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Dacia Sandero (2013 to 2020)

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Expert Rating

Dacia Sandero (2013 to 2020)

Not a current model

    Summary


    The Dacia Sandero is a supermini-size small five-door hatchback, best known for being the cheapest new car on sale in the UK for its entire production cycle, from the time it was launched here in 2013 to the time that it was replaced by a new model in 2021.

    Size-wize, the Sandero is similar to a Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa. However, on price it undercuts everything else in the supermini category considerably, and is similar to (but still cheaper than) the Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto.

    There is a more rugged version of the Sandero, called the Dacia Sandero Stepway. This is not covered on this page, and we have a separate page for that model, which rates slightly better than the regular Sandero range.

    This generation of the Sandero ended production in 2020. The all-new Sandero went on sale in February 2021, with first customer deliveries taking place shortly afterwards.

    The Dacia Sandero received generally positive reviews from the UK motoring media throughout its production life. Objectively, it performed fairly poorly in most areas compared to rivals, which was reflected in an overall Expert Rating that that was the lowest in the supermini class. But when price was taken into account, it generally made a good account of itself given that it was thousands of pounds cheaper than most similarly-sized rivals.

    In its 2020 owners’ survey, What Car? rated the Sandero as equal worst (along with the Suzuki Ignis) in its list of the most reliable small cars. However, in the 2021 reliability survey, the Sandero reversed the performance to be the top small car ranked.

    Key specifications


    Body style: Five-door hatchback
    Engines: petrol, petrol/LPG dual-fuel
    Price when new: From £6,995 on-road

    Launched: Spring 2013
    Replaced: Spring 2021


    Media reviews


    Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

    The Car Expert

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    Auto Express

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    Autocar

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    Car

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    Carbuyer

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    Carwow

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    Daily Mail

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    Heycar

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    Honest John

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    Parkers

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    The Sunday Times

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    The Telegraph

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    Top Gear

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    What Car?

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    Which?

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    Safety rating


    Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

    Overall score: 4 stars
    Date tested: May 2013
    Read the full Euro NCAP review

    Adult protection: 80%
    Child protection: 79%
    Vulnerable road users: 57%
    Safety assist: 55%

    Notes on safety rating

    The Dacia Sandero was awarded a four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP back when this model was launched in 2013. However, this rating expired in January 2020 as the Sandero no longer met the requirements for a four-star car. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.

    However, if you are comparing a used Dacia Sandero to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.

    Eco rating


    No eco rating

    The Dacia Sandero was never lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    As of October 2022, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Dacia Sandero to generate a reliability rating.

    The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Sandero, we’ll publish the score here.

    Awards


    Trophies, prizes and awards that the Dacia Sandero has received

    2020

    • What Car? Awards – Best Value Car under £10K

    2019

    • Diesel & Eco Car Awards – Best Budget Used Car
    • What Car? Awards – Best Value Car under £10K

    2018

    • Diesel & Eco Car Awards – Best Budget Used Car
    • Honest John Satisfaction Index – Best Small Hatchback
    • What Car? Awards – Best Value Car under £12K

    2017

    • Car Dealer Used Car Awards – Best Mid-Sized Used Car
    • What Car? Awards – Best Value Car under £12K

    2016

    • What Car? Awards – Best Value Car under £12K

    2015

    • What Car? Awards – Best Value Car under £12K

    2014

    • Honest John Awards – Best Small Hatchback
    • What Car? Awards – Best Value Car under £12K

    2013

    • What Car? Awards – Best Value Car under £12K

    Similar cars


    Citroën C3 | Ford Fiesta | Honda Jazz | Hyundai i20 | Kia Rio | Mazda 2Mini hatch | Nissan Micra | Peugeot 208 | Renault Clio | SEAT Ibiza | Skoda FabiaSuzuki Swift | Toyota Yaris | Vauxhall Corsa | Volkswagen Polo

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    Best car rankings

    The top cars in every category

    The Car Expert has the ultimate ranking of the best and worst new cars on sale, based on scores from 30 of the top UK motoring websites. We'll be adding more cars and more lists all the time, so keep checking back for the latest results.

    The Dacia Sandero has received generally positive media reviews. It performs poorly in most areas but, when price is considered, it is more competitive.Dacia Sandero (2013 to 2020)