Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Dacia Sandero review: a simple, practical supermini at a great price

A spacious interior and refined driving manners show there’s more to the Dacia Sandero than just the price

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£13,775 to £17,040
  • Cabin quality
  • Better to drive
  • Price
  • Boosty turbocharged engine
  • Cabin noise
  • Two-star Euro NCAP rating
Find your Dacia Sandero
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Customers got an average £1000 more vs part exchange quotes
Advertisement

Dacia claims its focus is making quality new cars affordable, and the latest Sandero is the epitome of that mission statement. The value-focused supermini remains one of the UK’s cheapest cars, even after subtle refinements to the Sandero’s styling, cabin, running gear, and specification. 

The Dacia Sandero continues to offer great practicality for cost-conscious buyers. It even makes sense for those choosing the higher specification versions, because its low running costs shouldn’t leave them out of pocket. They say the most simple ideas are often the best, and despite not being one of those trendy small SUVs (there is a pseudo-SUV version called the Stepway, if you want), Dacia’s well-judged, great-value supermini is right up there with the best in the class.

About the Dacia Sandero

Dacia was founded in 1966, but the Romanian carmaker didn’t officially launch in the UK until 2013. It has always been laser-focused on offering new levels of family car affordability – in fact, its first TV advert proudly declared: “We don’t do frivolity; function’s our thing,” before stamping the £5,995 Sandero list price across the screen. For those on a budget who didn’t want to deal with a used car's potential wear and tear costs, the Sandero was a hard proposition to resist.

Dacia has sold over eight million cars worldwide, including 250,000 in the UK alone, and things are looking even better for customers with the latest, third-generation Sandero supermini. The brand has implemented a raft of engineering changes and tech updates that give the Sandero a modern, more up-to-date feel, yet crucially, prices are still extraordinarily low. This package has only been made to look more appealing because, like the brand’s entire lineup, the Sandero has received sharper styling, a revised headlight design, and an interlinked Dacia logo.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

With a fresh look and a little extra finesse, the Sandero poses serious questions for buyers looking towards pricier rivals. The Skoda FabiaVolkswagen PoloHyundai i20 and closely related Renault Clio all rival the Dacia for size, but can’t compete on price, with an entry-level version of all four still costing thousands more than a top-spec Sandero. The only similarly sized supermini that comes close to the Sandero’s value package is the base Citroen C3, although the Sandero still undercuts the C3 on price by a few hundred pounds.

The Sandero range starts from a little under £14,000 in Essential spec. This gets you air-con and remote central locking, plus cruise control, DAB and Bluetooth connectivity, but no touchscreen. It does not have an alarm or electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors like the base C3 You!, but the entry-level Sandero does have the added convenience of rear parking sensors to make parking that little bit easier.

Mid-range Expression trim is the best value Sandero in our opinion, despite costing around £15,000. For that, you get some smart grey fabric accents and some upgraded upholstery that gives the interior a classier feel, along with an eight-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, plus a rear-view camera.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The top-of-the-range Journey comes in at around £16,000, and features sat-nav, climate control, front parking sensors, and a blind spot warning system. 

If you're after a little extra SUV style, the Sandero Stepway comes with a raised ride height and rugged exterior trim for only a small price premium. The trim levels remain largely the same as the regular Sandero, besides some Stepway-specific seat fabric and some exterior styling tweaks. The only major change is that the top-of-the-range Sandero Stepway is called Extreme rather than Journey.

All Sandero models have a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine in TCe 90 or TCe 100 Bi-Fuel forms. The former is the more astute choice anyway, with 89bhp, a useful extra slug of torque and fuel economy of up to 53.3mpg.

The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel unit is a great idea for taking advantage of the cost-saving benefits of LPG tech. Choosing this version means you can’t specify a spare wheel, but you gain a 40-litre LPG fuel tank instead, giving this version an exceptionally long range. However, you’ll need to live near a filling station that offers such fuel; otherwise, it becomes inconvenient to go out of your way to find fuel.

The TCe 90 and TCe 100 Bi-Fuel cars are paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, but the TCe 90 is also available with a CVT automatic if you go for the priciest Journey trim. Choose the SUV-inspired Sandero Stepway, and you’ll get a six-speed manual as standard, with the option of a CVT auto on the most expensive Extreme version.

Frequently Asked Questions
The Dacia Sandero offers almost unbeatable value for money thanks to its thrifty engine, low servicing costs, decent tech and roomy boot.
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

Skoda Fabia review
Skoda Fabia - front tracking
In-depth reviews
29 Apr 2024

Skoda Fabia review

Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI: long-term test review
Skoda Fabia long termer third report - header
Long-term tests
17 Nov 2022

Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI: long-term test review

More on Sandero

Cheapest cars to buy 2024
Cheapest cars - header image
Best cars & vans
8 May 2024

Cheapest cars to buy 2024

Searching for a brand-new bargain? These are the cheapest cars in the UK right now
Best crossover cars to buy 2024
Best crossover cars - header image
Best cars & vans
25 Apr 2024

Best crossover cars to buy 2024

Small car costs with a little SUV muscle, these are the best crossovers on the market
Dacia Jogger, Sandero and Sandero Stepway all get more safety kit for free
Dacia Sandero 1.0 TCe Expression front corner
News
3 Apr 2024

