A new car for under €15,000? The Sandero shows what that money can buy

A new car no longer needs to cost a small fortune, according to the appeal of Dacia’s Sandero. Under the September “Dacia Plus” promotion, the Sandero Essential TCe 100 costs €14,300, down from its regular €15,800 price.

For that money, buyers get a five-door, five-seat car with a 100-horsepower turbo petrol engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. Its stated combined consumption is 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres under WLTP. The car is designed for more than city driving, with enough flexibility for commuting, open roads, motorways and weekend trips.

Space is one of the Sandero’s strongest arguments. The boot holds up to 410 litres, expanding to 1,455 litres when the rear bench is folded. Five doors and five seats also mean that a first car may not need to be replaced simply because a household’s needs grow.

The Essential version focuses on practical daily driving and leaves extra equipment to buyers who want it. Its Media Control system uses a smartphone as the main multimedia interface, with a phone holder, Bluetooth, DAB radio, USB-C connection and steering-wheel controls. Navigation and music run through the owner’s phone.

The range also includes better-equipped Sandero versions and the Sandero Stepway. Stepway adds greater ground clearance, a higher seating position, a stronger crossover appearance and modular roof bars that can become crossbars for extra luggage. It represents roughly two-thirds of Sandero sales in Europe. Dacia also offers a six-year or 100,000-kilometre extended warranty, while buyers of a gas-powered version receive a 15% discount on purchases of up to 2,000 litres of gas with a Petrol card.