Dacia Sandero: Price from £5,995

The new 2013 Dacia Sandero – revealed at Paris 2012 – is to cost from just £5,995 when it arrives in the UK in January 2013.

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We had the reveal of the new Dacia Sandero ahead of the Paris Motor Show last month, and the news that the Sandero is to cost from just £,5,995 – making it the UK’s cheapest new car – gives substance to Renault’s claims that the Dacia range will offer ‘Shockingly Affordable Prices’ when launched.

The Sandero joins the Dacia Duster SUV in an attack on the burgeoning ‘Budget’ market in the UK and stands out as a Fiesta rival at almost half the price you’d pay for entry in to Ford’s evergreen supermini (£9,795).

The Sandero’s styling isn’t cutting edge, but nor does it shriek ‘Cheap’ at first glance. Even the engines are decent with offerings from Renault’s lineup including the 0.9 litre, 89bhp 3-cylinder and the latest 1.5 litre dCi diesel (just like you’ll get in the new Mercedes A class).

But the headline-grabbing £5,995 Sandero will only come with the 1.2 litre petrol in entry-level Access trim with 15″ steel wheels and black bumpers. Still, it’s a cheap car.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more you can upgrade to Ambience trim which adds painted bumpers, remote central locking, Bluetooth and electric front windows with the 0.9 litre version costing £7,595 and the 1.5 litre diesel £8,595.

Go completely barking and forget you chose a Dacia because it was dirt cheap and you can opt for the range-topping Laureate trim, which throws in stuff like AirCon, Cruise, heated electric door mirrors, electric rear windows and Fogs. The Sandero Laureate will cost £7,995 with the 1.2 petrol, £8,795 with the 0.9 TCe and £9,795 with the 1.5 dCi diesel.

And if you do go daft and opt for the Sandero Laureate you may as well dip in to the Sandero options, which include 7″ MediaNav at £250, Leather trim at £600, 15″ Alloys at £425, metallic paint at £470 or the Protection Pack at £395 (parking sensors, alarm) and Touring Pack (roof bars, luggage net and front armrest) at £395.

It’s the headline £5,995 for the entry-level Sandero 1.2 that will grab the headlines, but even at the very top end – and with extras too – you’ll struggle to spend much more than £11k. The price of a Fiesta 1.25 Style.

The Dacia Sandero opens for ordering on 22nd October with UK Dacia dealers expecting their first cars at the start of January 2013 and first customer cars later that month.

Dacia Sandero Photos >>