Dacia Sandero (2023) – Back to Basics

Dacia Sandero TCe 100 ECO-G Essential – €16,700

At the end of 2020, just after the introduction of the current Dacia Sandero, we also covered the car in ‘Back to Basics’. Now the Sandero is back, and there are three good reasons for that. Firstly, the car has been facelifted, with a new grille, new logos and some minor changes to the interior. Secondly, after a price increase for the Mitsubishi Space Star, it can call itself the cheapest new car in the Netherlands. And thirdly, the re-treatment of the Sandero shows that a lot has changed in terms of price since the ‘corona era’. In December 2020, this compact hatchback still cost €13,490, now you pay €16,700 for a new Dacia Sandero.

For that money, there is an Essential available as usual, a version name that fits well with the cheapest version of the cheapest car. The ‘necessary’ is done, but that’s about it. The Essential is considerably cheaper than the Expression and distinguishes itself with black door handles and mirror covers, a front bumper without fog lights and steel wheels with hubcaps. Interesting detail: the Expression also has hubcaps, but they are nicer ‘design wheels’. Yes. LED headlights are standard in all cases and the times of black, unpainted bumpers are also over at Dacia. Speaking of paint: the Sandero is delivered in white at no extra cost, all other colors increase the price by 600 euros.

If you think of bare, cheap cars and think of a key that has to be turned in the keyhole to open the door, you are already behind the times. The Sandero simply has central door locking with remote control, but also electrically operated windows at the front, an on-board computer, a radio with DAB+ and Bluetooth and even cruise control. What are we missing then? Well, there are also some things that we can safely call essential these days. The most important of these is air conditioning, which is on the options list for €600. Always do this, of course, to combat ‘global warming’ and for the residual value. The Sandero Essential also does not have a touchscreen. There is nothing you can do about this, except connect your smartphone to the car using an app and a phone holder. We think we can live with that.

Dacia Sandero Essential, so no screen and no air conditioning

If we take a look at the options list, it is noticeable that something has seriously changed in that respect since 2020. ‘Pack Comfort’ has been deleted. That’s a shame, because with a depth-adjustable steering wheel and a center armrest in the front, this was recommended in our opinion. The more expensive Expression not only has that, but also air conditioning as standard. For €18,450 you get as a bonus a multimedia screen with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, a better finished interior, light and rain sensors and parking sensors, which makes this actually a better deal. But hey, that’s not ‘Back to Basics’…

Fortunately, what has remained is the motorization of the basic Sandero. With a turbo and 100 hp, it is considerably more pleasant than the somewhat poor engines that you get from the competition in this price range, and it also runs on LPG. This makes the Dacia Sandero not only cheap to purchase, but also economical to drive!