10:25 am, October 18, 2012
DACIA has announced its new Sandero supermini will cost from £5,995 when it arrives in January 2013.
In a move aimed straight at popular rivals like Ford, Vauxhall, Kia and Hyundai, Dacia’s new Sandero will not only be the cheapest five-door hatchback on sale, but also the UK’s most affordable car.
However, for that bargain-basement price, customers will be not be treated to niceties they’re used to on a typical supermini. The £5,995 Access model only comes in white, has black plastic bumpers, wind-up windows and no radio.
Thankfully there’s power steering and a host of safety features including ESC (Electronic Stability Control), driver, passenger and front side airbags and ISOFIX points in the rear seats.
The Ambience model costs £600 more and gets a radio CD player with USB and AUX input, remote central locking and electric front windows.
The top-of-the-range Laureate kicks in at £7,995 and comes with air conditioning, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, cruise control and electric rear windows as standard.
Dacia expects two-thirds of Brits to plump for the range-topping Laureate model, and to put its £7,995 price into perspective, an entry-level Ford Fiesta costs £9,795.
There’s also three engines on offer. Renault’s perennial 73bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine is available with every trim level, while Ambiance and Laureate models can come with a 0.9-litre 87bhp petrol and an 87bhp 1.5-litre diesel.
Optional extras include a fully-integrated sat-nav and multimedia system for £250, leather upholstery costs £600, metallic paint is £450 and 15-inch alloy wheels cost £425.
