fbpx

Independent, impartial advice for car buyers and car owners

Find an Expert Rating: 
Expert Rating

Dacia Sandero

Our unique Expert Rating Index combines scores from 30 of the top UK motoring websites to give you a definitive rating on every new car

Expert Rating

Dacia Sandero

(2021 – present)

    Summary


    The Dacia Sandero is a supermini-class small five-door hatchback. This version is the all-new model that arrived in the UK in early 2021, replacing the original model that was launched back in 2013.

    The new model follows Dacia’s traditional practice of offering plenty of value for money – the entry-level Sandero starts at less than £14k, meaning it is still easily the cheapest new car on sale in the UK. However, unlike the previous model, the new Dacia Sandero is a genuinely competitive car even without taking price into account.

    Launching during 2020’s year of coronavirus lockdowns, Dacia has since updated its branding, and this now features on the Sandero.

    As of July 2023, the Sandero’s Expert Rating score stands at 70% based on 18 reviews. It was higher when the car was first launched, but fell sharply after Euro NCAP awarded the Sandero a poor two-star safety rating. Somewhat embarrassingly, the Sandero was awarded What Car?’s Car of the Year award in 2020 before the Euro NCAP safety ratings were published. The magazine quietly withdrew the award and downgraded the Sandero’s review score.

    The Dacia Sandero has been praised for its comfort and practicality, and for continuing to offer a unique petrol/LPG dual-fuel engine option that helps to keep running costs down. The main criticisms when it was launched concerned a lack of refinement compared to more expensive rivals, although a more serious issue has been Euro NCAP giving the Sandero a poor two-star rating (more safety information below).

    Key specifications


    Body style: Five-door hatchback
    Engines: petrol, petrol/LPG dual-fuel
    Price: From £13,795 on-road

    Launched: Winter 2020/21
    Last updated: N/A
    Replacement due: TBA


    Media reviews


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

    Auto Express

    +

    Auto Trader

    +

    Autocar

    +

    Car

    +

    Car Keys

    +

    Carbuyer

    +

    Carwow

    +

    Company Car Today

    +

    Daily Mirror

    +

    Eurekar

    +

    Heycar

    +

    Honest John

    +

    The Sun

    +

    The Telegraph

    +

    Top Gear

    +

    What Car?

    +

    Which?

    +

    Safety rating


    Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

    Overall score: 2 stars
    Date tested: April 2021
    Read the full Euro NCAP review

    Adult protection: 70%
    Child protection: 72%
    Vulnerable road users: 41%
    Safety assist: 42%

    Notes on safety rating

    The Dacia Sandero scored a very poor two-star rating from Euro NCAP, which generated headlines in the motoring media and was a very disappointing result. However, a better understanding of why the Sandero was only rated two stars is important.

    The Sandero scored reasonably well in terms of occupant protection for both adults and children in crash tests. It’s still short of the best small cars, but certainly adequate. If the overall rating was just based on crash performance, it would probably have been awarded four stars rather than two.

    Where the Sandero really fell down was in its crash avoidance technology, which has become increasingly important in determining overall ratings – after all, it’s far better to avoid an accident altogether than to survive one. Compared to other small cars, the Dacia’s autonomous emergency braking system is more basic and unable to properly detect pedestrians or cyclists. It does better at avoiding other vehicles, but is still not as good as other small cars.

    Given that many of the Sandero’s rivals are actually used cars from other brands based on older technology and older Euro NCAP standards, the overall two-star rating is not as bad as it sounds – although it’s still not good enough for a brand new car in 2021. In summary, the Sandero does an adequate job of protecting you in a crash but doesn’t do enough to to actually avoid one in the first place.

    Eco rating


    No eco rating

    As of July 2023, the Dacia Sandero has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP.

