looking SUV that offers a massive amount of square footage for the asking price. There are some optional extras, but only a few – this is back-to-basics motoring at its best.
Finance at €149 per month is available over three years via Renault finance.
A three-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty is standard, with a five-year optional extension for an additional €549.
Dacia wants 3 to 4% of the Irish market in the next three years and is targeting customers that would have never considered a new car - and at €15,000 they will certainly get a few.
And no, before you ask and to my mild surprise, the car didn't fall apart after the off-road course, where it managed to perform very well on its road tyres. A full road test is yet to come.
