Brace yourselves badge snobs, you’re in for a shock. You see, we’ve simply pushed the all-new second-generation Dacia Sandero and it’s one thing of a revelation.
Priced from simply £7,995, the Sandero remains to be the UK’s most inexpensive new automobile, but the most recent model sports activities recent new seems, a bounce in high quality, extra tech and it drives surprisingly nicely.
What’s extra, it provides supermini area for considerably lower than the most affordable metropolis automobile available on the market, plus low depreciation.
Primarily based on the identical platform because the spectacular Renault Clio (the French automobile big has owned Romania’s Dacia model since 1999), it’s no shock that the Sandero is a much-improved automobile.
The form could also be acquainted, however it’s a lot sharper than the outgoing mannequin with horizontal Y-shaped daytime working lights that move into the chrome bars of Dacia’s company grille, a moulded bonnet and new tail lamps.
It’s each longer and wider than its predecessor, which has boosted area contained in the cabin and within the boot. There’s now 328 litres of baggage area (1,108 litres with the again seats folded) and there’s loads of room within the rear for grownup passengers.
As earlier than, you possibly can select between the usual Sandero or the Sandero Stepway which has a extra rugged look, a raised journey peak and intelligent roof rails which cleverly convert right into a roof rack to hold masses as much as 80kg.
The Sandero is best geared up too. Entry-level Entry fashions include LED headlights, entrance electrical home windows and a telephone docking station. Mid-range Important positive factors air-conditioning, cruise management and distant central locking, whereas the range-topping Consolation will get electrical rear home windows and an 8.0-inch central infotainment touchscreen.
The cabin typically is extra interesting than earlier than, however it’s nonetheless pretty primary with onerous plastic surfaces. That mentioned, the seats are snug, the driving place is sweet (keep away from Entry trim which has no height-adjustable driver’s seat), whereas visibility is common for its class.
Powered by a spread of three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engines of various outputs (64bhp and 80bhp), plus a 99bhp Bi-Gasoline possibility which might run on liquefied petroleum fuel (LPG) in addition to common unleaded and is able to greater than 800 miles of vary when each tanks are full.
We tried the Bi-Gasoline Sandero in top-grade Consolation specification, which is able to as much as 52.3 mpg (petrol) or 39.8mpg (utilizing LPG which is round half the value of unleaded).
Emissions are 123g/km for the petrol engine and 109g/km when working on fuel. With a 0-62mph time of 11.6 seconds, it’s no sizzling hatch, however fairly satisfactory for on a regular basis driving. It’s additionally easy and refined for its measurement.
It comes with a six-speed handbook gearbox (the bottom degree 64bhp engine solely will get a five-speeder), which works nicely. The journey isn’t essentially the most subtle, however it’s completely snug, whereas the dealing with consists, if on the gentle facet.
We additionally examined the Sandero Stepway in top-of-the-range Status trim, which got here with an 89bhp petrol engine and six-speed CVT computerized gearbox.
For us, the bigger-selling Stepway variant doesn’t simply win on seems, however it additionally provides a extra partaking drive. The automated gearbox is simply the job, particularly for simple metropolis driving, and it provides gasoline economic system of as much as 45.6mpg with CO2 emissions as little as 139g/km.
So, the truth is that regardless of its headline-grabbing entry-level worth level, there are many causes to keep away from the smaller engines and decrease specs, that means your finish buy is prone to price between £10-15,000.
Nonetheless, even in that worth bracket, the Sandero siblings simply undercut different (base-level) superminis.
The one fly within the ointment is with regards to security. Euro NCAP awarded the Sandero a disappointing two stars out of 5.
Among the many criticisms was that the automobile’s radar-only Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) system reacts to different autos, however lacks the potential to stop crashes with pedestrians or cyclists.
Euro NCAP additionally criticised the Sandero for not being out there with lively lane-keeping help.
This security ranking shouldn’t be a deal-breaker although as a result of the assessments have been carried out after the extra stringent security regime was launched in 2020. A 12 months or two in the past, the Sandero would have been a high-flier. Dacia additionally deserves reward as a result of AEB is normal throughout the vary.
Verdict: Total, the Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway signify implausible worth for cash – compelling, no-nonsense propositions, providing practicality, consolation, low working prices – and now some much-needed kerb attraction.
Dacia UK
