Better than expected?

Dacia Sandero: The cheapest new car in Austria

Although the third generation of the Dacia Sandero is significantly more expensive than its predecessor, it is still the cheapest new car in Austria. The basic version is priced at 8790 euros, including the delivery fee it costs a good 9000 euros. "Krone" motoring editor Stephan Schätzl wanted to know how much you have to sacrifice in a low-cost car. First of all, however, he had to do without the basic model - only a version with fairly good equipment and the more powerful engine was available. Watch the video to find out how well the cheapest small car available drives!

With a test car price of 14,754 euros, some people will say "cheap my ass!". In reality, however, comparably equipped cars from other manufacturers cost considerably more. A Renault Clio, with which the Dacia shares the platform, is easily 5000 euros more expensive. And base prices are often pure paper tigers, because who wants to do without air conditioning or a radio - as in the case of the Sandero? You can't even upgrade the bare base from the factory. You would have to buy a radio yourself and connect it to the existing wiring. At least you can integrate your smartphone in a very practical way (see video!).

The test car has the Comfort equipment, plus a few extras, such as metallic paint, automatic climate control instead of air conditioning, "Media Nav" navitainment, electric rear windows (the front ones are standard) or the all-round parking sensors and the (really lousy) reversing camera. The bare "Comfort" with the more powerful engine costs 12,090 euros.

The only surcharge-free paint finish is white, with unpainted bumpers. The others cost 470 euros extra. The exterior design is appealing and does not look cheap. LED headlights with angular daytime running lights are standard (high beam is always halogen).

Spirited turbocharged engine
The engine is a one-liter turbo three-cylinder unit that delivers quite decent performance. The 1088 kg small car reaches 100 km/h in 11.7 seconds, and Dacia specifies 178 km/h as the top speed. The maximum torque of 160 Nm is reached at 2100 rpm, the turbo lag is clearly noticeable and sometimes annoying. This can be remedied by activating the Eco mode, which makes the engine respond more smoothly. The engine is not a fuel consumption miracle. The test consumption was calculated at 6.8 l/100 km. The data sheet promises 5.1 to 5.8 liters.

Shifting is via a six-speed gearbox. This is smooth, but also a little clunky.

Comfortable chassis ...
The chassis is comfortably designed and actually provides surprisingly good comfort. On the other hand, the Sandero tends to understeer and wobbles noticeably in bends. It is advisable to approach bends calmly. The handling does not really inspire confidence, but it is not unsafe either, as long as you are not in too much of a hurry. The steering is quite indirect and provides little contact with the road.

... but still compromises on comfort
As quiet as the engine is, as loud are the wind noises. Overall, the Dacia Sandero is loud. This is particularly annoying on long highway journeys. But it is bearable. Also unpleasant on long journeys: the flabby seats, which you can feel in the small of your back at some point.

Perfect climate control
The interior is quite attractively designed, even if hard plastic has been used above all. But there is also some fabric, which adds a touch of homeliness. The menu, which can be called up on the 8-inch touchscreen of the Media Nav, is practical and clear. Apple CarPlay is very well integrated. The air conditioning is controlled with three rotary knobs - perfect! The steering wheel buttons are also real buttons that are easy to operate. It's a blessing that there are no touch elements here (apart from the display).

Good amount of space
The amount of space in the interior is fine, even 1.80 meter tall people can get along well in the rear seat. The trunk has a capacity of 328 to 1200 liters. A variable loading floor is available for an extra charge, which creates a flat loading area when the split rear seat backrest is folded down.

No crash test hero
The Dacia Sandero only received two stars in the EuroNCAP crash test. Although it now has six airbags. Autonomous Emergency Brake Assist is also standard. eCall is also always on board. For an extra charge, it also comes with a blind spot warning system. And cruise control is standard from Essential upwards. 

Driving summary:
Yes, you have to make compromises in a car as cheap as the Dacia Sandero. Unfortunately, this starts with passive safety and continues with driving behavior. Many things are solved very simply, but this is not always a disadvantage. See the simple operation without electronic overload. The fact that the headlights are LEDs is great, but the high beams are halogen lamps, which means they are yellowish and comparatively dim. And the light sensor only switches the lights on when it is actually already too dark and you would need low beam instead of daytime running lights.

The bottom line is that you get a lot of car for your money, especially if you buy it new. Used cars are usually cheaper than new ones. However, the Dacia Sandero is quite expensive used. It is one of the cars with the best value retention. However, it is also traditionally one of the cars with the highest frequency of breakdowns.

In any case, the Sandero covers most basic car needs. Whether it is a good enough car for not quite enough money depends on your personal requirements. 

Why?
Unrivaled price
Significantly upgraded compared to its predecessor

Why not?
You can see the low price.

Or perhaps ...
... Renault Clio, Hyundai i20, Seat Ibiza, Kia Rio ...