Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Dacia Sandero review

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

How we review cars
RRP
£14,495 £17,995
Avg. savings
£723 off RRP*
Pros
  • Cabin quality
  • Better to drive
  • Price
Cons
  • Jerky power delivery on TCe
  • Cabin noise
  • Two-star Euro NCAP rating

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Engines, performance and drive

The third-generation Dacia Sandero is wider than the previous model and utilises the CMF platform from the Renault Clio, which is lighter and stiffer than the old car’s. It by no means transforms the Sandero into a car designed for driving enthusiasts, but the underpinnings bring improved ride comfort that makes the Sandero decent to drive around town and a competent motorway cruiser in either TCe 90 petrol or TCe 100 Bi-Fuel guises. The Sandero corners neatly with decent grip, and there’s only a small amount of body roll.

Most buyers will be best served by the TCe 90 version, which offers enough power and torque to keep up with traffic on faster A and B roads, and you don’t need to work it as hard as the non-turbocharged engine in the entry-level Citroen C3. The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel feels much the same to drive as the regular Sandero when running on LPG. 

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

The 1.0-litre TCe engine isn’t overly noisy, unless you decide to explore the upper end of the rev range, at which point it sounds particularly strained. There is quite a noticeable surge of acceleration once the turbo comes on boost, so the power delivery isn’t as smooth as that of similarly powered rivals like the Skoda Fabia and SEAT Ibiza.

The steering is predictably light, but it suits the Sandero well, plus the 10.5-metre turning circle makes slotting the car into tight parking spaces a cinch. We did find the five-speed manual gearbox a little imprecise and awkward to use at times, and while the Sandero is more refined than before, it still isn’t as quiet as the latest Renault Clio or Volkswagen Polo

Ultimately, if you take the Sandero as an affordable supermini and are more interested in getting from A to B fuss-free, then the Sandero will suit you just fine.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed 

The turbocharged TCe 90 petrol engine produces 89bhp and 160Nm of torque in total, and when paired with the five-speed manual gearbox is capable of 0-62mph in a respectable 12.2 seconds. The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel model is just as quick as the TCe 90 manual, while the CVT automatic version is a little slower off the mark, with 0-62mph taking 13.4 seconds.

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

While the Sandero Stepway engine range mostly mirrors the regular Sandero, has the option of a more potent TCe 110 version with 109bhp, reducing the 0-62mph time to a mere 10 seconds. 

MPG, CO2 and running costs

Finding a car priced within your budget is always a challenge, so the Sandero will appeal to cost-conscious buyers. But it’s important not to forget that once you’ve forked out your hard-earned cash on some new wheels, there’s still the issue of insurance and how much it’ll cost to run.

The good news is that you shouldn’t have to break the bank in order to keep your Sandero on the road. Dacia claims a combined fuel economy figure of up to 53.3mpg across the range, except for the TCe 90 CVT auto version, which is slightly behind the pack at 49.6mpg. When we tested a Dacia Sandero TCe 90 manual, it returned real-world fuel economy of 49.3mpg, beating the Citroen C3 we pitted it against.

CO2 emissions are good, but not exceptional, with the TCe 90 in both manual and CVT auto forms putting out 119g/km. Rivals that employ hybrid technology, such as the Renault Clio in some versions, will trump the Sandero on emissions, but you’ll have to balance that against the hefty premium for a hybrid Clio. If you still want the good value of a Dacia combined with the lower running costs of a hybrid, then consider the Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140.

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

Those after the Sandero Stepway will not only have to pay a slight premium in terms of pricing over the regular Sandero, but they’ll also have to fork out more at the pumps. Mind you, 50.4mpg for the TCe 90 and 45.6mpg for the CVT auto and more powerful TCe 110 is hardly going to break the bank.

If you are fortunate enough to live near an LPG station and can make the Bi-Fuel model fit your lifestyle, just be aware that you won’t see the same fuel economy when running on LPG as you would petrol. You’ll find separate trip computer readouts in the driver’s instrument cluster so you can track the difference.

Insurance

Insurance groups for the Sandero range start from group 12 for the TCe 90 manual in Essential spec; the rest of the line-up gets an insurance group 14 rating.

