Dacia Sandero hatchback – MPG, running costs & CO2
Dacia is one of the few manufacturers offering models that run on petrol or LPG
Pros
- Fantastic value
- Practical
- Right amount of kit
Cons
- Access trim is too basic
- Base engine is sluggish
- Road noise
Don't expect any electrification in the Sandero, as any hybrid electric setup would make the car too expensive. Instead, there's a brace of efficient petrol engines, both of which should prove cheap to run. Intriguingly, the Dacia is one of the few cars in the UK offered with an LPG version, which allows the driver to switch between petrol and a second tank.
Dacia Sandero MPG & CO2
The entry-level SCe petrol engine is no longer available new, but it was sluggish to drive anyway, and its 53.3mpg fuel economy figure was identical to the current TCe 90 engine. Both versions also emit around 120g/km of CO2, which is not too bad for a supermini, but hardly groundbreaking. The automatic version increases fuel consumption (its economy figure dropped to 45.6mpg and emissions were rated at 129g/km) so we think it’s the one to avoid. The manual Sandero is in a middling Benefit-in-Kind band for company-car drivers, while annual VED (tax) will cost the standard rate from the second year onwards.
The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel model may also tempt some used buyers for whom efficiency is a priority. Dacia added a separate 40-litre LPG tank in the spare wheel well, in addition to the 50-litre petrol tank. It can return 42.2mpg using LPG and 52.3mpg when switched back to petrol.
The Bi-Fuel setup gives the car a range of more than 800 miles, and Dacia claims the car emits around 11% less CO2 when running on LPG. The fuel is cheaper to buy than petrol, currently costing around 75p per litre, but not every forecourt sells it, so it's important to check availability in your area.
Insurance groups
The Dacia Sandero's low-powered engines, simplicity and budget price mean it sits in a low insurance group – the manual Essential TCe 90 is in group 12.
Warranty
Dacia offers a standard three-year and 60,000-mile warranty. This is on a par with Ford and Volkswagen, but it's disappointing that it falls short of rivals such as Kia and Hyundai.
Servicing
Dacia offers servicing plans to make it more affordable to cover maintenance. These can either be purchased upfront when you first own the car, or paid for monthly to spread the cost.
