Dacia Sandero Stepway – click for hi-res image
With an impressive package of well-designed and well-made cars at rock bottom prices, Dacia had every intention of shaking up the UK car market.
And nearly two years after launching a new line-up here they are already looking at snapping up a 1% market share, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Across Europe there has been a similar success story, more than 3 million people have bought their vehicles.
Dacia Sandero Stepway is a success story
In the UK, the firm’s success story is one that is going from strength-to-strength and they’ve sold more than 35,000 vehicles since the beginning of 2013.
For British buyers, the most popular vehicle in the model line-up is the Dacia Sandero Stepway.
As one of the fastest-growing marques around, the firm has sold 18,583 vehicles this year so far – which is more than they sold for the whole of last year. Sales are up by nearly 60%.
Dacia Sandero Stepway is hugely popular
Dacia is an arm of French car building giant Renault and these bargain motors found 3,523 new owners in September 2014.
At this rate, the firm will soon outsell Jaguar and Mitsubishi in the UK.
There’s no doubt that we are increasingly seeing more Dacias on our roads and unlike other manufacturers, most buyers are private individuals rather than being fleets and business users. Indeed, 92% of its customers are private buyers.
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There’s no doubting the excellent value for money package that comes with buying a Dacia – the Dacia Sandero starts at less than £6,000.
It might be lacking in kit and comforts (some models do not come with a radio, for instance) but it’s road handling is very good and it’s a pleasant place to be.
The Dacia Sandero Stepway is a crossover hatchback which costs £8,395 and there’s an estate car too called the Logan MCV at £6,995.
The firm also unveiled its new Duster, an impressive SUV, last month which costs from £9,495. This is despite the new vehicle having new styling and more equipment than the outgoing model but there was no increase in its price.