That’s not bad, but it’s worth pointing out that the Volkswagen Polo starts in insurance group three for the entry 1.0-litre petrol engine.

Check any car's MoT history in a few easy clicks with our MoT checker tool...

Depreciation

Investing in a Sandero brings a further bonus if you choose to sell it. After an average of three years and 36,000 miles of ownership, our data predicts that the budget supermini should retain between 48 and 53 per cent of its original list price, with our recommended mid-range Expression maintaining the best value in the regular Sandero range.

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

The Sandero Stepway performs even better, with the top-of-the-range Extreme trim holding on to 55 per cent of its value over the same period.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our free car valuation tool...

Interior, design and technology

There’s no question that interior quality of the latest Sandero is an improvement over the previous models. 

The entry-level Essential has, erm, all the essentials, such as air-conditioning, remote central locking, cruise control, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, USB socket and a smartphone cradle fixed to the dashboard. It rolls on 15-inch steel wheels with trims rather than alloy wheels.

We’d recommend getting the mid-range Expression because it features softer cabin materials, from the tasteful cloth sections across the dash, cushioned armrests, and a soft-touch, leather-look steering wheel cover all helping to create a more sophisticated atmosphere. 

Dacia includes a generous level of standard kit on the Expression versions, including front fog lights, electrically adjustable door mirrors, keyless entry, auto wipers, all-round electric windows, rear parking sensors, and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with which to view the rearview camera on.

The range-topping Journey trim on Sandero, or Extreme with Sandero Stepway both come with climate control, an adjustable smartphone cradle attached to the side of the infotainment screen, and a more thoughtfully designed centre console with an integrated armrest. 

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

Stepway models can be identified from the regular Sandero model because you’ll see lots of copper interior trim details.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The Sandero’s analogue dials are clear and easy to read, with the central digital screen for trip data and warnings. As we mentioned, the base Essential car doesn’t get a touchscreen – just a two-speaker stereo, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. The Sandero uses steering column-mounted stereo controls – the same basic design that’s been used on Renaults since the nineties, which is still very intuitive to use.

The mid-range Expression trim and above come with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen and four-speaker sound system. There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility to enable you to utilise a navigation app from your phone, or you could spring for a Journey or Extreme trim to get sat-nav.

The screen isn’t very sharp or high resolution, but it does the job, and the menus are simple and easy to navigate, because there aren’t the endless features you get on some modern cars. A tile arrangement makes it easy to figure out Sandero's few functions; there’s even a separate page that scores the driver on how efficiently they drive. It’s a shame that the screen is a little slow to respond to touch inputs, while the system itself isn't that quick, either.

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

There’s a handy USB socket mounted beside the touchscreen display, although only the range-topping trim levels come with an adjustable smartphone cradle mounted on the screen next to that socket.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

If you have a city car budget, but need supermini space, then the Dacia Sandero could well be the answer to your motoring needs. There’s plenty of room up front, while passengers in the rear won’t feel short-changed as the latest model offers 42mm of extra leg room compared to its predecessor. Door bins feel a little flimsy, but are nicely shaped. The two cup holders between the front seats are very shallow, though.

The height and reach-adjustable steering wheel helps find a comfortable driving position, as does the height-adjustable driver’s seat. The central armrest that’s fixed to the seat of the mid-range expression can become irritating when in use because it gets in the way of the gearlever and handbrake. The priciest Journey and Extreme trims have an armrest integrated into the centre console, which is much better in terms of ergonomics.

All models also feature ISOFIX points for child seats and child locks for the rear doors, and there’s also an option to have a spare wheel in place of the standard tyre inflation kit. 

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

Upgrading from Essential to Expression trim adds convenient features like keyless entry, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. The most expensive Journey and Extreme trims add front parking sensors.

Dimensions and size

The Sandero measures 4,088mm in length, 1,848mm wide and stands 1,499mm tall. Its more SUV-like Sandero Stepway sibling is just 11mm longer and 36mm taller, but maintains the same width. By way of further comparison, a five-door Volkswagen Polo is a slightly smaller car all-round, with dimensions of 4,070mm (length), 1,751mm (width) and 1,451mm (height).

