Dacia Sandero hatchback 2013 review - CarBuyer 

James may approved

Great news! The Dacia... the Dacia... *bursts out laughing*

I had a look at the Dacia Sandero as I need to look at cars for when I pass my test. I have been looking at the slightly more expensive model, Sandero Ambiance since it is cheaper to insure than the cheaper model. The Ambiance variant has a better looking interior and although it costs £6795, is actually cheaper to insure than the Access variant at £5995. Here is a little breakdown for you: Access cost: £5995, insurance £2200 (just over) Ambiance cost £6795, insurance £2000 (just over) If I add one of my parents with 10+ years of experience each, it goes up by £200. This is based off my OL postcode and I live about 8 miles away from Oldham... My dad is gonna argue with me since insurance companies are backwards. If I buy an older car, the insurance is roughly £3000-£7000. If I buy a newer car, it works out at about £2000 give or take. In the long run, it's a lot cheaper to buy a new car at a low price because of the insurance costs. My dad says that I should buy an old used car which is just pointless because of the costs of insurance, parts if anything goes wrong and MOT costs. He thinks a new car will just get damaged. I may be 19, but I know how to spend my money wisely and I also don't plan on driving like your stereotypical teen.

Good news! It's the Dacia Sandero! Anyway, putting aside the James May jokes, I actually like Dacia's new lineup! They make perfect company work-horses! If I had to buy company cars, I'd get Logan estates. The Sandero: It's basic, durable and tough. The interior plastics might not be that pretty, but they are quite tough. They are not easy to scratch and are easy to keep clean. The ride isn't bad, performance is enough to get you from A to B and it's fuel efficient. Repair costs are low, parts are cheap and you can have a Dacia serviced by anyone with a garage and some tools.

This is really "Great News"

Yes ,as Kiddo said ,it scored 4 STARS ,NOT 3 STARS !!! And for this price it's much better than she says.

James May: Great news! The Dacia Sandero...

I am from Romania, and Dacia is actually getting a very high-score on reliability. Hopefully the Romanian version is going to be reliable for UK market too. I AM PROUD OF DACIA. And also don't forget that there's an option of 7" touchscreen (LG) multimedia display to put in that reads movies and music directly from your USB drive + GPS + surround control system + more (for about 100-150) Dacia is one brand that says : YES WE CAN DO IT, cheaper.

thank you for the great review! I hope you have better weather there ...some day

Sandero with 1.2 75hp petrol motor cost around 8000 euros for ambiance level of equipment here in Balkans,it's enough for moderate drivers(climate,el.windows,airbags,ESP,central lock etc.) This car offers best in terms of ratio invested-received...

Having purchased this car, it has been a worthwhile purchase. For sure it is not brilliant but is reliable, easy on costs such as petrol and insurance and depending on one's budget if it's limited, then I'd say this is a worthwhile car. Of course, it has its disadvantages such as when using it on motorways, the car does struggle a little and other minor issues too, but honestly, it really is a worthwhile purchase and in an age where petrol in the UK is increasing and so is insurance, for those who are students who work part-time and in full-time education (like myself), this is car I would recommend, that's if you are choosing to purchase a new car that is. Alternatively, there are some great second hand deals going. In any case, I enjoy this little runner.

But we all know James May loves the Sandero

Good news! The Dacia Sandero review is here! (read it in James's voice)

GREAT NEWS!! Car Buyer reviewed the Dacia Sandero on RU-vid!

can someone tell me if you can fit a 6 ft 3 inch surfboard in the back, don't mind if it pokes through the two front seats, and just to make clear i am very aware of the availability of roof racks but as many surfers will know you can't leave a board on the roof if once your done in the water to get some food or have a drink since it will be easily stolen of the roof

Keying the rear door! I love that retro feel.

You should review the Logan MCV, just bought one :)

Good news!

I like this review. She’s looking at the positives and keeping the price in mind :)

Good pronunciation of the name : Dacia . It is a fair review . Greetings from Romania ! :)

Does anyone know whether the steering wheel can be adjusted?

Great review keep them coming

Are there ANY hatchback cars where you CAN'T fold the back seats?

