You may not have heard of the Dacia brand from Romania, but it is owned by Renault and manufactures inexpensive motor cars. The latest offering is being billed as the UK’s most affordable new car, from STG 5,995.
This is called the Sandero and there are three versions to choose from: Access, Ambiance and Lauréate.
The models are not bare-bones transport either, with options including a 7-inch touchscreen MediaNav and leather upholstery, two accessory packs, a choice of three frugal engines, including new three-cylinder 0.9 TCe 90 petrol and 1.5 dCi 90, both with ECO mode. Five- and seven-year extended warranties also available.
Dacia Sandero.
From humble beginnings, the Romanian brand has gone from strength to strength since Renault bought it in 1999 and transformed its fortunes. For the last eight years in a row it has been the fastest-growing automotive brand in Europe, rising from under 5,000 sales in 2004 to shipping a mighty 350,000 last year. And the final piece of the jigsaw is the UK. Sadly, in spite of adding ever more factory capacity, Dacia hasn’t been able to produce right-hand-drive cars for the UK, until now.
Far from being Spartan, even the entry-level version offers plenty of features, including 15″ steel wheels, power assisted steering, a 60/40 split folding rear seat and even daytime running lights.
The usual suite of acronyms are present with ABS with Emergency Brake Assist, ASR traction control, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), driver, passenger and front side airbags and ISOFIX points in both outer rear seats.
For only £600 more, the mid-level Ambiance offers such niceties as radio CD player with fingertip remote controls, USB and AUX input, Bluetooth™, remote central locking, electric front windows, body colored bumpers and 15″ ‘Colorado’ wheel trims.
The top-of-the-range Sandero versions are called Lauréate. Dacia expects up to two thirds of buyers to plump for them. With three available, starting from only £7,995, just £2,000 more than the entry version, it’s not hard to see why.
This top of the line has air conditioning, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, cruise control and electric rear windows as standard. In this guise, Sandero really does offer big car features for small car prices.
Not only will Sandero be affordable to buy, it will also be economical to run. The choice is of three frugal engines. The first, the 1.2 16V 75, one of the Renault Group’s most tried and tested engines, is on offer with every trim level. The even more frugal, yet powerful, TCe 90 and dCi 90, can be had with both Ambiance and Lauréate.
Proving that modern-day motoring can be inexpensive, the four-cylinder 1.2 petrol delivers 47.9 mpg on the combined cycle.
The second engine for Dacia’s new supermini is the TCe 90. It is new to the brand after debuting in the Renault Clio with the added bonus of Stop/Start technology. In Sandero, the 0.9-litre three-cylinder turbocharged unit is capable of 109 mph, with fuel economy of 54.3 mpg. Rounding off the series of modern engines is the new dCi 90. Belying its 1.5-liter diesel size, it delivers 74.3 mpg.
The two top engines also boast gearshift indicators and an ECO mode to limit engine torque, both to help you eek the most out of your tank – by 10% – and save you valuable pennies at the pumps.
But don’t think for a second that just because it’s incredibly affordable, that it won’t stand the test of time, or, that it’s using engines and technology from many moons ago. It’s not. Firstly, Dacia is renowned for its quality and reliability. After all, its models are designed, engineered and built to cope with the rough stuff and weather extremes everywhere from Brazil to Russia. It recently came top in a survey of 30,000 customers in five Western European markets, as Europe’s most reliable car brand. Secondly, thanks to its parent company, Renault, it also has access to the latest powertrains as well.
Will we ever get it here? Entry level at 300,000 baht would make it attractive, but add on freight and duty. I don’t think we will ever see it, though if it did come, I’d be ready to trade the mighty Daihatsu.