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    As of July 2023, 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 won (and then lost again)

    2023

    • Autocar Awards – Best Budget Car
    • Auto Express Awards – Best Supermini

    2022

    • What Car? Awards – Best small car for value

    2021

    • What Car? Awards – Car of the Year* + Best Small Car*
      * Awards withdrawn after Euro NCAP safety rating was published.
    • DieselCar and EcoCar Top 50 – Best Small Car
    • Scottish Car of the Year Awards – Best Small Car

    Similar cars


    If you’re looking at the Dacia Sandero, you might also be interested in these alternatives

    Citroën C3 | Ford Fiesta | Honda Jazz | Hyundai i20 | Kia Rio | Mazda 2 | MG 3Mini hatch | Mitsubishi MirageNissan Micra | Peugeot 208 | Renault Clio | SEAT Ibiza | Skoda FabiaSuzuki Swift | Toyota Yaris | Vauxhall Corsa | Volkswagen Polo


    More news, reviews and information about the Dacia Sandero at The Car Expert

    The cheapest new cars on sale in 2022

    The cheapest new cars on sale in 2022

    Another safety disaster for Dacia

    Another safety disaster for Dacia

    Renault needs to lift its game on safety

    Renault needs to lift its game on safety

    Dacia Sandero Stepway

    Dacia Sandero Stepway

    Safety advances leave Dacia trailing

    Safety advances leave Dacia trailing

    All-new Dacia Sandero range revealed

    All-new Dacia Sandero range revealed

    Dacia Sandero (2013 to 2020)

    Dacia Sandero (2013 to 2020)

    Dacia Sandero Stepway (2013 to 2020)

    Dacia Sandero Stepway (2013 to 2020)

    Updates for Dacia Sandero and Logan MCV

    Updates for Dacia Sandero and Logan MCV

    Dacia 18-plate finance offers

    Dacia 18-plate finance offers

    Best value cars to stop depreciation

    Best value cars to stop depreciation

    Dacia scrappage scheme on Duster and Sandero

    Dacia scrappage scheme on Duster and Sandero

    Buy a new or used Dacia Sandero


    If you’re looking to buy a Dacia Sandero, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car

    Cazoo 600x300

    Buy a car online from your sofa. We’ll deliver it. Find out more

    Motors 600x300

    Search less, live more. We make finding the right car simple. Find out more

    Carwow logo 600x300

    Discover great deals available on both new and used cars. Find out more

    Auto Trader logo 600x300

    Search for your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

    Lease a new Dacia Sandero


    If you’re looking to lease a new Dacia Sandero, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal

    Carparison 600x300

    Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

    Moneyshake logo 600x300

    Personal contract hire deals from Moneyshake. Find out more

    Rivervale Leasing logo 2022

    Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more

    LeaseLoco logo 600x300

    Personal contract hire deals from LeaseLoco. Find out more

    Car subscriptions


    If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help (PS: What’s a car subscription?)

    Mycardirect subscriptions – 600x300

    Car subscriptions from Mycardirect.
    Find out more

    Wagonex logo 2022

    Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
    Find out more

    Elmo logo 2022

    Electric car subscriptions from Elmo.
    Find out more

    Onto logo 600x300

    Electric car subscriptions from Onto.
    Find out more

    Used car finance

    Looking for an alternative to dealer finance? The Car Expert's partners can help
    We Finance Any Car 400x200

    Used car finance from We Finance Any Car.
    Find out more

    Motorly logo 600x300

    Used car finance from Motorly.
    Find out more

    Blue Motor Finance

    Used car finance from Blue Motor Finance.
    Find out more

    Quick Car Finance logo 800x400

    Used car finance from Quick Car Finance.
    Find out more

    Sell your car

    Do you have a car to sell? The Car Expert's partners can offer you a great price
    Motorway 600x300

    Get a free valuation in seconds from Motorway.
    Find out more

    Cazoo 600x300

    Get a free and instant offer for your car from Cazoo.
    Find out more

    Carwow logo 600x300

    The free, easy way to get 3,000+ dealers all over the UK bidding on your car.
    Find out more

    Auto Trader logo 600x300

    Get a cash offer for your car in minutes from Auto Trader.
    Find out more

    This page last updated:

    This page contains links to some of our commercial partners. If you click on any of those links, we may receive a commission.

    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're adding more cars and more lists all the time, so keep checking back for the latest results.

    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 new Dacia Sandero has been highly praised for its value for money, comfort and practicality. Unfortunately, its safety rating is poor.Dacia Sandero