Leg room, head room & passenger space 

There’s plenty of room for passengers in the rear seats of the latest Sandero, while head and legroom shouldn’t be an issue even for adult occupants. The doors open up wide which makes entry and egress easier, and will help when securing a child seat.

We measured the rear seat area ourselves when we pitted the Dacia Sandero against its French rival, the Citroen C3, in our twin test. We found that the Sandero just about excelled in terms of knee, head, and elbow room, although not by an amount too noticeable to the naked eye. 

Rear seat space comparison 
 Knee room (min-max)HeadroomElbow room
Dacia Sandero600-820mm945mm1,414mm
Citroen C3580-815mm925mm1,395mm

Boot space

Boot capacity for the Sandero stands at 328 litres in this latest version, up from 320 litres before. That means it offers an extra 28 litres of cargo space compared to the Citroen C3, although the Sandero still lags behind the Renault Clio’s 391-litre boot. Folding down the 40:60 split rear seats leaves a noticeable step in the load space, but opens up a practical 1,108 litres of luggage space.

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

We found in our twin test between the Sandero and Citroen C3 that the Dacia’s boot is significantly longer than its rival. The lip height of both superminis was very similar though, and the Sandero’s boot was slightly narrower than the C3’s too.

Boot space comparison                              
 Length Width Lip height
Dacia Sandero805mm1,025mm755mm
Citroen C3677mm1,040mm765mm

Towing

Whichever Sandero you choose, you'll have a maximum towing capacity of 1,100kg, which should be enough for most everyday needs.

Reliability and safety

Customer feedback from our Driver Power owner satisfaction survey has often resulted in Dacia being towards the bottom of the manufacturer rankings. There are some signs of improvement because it placed higher in the 2023 edition than it did in 2022, gaining 26th out of 32 manufacturers. That puts it further ahead of MG and Fiat, but behind the likes of Vauxhall.

With a stronger chassis and improved safety kit, it might be a surprise that the latest Sandero only scored two stars (out of five) when tested by industry experts Euro NCAP.

The crash test body awarded decent marks for both adult and child occupant safety, with 70 and 72 per cent, respectively, which would have led to a four-star overall rating. However, the organisation criticised the Sandero’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, which isn’t able to detect cyclists and pedestrians to help avoid a potential collision, while a lack of a Lane Assist function and Active Bonnet technology also counted against it. This has been improved for 2024 models, with every version now getting a more advanced AEB system, a lane keep assist function, a traffic sign recognition system to pick up speed limit changes, and a driver attention monitoring system. All these alterations will hopefully benefit its safety score if retested. 

Warranty

Every Dacia is covered by a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, with roadside assistance also included through this period. There is the option to extend cover for up to three years after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired, or up to 100,000 miles.

Servicing

The manufacturer recommends annual service intervals or every 18,000 miles – whichever comes first. You can purchase a three-year/30,000-mile service plan for a fixed price or via a series of monthly payments.

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
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

Used Skoda Fabia (Mk4, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: great value, comfy and spacious
Used Skoda Fabia - front

Used Skoda Fabia (Mk4, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: great value, comfy and spacious

Used car tests
22 May 2025
MG3 Hybrid+ long-term test: budget supermini is almost the perfect bargain
Auto Express content editor Ryan Birch sitting on the MG3's bonnet while holding a pound note and a gerry can

MG3 Hybrid+ long-term test: budget supermini is almost the perfect bargain

Long-term tests
14 May 2025
Toyota Yaris review
Toyota Yaris - main menu

Toyota Yaris review

In-depth reviews
25 Apr 2025

More on Sandero

Used Car Hunter: first cars for new drivers for under £10,000
Car Hunter: first cars for under £10,000 - header image

Used Car Hunter: first cars for new drivers for under £10,000

Our Car Hunter has £10,000 to find a used car that’s easy to drive, cheap to run and suitable for a freshly-qualified driver
Features
14 May 2025
Cheapest cars to buy 2025
Cheapest cars - header image

Cheapest cars to buy 2025

Searching for a brand-new bargain? These are the cheapest cars in the UK right now
Best cars & vans
8 May 2025
Best small cars to buy 2025 - our favourite little low-cost runabouts
Best small cars - header image