Good news! Dacia Sandero is finally here!

Dacia > Lamborghini

key to open the boot? were is the pacel shelf?

went to see one at a dealers ,and there is no spare wheel ! and was told the model does not come with one ! is this true does anyone know ?

James May is ecstatic watching this right now!

Love our Red Sandero II 2013 1.2 LPG Laureate 💪😎

James May's going to be thrilled

how james would say:"That's brilliant actually, I have to concede that, because what I've always found really difficult is this (opens the boot with a key easily)"

Do you fit in most overhead storage bins? Please reply

i just took a ride with a taxi the other day. the car was a dacia logan who just turned over 400.000 km. the driver was very happy with the car and said he never changed anything but the usual stuff like oil etc..

She has a 2005 CL500 as her daily driver, so I didnt expect her to praise it so highly

Great news!

US Fiesta starts around 14K, but our dealers rarely keep base model in stock, so real cost to pick one up at the dealer today would be 16-17K prior to tax :-/

Even if I'm not a big fan of Dacia I assure you that you can equip any model with remote control central locking system. It was made to be very low cost while a remaining a decent A to B car.

Looking to buy my first car if I can land a job soon, so far I've been checking out reviews of the Seat Ibiza, Ford Fiesta, Dacia Sandero and the Hyundai I10. Would prefer to go small car rather than city but am open to city as well. Any other ideas?? Clio?

how its the 0.9 and the new 1.5dci an old version of Renault?

Was that one of the newer ones?

Can you do a Dacia logan mcv review ???

Ha ha ha! Says the freezing ass man while waiting for the bus :)

hey - is that the roof antenna from my old peugeot 406? (if your bonnet opens up at 60mph you can smash the roof in with it - don't ask)

Yeah, I didn't say that was the lowest price. Brakes are a thing I don't get greedy about and I do spend money on them. I personally didn't hear of Kashiyama but I'll check it out. The prices I mentioned were for Brembo discs (ventilated) and ATE pads.

I am buying my first car soon, can anyone recommend this?

Needing a key to open the boot?

Yes, I could own a Dacia Sandero. I love the simplicity - very refreshing compared to the fancy futuristic Citroen's and so on.

I believe it's actually a 4 star for crash safety. The old pre-2012 model was 3 star.

they are a really good car. im a pdi technician and work on this car and the duster. a very good choice in my opinion.

whats the song used in the first part of the video???

I think you got mixed up between the Dacia and the Skoda. I was talking about the Skoda. It has no reliability problems, as the Dacia might do as it is made by Renault.

The Dacia Sandero. Now available in right hand drive.

i have a Dacia Logan the saloon version of the Sandero for 8 years and it is very good

Yay the Dacia sandero!! I get a strange but satisfying feeling when i hear that name.

Looks like good car. Very good review.

0:48 she is using an old fasion key to open into the trunk ? I have a 20 year old car with a remote controle door opener .

I wonder why they haven't reviewed the Dacia Lodgy. it's a great mpv!

Very good car for the money you pay. I think the sales will be great especially because it is a car for not only young people who want to buy their very first one but a car for those who want a new car and don't have a big budget. A big competitor, in my opinion is the VW Golf (either second hand or the base line of one new). Greetings from ROMANIA!!!

Do you guys ever shoot videos in dry weather ?

Oh God I was going to buy a TVR Chimaera but good Christ this thing has changed my mind. Hosannah!

Song?

Alot dont have fully adjustable steering seats..only thing that lets em down really (for the money)

From what ive read, VW and BMW usually rate high in a lot of areas, but reliability ( especially long-term reliability) is not one of them. What are your sources?

Good news everyone!! The Dacia Sandero made it to the UK :O James May should be delighted

I have Logan (that would be something like Sandero sedan) for eight years and it is a masterpiece of durability and reliability. Spare parts (here in Serbia) are somewhat more expensive than for Reanault but this is a more reliable car, especially for off-road and bad fuel quality

James Mays soul has finally found peace.

I really like the Dacia Sandero. I think it is quite handsome and I also wish they would sell them in the US.

