The Dacia Sandero is just one of several value-focused models from this enterprising car brand and, thanks to lots of sales, there are plenty of used bargains to be had.
One of the biggest plus points for the Dacia Sandero is its low cost, so if you’re looking for lots of value and are prepared for some compromises along the way then this saloon will fit the bill.
One of the first things that will become apparent is the cost-cutting for the interior. There’s lots of practicality and some neat ideas inside the Dacia Sandero, but the overall effect is slightly cheap in feel. However, it’s this durable interior that also makes the Dacia Sandero very family-friendly.
In terms of the drive, a Dacia Sandero provides a pleasant overall experience, with a 90PS petrol engine model likely to keep you happy just as long as you’re not expecting sprightly performance. It’s zesty enough though, while the suspension and handling are workmanlike but perfectly acceptable too.
The Dacia Sandero has rivals of course, with the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Up, Skoda Citigo and Hyundai i10 all vying for your attention in the used car marketplace.
If you’re looking for an affordable used buy, there’s a huge amount of choice.
If you’re not fussed about brand names and crave good value the Dacia Sandero is a logical place to start, especially if you want a practical, no-nonsense saloon that you can use every day.
In its most basic incarnation, the Dacia Sandero feels a little too stripped back to the bones to be particularly enjoyable, but the format definitely works. The good thing with the Dacia brand is you can head up the trim level a tad and reap immediate benefits without breaking the bank.
Case is point is something like the Dacia Sandero Essential, which packs in more expected everyday essentials including air-conditioning, cruise control, central locking and electric windows.
It’s also worth spending a little more to get the larger 90PS engined-car, which offers a little more of a rewarding drive than the smaller 65PS edition. That makes it much more practical on longer runs too, especially if you’re got the family on board.
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We would recommend a Dacia Sandero 90TCe in Essential trim. The 90PS engine is much quicker than the basic model but no worse on fuel while Essential trim comes with useful kit like air-conditioning, remote central locking and cruise control.
The Dacia Sandero is available on the used market with three different engines to choose from. All are 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines and identify as the SCe 65, the TCe 90 and TCe 100 Bi-Fuel – the numbers equating to the PS each produces.
Dacia Sandero 1.0L SCe 65 petrol: This is the least potent of the trio of three-cylinder engines, with a pretty sedate 0-60mph time of 16.7 seconds and a top speed of 98mph.
Dacia Sandero 1.0L TCe 90 petrol: The 90PS engine offers a little more oomph and is worth heading for if you’re doing more motorway runs. Helped by a six-speed gearbox, this version of the Sandero can get from 0-60mph in 11.7 seconds and has a rather more impressive top speed of 111mph.
Dacia Sandero 1.0L TCe 100 Bi-Fuel: This is an interesting option if you like the thought of being able to switch between petrol and LPG by way of a button under the steering wheel. There are financial savings to be made by choosing this used option, so could be the route to take if funds are tight.
The Dacia Sandero, like other cars in the range, don’t come with quite the same array of trim levels as some rivals. Dacia, being a budget, no-nonsense value brand means cars can be quite spartan, especially in their lower trim variants. However, because they’re cheap to buy on the used market, it’s therefore worth looking at a higher trim level to get some additional home comforts.
The Dacia Sandero Access is definitely a no-frills car, which arrives armed with steel wheels and basic looking black bumpers. There’s little in the way of refinement inside either, so don’t expect an audio system. Cheer yourself up with electric windows, power steering and a USB port instead.
The Dacia Sandero Essential is the better car if you’re after some basic goodies. You should get more impressive colour-matched bumpers, cruise control, air conditioning and a rudimentary stereo system. It’s still quite basic, however.
The Dacia Sandero Comfort takes this up a notch or two as it comes with better looking wheels thanks to trims plus the interior is a much better proposition. The steering wheel is soft touch, there’s keyless entry plus parking sensors and a reversing camera too. Best of all is an eight-inch display that boasts sat-nav and smartphone connectivity.
The Dacia Sandero’s dimensions are:
Length: 4088mm
Width: 2007mm
Height: 1499mm
Ground clearance: 163mm
The Dacia Sandero’s boot size is:
328-litres
1108 litres with rear seats folded down
With CO2 emissions ranging from 120g/km to 140g/km for the Dacia Sandero and the SCe 65PS and TCe 90PS models producing 120g/km of CO2 you’re looking at VED road tax of £180. In addition, the TCe 100 Bi-Fuel model that can run on both petrol and LPG, produces petrol emissions of 123g/km resulting in road tax of £180 in year one.
Another benefit of buying a used Dacia Sandero is that it should be affordable to insure. Currently, the Dacia Sandero's insurance groups range from 8E (for the basic SCe 65PS model) up to 15E for the TCe 100 Bi-Fuel version.
Read our full Dacia Sandero review