Used Dacia Sandero 2021-present review review

It isn't always the blockbuster movies that stick with us, but sometimes small-scale projects with strong visions behind them. Take the first Rocky film; its modest budget of around a million dollars didn't stop it from packing a punch. And you know what else packs a reasonably priced punch? A used Dacia Sandero.

It's a cut-price small car hero (rather than a bargain-bin disappointment), and this latest version is even better than its predecessor.

Under the bonnet, you might find one of two versions of a turbocharged 1.0-litre TCe engine: a TCe 90 petrol or a TCe 100 Bi-Fuel. The TCe 90 offers up a healthy 89bhp and has a six-speed manual gearbox (or optional CVT automatic), and in our tests managed 0-60mph in a respectable 11.0sec. The Bi-Fuel version has a bit more power (99bhp) and can run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as regular unleaded.

There's one more engine available. It’s a 1.0-litre petrol, badged SCe 65, that’s not turbocharged. Even without driving it, we're pretty confident it’ll be very slow (0-62mph officially takes a pedestrian 16.7sec) and worth avoiding.

In terms of trims, your entry-level option is Access. It lacks some of the basics you expect in a modern car, such as alloy wheels, air conditioning and central locking. That said, you do get electric front windows and LED headlights, as well as the cheapest prices.

Next up you have Essential, which is noticeably better equipped. It comes with body-coloured bumpers, 15in wheels with wheel trims, automatic LED headlights, cruise control with a speed limiter, manual air conditioning, DAB radio and Bluetooth capabilities.

Finally, there’s Comfort. You get an impressive amount of kit with this one, including electric rear windows, heated and electronically-adjustable wing mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring and keyless entry.

On the road, the Sandero pleases with relatively soft suspension, which smoothes out creases and folds in the road without bouncing you around in your seat nauseatingly. Sure, some other small cars are even comfier but they will most definitely demand a higher premium.

The Sandero isn’t the most exciting or polished car to pedal down a twisting B-road. It handles well enough, though. There is some body lean through tight twists and turns, but there's a decent amount of grip and the steering – while suitably light around town and too light and indirect at mid-range speeds – weights up enough to give you confidence at motorway speeds.

The Sandero’s interior is a smart, though modest, affair. The plastics in the Sandero are appealing enough to look at, and there's some tasteful fabric trim on the dashboard to lift the ambience. Plus, if you go for Comfort trim, you'll get some chrome interior highlights and a 'soft feel' steering wheel, which does a good impression of leather.

As one of the largest cars in the small car class, the Sandero is pleasingly spacious for front and rear passengers. There’s also a good amount of storage space on board, including a large glovebox, two cupholders, reasonable-sized door bins and other cubbies. The design of the boot could be improved by reducing the size of the lip at the entrance, but you can’t argue with its size.

If you're interested in finding a used Dacia Sandero or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Used prices for the latest Dacia Sandero start at around £11,000. These will be 2021 cars with very low mileages in Essential trim. Opt for Comfort trim (or a 2022 Essential) and you'll need to up your budget to around £12,500.

There are very few Access cars out there, especially seeing as the trim was axed in late 2021. If you do find one, around £10,500 will be enough to secure one.

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MPG

The TCe 90 petrol, as well as the SCe 65, can officially do more than 53mpg, and you should get around 45mpg in real-world driving. The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel isn’t quite as efficient on paper, although it’s worth remembering that LPG is a lot cheaper than unleaded.

Road tax

Owners of current-generation Sanderos will have to pay £165 per year under current VED regulations – this is the same for all petrol and diesel cars.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups are low, meaning the Sandero should be cheap to insure. In terms of servicing, Dacia’s cheapest plan is a three-year, 30,000-mile service plan that costs £399. Other fixed price service plans are available.

As Comfort trim cars are the only ones currently available on the used market (at the time of writing), it’s your only choice. That said, even with the other trims available, we would go with Comfort because you get lots of kit for not a lot of money.

Engine-wise, the TCe 100 Bi-Fuel is our pick of the range. When running on LPG, it feels stronger from low engine speeds than the standard TCe 90 and, crucially, is also smoother and quieter.

Our favourite Citroën C4: TCe 100 Bi-Fuel Comfort

If you want a more entertaining drive, the Ford Fiesta is a standout in the class. A three-year-old low-spec example should set you back around the same amount of cash as our favourite, high-spec Sandero. So, while still affordable, the Fiesta loses to the Sandero in terms of value for money.

For something comfier and more stylish – but also more expensive – consider the Peugeot 208. And if you’d like an affordable small car that’s a great all-rounder, the Seat Ibiza is one of our favourites.

If you're interested in finding a used Dacia Sandero or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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