Dacia Jogger, Sandero and Sandero Stepway all get more safety kit for free

Dacia has piled on the safety kit for all three cars to ensure they comply with the new GSR2 safety regulations
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News
26 Mar 2024

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
Best small cars to buy 2024
Best small cars - February 2024 header
Best cars & vans
16 Feb 2024

Best small cars to buy 2024

Small cars come in all kinds of shapes, if not sizes. Here we highlight the best new small cars on sale
Best new car deals 2024
Best new car deals - header image
Best cars & vans
26 Jan 2024

Best new car deals 2024

Thinking of buying a new car? These are some of the best new car deals on the market right now…
Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2024
Best first cars - header image
Best cars & vans
19 Jan 2024

Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2024

A new car for a first time driver should be cheap, easy to drive and safe. Here are the 10 best first cars
Cheapest cars to run 2024
Cheapest cars to run - header image
Best cars & vans
17 Jan 2024

Cheapest cars to run 2024

When it comes to total cost of ownership, cut-price entry-level models aren’t always the best. So what are the cheapest cars to run in the UK today?
Top 10 best superminis to buy 2024
Best superminis 2023
Best cars & vans
15 Jan 2024

Top 10 best superminis to buy 2024

It's a hard-fought class, but these are the 10 best superminis on sale right now
Deal of the Day: great value Dacia Sandero gets yet more value at £166 a month
Dacia Sandero 1.0 TCe Expression nose
News
2 Nov 2023

Deal of the Day: great value Dacia Sandero gets yet more value at £166 a month

Our Deal of the Day for 2 November is a £166 a month PCP on a dual-fuel Dacia Sandero
Dacia Sandero Stepway review
Dacia Sandero Stepway
In-depth reviews
30 Aug 2023

Dacia Sandero Stepway review

The Dacia Sandero Stepway adds an essence of SUV style to the budget-friendly supermini
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Dacia Sandero Stepway 2023 review
Dacia Sandero Stepway - front tracking
Road tests
17 Aug 2023

New Dacia Sandero Stepway 2023 review

The more expensive Stepway adds some much-needed charm to the Sandero range
Supermini of the Year 2023: Dacia Sandero
Dacia Sandero - Supermini of the Year 2023
Awards
5 Jul 2023

Supermini of the Year 2023: Dacia Sandero

The Dacia Sandero is the 2023 Auto Express Supermini of the Year, with the Skoda Fabia and Toyota Yaris commended
New Dacia Stepway SUV to rival Nissan Juke
Dacia Stepway exclusive image
News
16 Mar 2023

New Dacia Stepway SUV to rival Nissan Juke

Dacia hints that the off-road-style Sandero Stepway hatch could develop into a genuine SUV and our exclusive image previews how it could look
Dacia Sandero vs Citroen C3: 2023 twin test review
Dacia Sandero vs Citroen C3 2023 twin test review
Car group tests
20 Feb 2023

Dacia Sandero vs Citroen C3: 2023 twin test review

We line up superminis from Dacia and Citroen in our head-to-head road test to find the best-value option
Dacia leasing deals 2022
Dacia Duster Extreme SE - front cornering
Best cars & vans
13 Sep 2022

Dacia leasing deals 2022

The best Dacia leasing deals available right now
Dacia Sandero Stepway: long-term test review
Dacia Sandero long termer - front
Long-term tests
26 Nov 2021

Dacia Sandero Stepway: long-term test review

Final report: Jacked-up Dacia Sandero hatch wins hearts and minds of Dawn’s family
Honda Jazz Crosstar vs Dacia Sandero Stepway
Honda Jazz Crosstar vs Dacia Sandero Stepway
Car group tests
7 Aug 2021

Honda Jazz Crosstar vs Dacia Sandero Stepway

SUV ruggedness comes to the supermini genre courtesy of the Honda Jazz Crosstar and Dacia Sandero Stepway - but which is best?
New Dacia Sandero Stepway Bi-Fuel 2021 review
Dacia Sandero Stepway - front
Road tests
24 Feb 2021

New Dacia Sandero Stepway Bi-Fuel 2021 review

At just under £11k, the new Dacia Sandero Stepway is one of the best value-for-money cars on the market
New Dacia Sandero 2021 review
Dacia Sandero 2021 - front tracking
Road tests
16 Dec 2020

New Dacia Sandero 2021 review

The all-new Dacia Sandero hatchback belies its budget badge while staying true to its brand
New Dacia Sandero gets sub £9k price tag
Dacia Sandero
News
2 Dec 2020

New Dacia Sandero gets sub £9k price tag

The fourth-generation Dacia Sandero gets starting price of just £8,995 and new Renault Clio platform
Dacia Sandero Stepway review
Dacia Sandero Stepway front action
In-depth reviews
28 Oct 2020

Dacia Sandero Stepway review

The Dacia Sandero Stepway adds a touch of rugged off-road presence to the value-focused Sandero hatch.
Dacia Sandero review
Dacia Sandero facelift - front action
In-depth reviews
28 Oct 2020

Dacia Sandero review

The Dacia Sandero is the UK's value king, offering up more space and practicality than anything else in its price range