Yeah, that was years ago mate. Now in 2013 Renault has got a great reputation and every car has great reliability. :P

We need James May to do this test!

This car is James May APPROVED.

James May loves this car.

A car to concider when getting a first car! But I want a Skoda Citigo!!!

Refreshingly simple! I want a spartan reanultsport 2.0 turbo RWD version!

new logan?

Protons are still sold in Britain by the way, the satria neo is still

we bought a new sandero dci, we are really impressed. 75 mpg is realistically achievable and if you need it there is plenty of grunt. lots of space and around 5k cheaper than corsa/fiesta. couldn't care less about the badge. the dacia is the very antithesis of BMW, people would buy a dog turd if it had a BMW badge on it.

Dacia is a very good brand, maybe not luxury, but cheap to buy and run, and build to last in time, so very practical for daily drivers

Yes and actually this is the second generation. Only the first was tested for safety and got three stars but this actual model never got crash tested yet.

The Renault 1.5 dci diesel is probably one of the most used engines for so many cars you wouldn't believe (all cars in Dacia range, Clio, Megane, Fluence, Nissan Qashqai even the new Mercedes A class uses this engine) and it's quite an old engine that has been updated and updated so any reliability problems or faults have been ironed out. The same applies to all the electronics as they've been used for donkeys years by Renault and all faults have been ironed out.

Why did you tested the entry-level model?same question on Dacia Duster review.....when you test Vw or Volvo etc you test the high-spec models ,wich come with lots of options ,of course are better cars ,but at prices 3-4 times bigger......not a fair comparison

Yes, that's exactly what I say to, I'm glad that you are agree.

Yep, May defiantly watching this

Why are so many journalists getting this wrong. The old Sandero scored 3 stars in the EuroNcap tests, not the new one which hasn't been tested yet!!!

Why do you test the cheap version?:))

I've heard it pronounced daysia, datchia and now datsia. Which one is it?

James May aproves this

"No reliability problems there as they are made by Volkswagen." That is an urban legend my friend.

im a huge vauxhall fan too but you have to open your mind and give them a chance. i have a old nova and its not a runner, but the daily drivve it a saab. just because you love a curtain car brand doesnt mean the rest of them are crap! Dacia are good cars for the money. i borrowed one for a week, and yeah its not the best drive but for the money you pay for one, in fact astonishing for the money! OPEN YOUR MIND

Renault Technologie Roumanie (RTR) is the only automotive engineering center in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region and the largest Renault engineering center outside France, with approximately 2500 engineers. RTR mainly accommodates engineering functions (conception and testing), along with purchasing, design and support (management, human resources, IT). The main fields of activity are designing and improving vehicles and adapting engines and powertrains.

Main reason why it has so soft suspension is because in many Eastern Europe countries roads are terrible . But if you stick to speed limit , you would have no problems . Also , in Serbia , where FIAT still makes MK2 Punto for domestic and local market and it is about 1000-1300 euro cheaper , many would still rather have Dacia . I drove that Punto at my driving school 2 years ago and it is no bad at all , but Sandero is much more of a car . Conclusion : 2013 Sandero is better than 1997 Punto .

Great News! The new Dacia Sandero is here!

It's a Romanian car company, part of the Renault Group. The cars are basically previous generations Renaults with different bodies and stuff....

Since when big bottle test became big handbag test ?

Where is Captain Slow?

yes your right my parents own a 06 Micra and just recently the boot lid doesnt work and we checked that all the electronic parts are Renault which is terrible for electrics

yes they are.

how tall is she?

Proper Dacia pronunciancion. Bravo!!!

Yoy have to use key to open boot. Haven't seen that done in years. At least she found a car worthy of her talents

The engine is entirely Renault, but not the latest generation, it's the previous one (hence the lesser horsepower). It can't be weaker, it's a newer car, which makes it safer. And the reason it got 3 instead of 5 NCAP rating stars, is because you don't get ESP as standard, and some other safety software whose name i forgot. It's not exciting, the most beautiful thing on the market, but it does the job very well. I live in a country where Dacia is accustomed, and owners say they are happy.