Dacia Sandero: Test Drive Review

Date: 30 August 2013   |   Author:

Category: Supermini P11D price: £8340 Key rival: Chevrolet Aveo On sale: March 2013

We tested the supermini-sized mid-spec diesel model - the UK's cheapest sub-100g/km car, says Dacia - which costs a heady £8340 compared with the 1.2 petrol, although that's still £3000 less than a diesel Hyundai i20. But you get what you pay for. The hard, cheap plastic interior is sparse, although remote central locking, electric front windows, Bluetooth and an aux-input are notable benefits over the Access entry model that doesn't even have body-coloured bumpers. Only the top-spec Laureate gets items such as aircon, body-coloured door mirrors and door handles, and a height-adjustable steering wheel and driver's seat. Dacia claims best-in-class front and rear shoulder and elbow room, and best-in-class rear hip room, meaning there is more space for five adults than any rival, and it feels spacious in the back for a small car. The boot is also 25 litres lager than a Ford Fiesta's, although there's no boot release switch on the tailgate itself.

The car offers an RV better than a mid-spec diesel Fiesta or the Hyundai i20, too, which means this 90hp diesel model loses almost half as much over three years as the Fiesta, and offers a cost per mile of 26.1p compared with 35.6p.

On the road, the lack of creature comforts is apparent and it feels like a cheap car with disconcertingly dead steering around centre. There is also more road and engine noise than you could expect from more established brands. But it's generally fine, and from a fleet perspective would suit companies that need working vehicles to ferry people around or, indeed, pool car applications. 

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