Best small cars to buy 2025 - our favourite little low-cost runabouts

Small cars come in all shapes, if not sizes. Here we highlight the best ones to buy
Best cars & vans
8 May 2025
Best first cars for new drivers 2025
Best first cars - header image

Best first cars for new drivers 2025

These are the best cars for first time drivers, all of which are cheap, easy to drive and safe
Best cars & vans
8 Apr 2025
New Dacia Sandero to come with both hybrid and electric power
Dacia Sandero 1.0 TCe Expression - front tracking

New Dacia Sandero to come with both hybrid and electric power

An all-new fourth-generation Sandero is coming in 2027, and Dacia’s boss has been discussing its powertrain options
News
21 Mar 2025
New Dacia Sandero spotted for the first time: fresh look for Europe’s best-selling car
Dacia Sandero facelift spied testing - front tracking

New Dacia Sandero spotted for the first time: fresh look for Europe’s best-selling car

The humble supermini’s makeover is inspired by the Dacia Spring EV, plus Duster and Bigster SUV
News
11 Mar 2025
Cheapest cars to run 2025
Cheapest cars to run - header

Cheapest cars to run 2025

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?
Best cars & vans
31 Jan 2025
Dacia Sandero reclaims the title of Europe’s best-selling car
Dacia Sandero 1.0 TCe Expression nose

Dacia Sandero reclaims the title of Europe’s best-selling car

The Sandero’s popularity continues to grow, as more than 300,000 were sold last year alone
News
16 Jan 2025
New Dacia Sandero hybrid option to boost mpg and cut costs
Dacia Sandero 1.0 TCe Expression front corner

New Dacia Sandero hybrid option to boost mpg and cut costs

Thanks to Sandero’s Jogger-based underpinnings, supermini may soon be offered with hybrid tech
News
13 Jan 2025
Best superminis to buy 2025
Best superminis - header image

Best superminis to buy 2025

It's a hard-fought class, but these are the 10 best superminis on sale right now
Best cars & vans
9 Dec 2024
Best low emission green cars in the UK
Best low emissions green cars - header image

Best low emission green cars in the UK

Low emissions and good fuel economy go hand-in-hand, and these cars deliver the best of both
Best cars & vans
22 Aug 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement
The Dacia Sandero is Europe’s best selling car, so far 
Dacia Sandero - front

The Dacia Sandero is Europe’s best selling car, so far 

Global demand for the Romanian supermini has grown alongside its huge popularity in Europe
News
18 Jul 2024
Used Dacia Sandero (Mk3, 2020-date) review: all the essentials at a low price
Used Dacia Sandero Mk3 - front

Used Dacia Sandero (Mk3, 2020-date) review: all the essentials at a low price

A full used review on the Dacia Sandero covering the Sandero Mk3 that's been on sale since 2020
Used car tests
3 Jun 2024
Dacia Jogger, Sandero and Sandero Stepway all get more safety kit for free
Dacia Sandero 1.0 TCe Expression front corner

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
News
3 Apr 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front

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
News
26 Mar 2024
Supermini of the Year 2023: Dacia Sandero
Dacia Sandero - Supermini of the Year 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
Awards
5 Jul 2023
Dacia Sandero vs Citroen C3: 2023 twin test review
Dacia Sandero vs Citroen C3 2023 twin test review

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
Car group tests
20 Feb 2023
Dacia leasing deals 2022
Dacia Duster Extreme SE - front cornering

Dacia leasing deals 2022

The best Dacia leasing deals available right now
Best cars & vans
13 Sep 2022
New Dacia Sandero 2021 review
Dacia Sandero 2021 - front tracking

New Dacia Sandero 2021 review

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

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
News
2 Dec 2020
Dacia Sandero review
Dacia Sandero facelift - front action

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
In-depth reviews
28 Oct 2020
Dacia range updated with new Blue dCi 95 engine

Dacia range updated with new Blue dCi 95 engine

Dacia’s Sandero and Logan MCV ranges receive a lift with a new diesel engine and revised trim levels
News
18 Jan 2019
Dacia Sandero remains the cheapest car despite £1k increase
Dacia Sandero front

Dacia Sandero remains the cheapest car despite £1k increase

The Dacia Sandero has increased in price, with the entry-level Access model now costing from £6,995 in the UK
News
4 Apr 2018