Dacia Sandero - long term review

In the olden days of 2013, the Dacia Sandero arrived on UK shores for the first time. It was a cheap and occasionally cheerful hatchback based on a modified version of the Mk2 Renault Clio platform – a platform that had first arrived way back in 1998. Yikes.

Plus, to add insult to injury for Dacia, Renault whipped the covers off the Mk4 Clio at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, just a couple of months before the first Sandero was registered in the UK.

And although it really was very cheap, the first Dacia available to us Brits did feel decidedly old-school even when it was brand spanking new. Early versions of that car came with an Iron Age 1.2-litre petrol engine which produced a heady 75bhp and meant a 0-62mph time of 14.5 seconds.

Now though, the contemporary Sandero is based on the same Renault–Nissan CMF-B platform as the current Clio. Well, Renault says there are LS (Low Spec) and HS (High Spec) versions of the platform that separate the two superminis, but as far as we can tell the LS just lacks the capability to house some of the more annoying active safety systems.

So, now the Dacia is based on modern underpinnings and comes with a fresh 3cyl turbo engine, do you really need to buy a Renault Clio?

Well, the extraordinarily bright pre-facelift Clio you see on these pages comes in at a grand total of £25,795. That’s over £10,000 more than you’d pay for TG’s long-term Sandero, and the only option boxes that have been ticked are £300 for a spare wheel and £700 for the TOWIE-spec paint.

The higher base price is because this is an E-Tech Hybrid powertrain that pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine with two electric motors, a 1.2kWh battery and a fancy clutchless four-speed dog box that Renault says is derived from F1 tech. It’s a complex system but essentially there’s one 48bhp electric motor that can drive the wheels, while the other motor replaces the alternator/starter motor and powers the auto gearbox to match speeds during changes and negate the need for a clutch.

The result is a powertrain that’s much smoother and slightly more refined than something like a Toyota Yaris with its CVT gearbox, but ultimately the hybrid is less fizzy and a fair bit heavier than the little 1.0-litre engine plus manual gearbox combo of the Sandero. The Clio is quicker off the line, but after that you’ll be having much less fun.

Admittedly, the Clio does look fantastic in top spec R.S. Line trim, although the recent facelift has ditched this Renaultsport link for a new ‘esprit Alpine’ trim. Dacia’s new white badge and branding helps to give the front of the Sandero some impact, but in general it’s much more ‘generic supermini’ than the cool Clio. The Renault also gets big 17-inch alloy wheels while the Dacia is stuck with steelies and plastic wheel trims.

The Sandero does win the space game, with an airier cabin and a 328-litre boot compared to the 301 litres that you get in the hybrid Clio. The posher seats in the Renault make it a nicer place to sit up front though and the 9.3-inch portrait touchscreen is leagues ahead of Dacia’s unit in terms of resolution and responsiveness.

There’s also clearly more soundproofing to block out road noise in the Renualt, but with a sluggish feeling powertrain, a firmer ride and not a huge difference in real-world mpg figures, I think I’d rather have the Dacia and an extra £10k in my pocket.