Dacia Sandero hatchback (2012 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

It’s true that the Sandero won’t win any prizes for its design – harsh critics might even dismiss it as bland – but by the same token, it’s smart and inoffensive. The boxy lines have something of the old Fiat Punto about them, but it’s worth noting that no models have alloy wheels as standard: they are options (albeit very affordable ones) only on Ambiance and Laurates trims. It’s also worthy noting that, if the Sandero is a little too restrained for you, Dacia has an answer – the Sandero Stepway. This is effectively the same car as the Sandero hatchback, but with an SUV-style makeover, including raised ride height, extra bodykit (front and rear scuff plates and black wheelarch extensions) and roof rails.

Our rating: 3

2. Interior

Like the exterior, the interior of the Sandero is smart and modern, if nothing to write home about. It’s all rather black on the most basic model, but if you go for more expensive trim levels, things smarten up a little, with chrome surrounds on the dials and air vents. It’s true that the materials don’t have the same feeling of quality that you would find in some other similarly sized cars, but for the price, it’s more than adequate.

Our rating: 3

3. Practicality

The Sandero is priced at the same level as city cars, but it offers as much space as superminis – and big superminis at that. There’s head- and legroom to spare in the front seats – even if the driver is six-foot tall – and you’ll easily get another couple of adults in the back seats; three at a push. Access, too, is very easy, thanks to the large rear doors, while the boot is also an impressive size, bigger than what you’ll find in the Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa.

Our rating: 4

4. Ride and handling

The Sandero is a little way behind class-leaders like the Ford Fiesta in the way it drives, but not as far as you might expect. True, it can’t smother the worst lumps and bumps, but it copes well with most of the challenges the roads can throw at it; and, what movement there is in the body is well controlled. If there is a complaint, it’s that – although you don’t feel all the bumps – you do tend to hear the suspension going about its job. Likewise, the steering is a little disappointing: it has no feeling through the wheel and is vague around the straight-ahead position. On the other hand, it does make it easy to manoeuvre in town.

Our rating: 3

5. Performance

So far, we have only driven one engine in the Sandero, the three-cylinder 0.9-litre TCe petrol unit. It has the thrum that’s typical of three-cylinder units and a relatively modest 90bhp, but it performs more strongly than the figures suggest. On paper, it gets to 60mph in a decidedly leisurely 11.1 seconds, but in the real world, it’s the ready pull from low revs that you appreciate rather than its flat-out pace. There’s more than enough power to whisk you around town and keep up with A-road traffic without having to work it too hard. Only on motorway inclines will you find you need to drop down a gear from time to time, but a bigger problem is the lack of refinement, with too much wind noise.

Our rating: 3

6. Running costs

Naturally, it’s the purchase price that grabs all the headlines, and rightly so. This is the UK’s cheapest car – significantly less than models from other so-called ‘budget’ brands, such as Kia, Hyundai and Chevrolet – but that’s only half of the story. Such low purchase prices mean depreciation is not a huge issue – even if you throw the car away when you’ve finished with it, you can’t lose more than £10,000 – while all the engines promise good fuel economy. The diesel-engined models even emit less than 100g/km CO2, making them exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge, while some models are in insurance group 2.

Our rating: 5

7. Reliability

Dacia may be an unknown brand in the UK, but its cars are based on proven Renault technology. What’s more, in 2011, the brand was voted the most reliable in Europe in a poll of some 30,000 drivers. In short, we don’t expect any problems from the Sandero, but for anyone who doesn’t share our faith, longer warranties are available, extending the standard three years’ cover to five or seven.

Our rating: 4

8. Safety

The Sandero was not expected to score more than three stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, so its four-star rating comes as a very pleasant surprise. The testers said that the passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal impact, and it was only in the more severe side pole test that protection for any part of the dummy was ‘weak’. For the price, its standard kit is not too bad, including stability control, as well as twin front and side airbags, but curtain airbags are not available, even as options.

Our rating: 3

9. Equipment

As you might only expect, the most basic trim – Access – is very basic. There’s no radio as standard, you’ll be winding the windows up and down manually, and it’s only available in one colour – white. Ambiance is not much dearer, but brings a host of desirable kit, including electric front windows, remote central locking, Bluetooth and a CD stereo with Aux and USB inputs. You also get a smarter interior, with chrome rings around the air vents and dials. Stepping up to the top Laureate trim adds a height-adjustable driver’s seat, air-con, all-round electric windows, cruise control and rear parking sensors. To cap it all, even the options are affordable: an integrated touch-screen sat-nav system is just £250, for example.

Our rating: 4

10. Why buy?

The Sandero is a car that you might expect us to recommend solely for financial reasons; and, while the price is a huge attraction, there’s a lot more to it than that. In its own right, it’s a very decent car, but when you see how little you have to spend to get so much, it’s an astonishing package.

Our rating: 4