Quality and great value

The Dacia Sandero might be the cheapest car on sale in the UK but that doesn’t mean it’s not without merit.

In fact the Sandero is big, solidly built and features some decent engines, especially in this improved guise. The entry-level car will be too spartan for many but even the range-topper looks good value.

Probably the most important news here is that Dacia has finally pensioned off the old 1.2-litre 16V 75bhp petrol engine that used to prop up the line-up.

In its place is a far peppier and more efficient one-litre SCe 75 three cylinder unit. The well-proven TCe 90 petrol and dCi 90 diesel engines continue to be available across the revised range.

As before, this car is built tough. How many other superminis are promoted as having excellent ground clearance enabling them to take on all kinds of road conditions with “robust underbody protection for impressive performance on unpaved tracks?”

So how much are you going to end up paying? Believe it or not, from around just £6,000.

It undercuts other much smaller budget models such as the Suzuki Celerio by around £1,000 and offers more space inside.

For some perspective, in size, this car is somewhere between a Fiesta-shaped supermini and a Focus-sized family hatch. It really is hard to argue with this kind of value proposition.

For the kind of money being asked, the interior and exterior dimensions are very generous indeed, with the ordinary five-door hatchback Sandero offering 1,436mm of rear elbow room, giving enough space to seat three adults comfortably or install three child seats.

Boot volume is 320 litres (slightly more than a Ford Focus) which is extremely good for this class and there’s a 60/40 split fold rear seat to improve practicality still further.

Bear in mind that the opening price for a smaller five-door Vauxhall Corsa with air conditioning can easily be over £14,000. For more than £5,000 less, you get a top specification Sandero.

The Dacia Sandero represents amazing value for money.