It’s cheerful! Andrew Evans

Alongside a lightly reworked exterior facelift, the new Sandero brings with it a new engine. This three-cylinder unit, known as the SCE 75, becomes the entry point to the Dacia range at £5,995 in basic Access trim, but is also available in the far more popular (Dacia claims around 70% of sales of Sandero) Ambiance specification.

Dacia isn’t a particularly stirring brand. Despite some free and partly tongue-in-cheek advertising for the Sandero on the world’s most popular motoring television show, ultimately it’s a little-known Romanian brand that builds cars based on older Renault platforms (this one used to be a Clio) and sells them cheaply on a no-frills promise. However, it’s endearing to an extent and the brand certainly has its admirers and fans. The Sandero is a roomy car. It’s a B-segment hatchback, sitting in the same class as the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa, but with a 320L boot – expanding to 1,200L with the rear seats down – it’s the roomiest vehicle in the sector. There’s decent space in the cabin too, so it comes with some pretty solid

There’s few things to grumble about in the Sandero’s driving manners if you temper your expectations somewhat. The company has largely focused on the comfort of the drive and it scores reasonably well, even on some dismal unloved roads in the hills. The size – and cameras in this Laureate specification – mean it’s a doddle around town too.

The Sandero ticks one box for value right away: it’s the cheapest car you can buy in the UK. However, in the very cheapest Access trim, it’s almost a false economy, as there’s so little equipment that it draws too much attention to the car’s shortcomings and detracts from the experience. Ambiance buyers get air conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth for your phone and Aux and USB inputs, and for £6,995 that’s a pretty solid equipment list.

The Sandero is very much a car for those who are budgeting for two or three-year old examples of more expensive hatchbacks but still want all of the benefits of a new car.