The Dacia Sandero is a five-door, five-seat petrol supermini sold in Essential, Expression and Journey trims, all with the same 99 bhp 1-litre turbo engine and manual gearbox. This page explains the range, what each trim adds and how to choose, with live lease deals listed below.
The Dacia Sandero is a five-door, five-seat supermini that does the ordinary jobs well and charges you nothing extra for showing off. It's the smallest car in Dacia's UK line-up and the one most people meet the brand through.
It suits drivers who want a brand-new car for town, the school run and the occasional motorway trip, without a long options list to argue over. Reviewers consistently describe it as honest, roomy for its size and easy to drive.
The choice is simple: one hatchback body, one petrol engine - a 1-litre turbo with 99 bhp and a manual gearbox - and three trims, Essential, Expression and Journey. That's the whole decision.
Dacia Sandero key facts
| Body style | Hatchback |
|---|---|
| Powertrains | Petrol (99 bhp) |
| Seats | 5 |
| Economy (WLTP) | 43.0–44.0 mpg |
| Manufacturer warranty | 3 years / 60,000 miles |
| Euro NCAP | 2 stars |
Manufacturer data for the versions we currently offer. Last updated 19 September 2026.
The Sandero is Dacia's supermini, now in its third generation, sold here in one five-door hatchback shape with five seats and a 3-year or 60,000-mile manufacturer warranty. It's built to be simple rather than plush.
Road testers reliably praise the space inside for the money, the light steering and the soft-riding, unfussy way it covers ground. They're just as reliable about the downsides: hard plastics, and more engine and wind noise at motorway speed than pricier rivals.
At 1,059 kg it's a light car, and that shows in how it drives. The 2.60 m wheelbase gives decent rear legroom for a supermini, and the roof will take 80 kg of load with proper bars fitted.
Because the Sandero is cheap to run, easy to live with, and every version already has the kit most drivers use daily. Leasing also keeps you in a car covered by the manufacturer warranty for the whole contract, which suits a car bought on running costs.
Rear parking sensors, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking, air conditioning, DAB digital radio and automatic headlights are standard on every Sandero, whichever trim you pick. Cruise control with a speed limiter and a drowsiness detection camera are there from Essential upwards.
Be clear-eyed on safety, though: Euro NCAP awarded the Sandero two stars, with 70% for adult occupant protection and 72% for child occupant protection, but 41% for vulnerable road users and 42% for safety assist. The crash-protection scores are respectable; it's the assistance technology that pulls the overall rating down.
There's only one, so this part is easy: every Sandero on offer is the 1-litre turbo petrol with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. No charging, no plug, no hybrid battery to think about.
Three cylinders, 200 Nm of torque and a six-speed manual driving the front wheels. It'll reach 62 mph in 9.7 seconds and 111 mph, with WLTP economy of 43.0-44.0 mpg depending on the version, a 50-litre tank and insurance group 19. Plenty for town work and fine at motorway speeds.
| Petrol | |
|---|---|
| Power | 99 bhp |
| Seats | 5 |
| 0–62 mph | 9.7 s |
| Economy (WLTP) | 43–44 mpg |
Three trims, and the honest answer is that they differ mostly in cameras, comfort kit and wheels rather than how the car drives.
The starting point, on 15-inch "Elma" steel wheels with cloth upholstery. It brings a drowsiness detection camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control with speed limiter, and Media Control.
The Essential is currently available from £208.49 a month.
Expression moves you onto 16-inch steel wheels and adds a reversing camera, keyless entry, and electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, plus front fog lights and rain-sensing wipers. If you park in tight spaces or defrost the car on dark mornings, that's the useful step.
The Expression is currently available from £218.32 a month. Against the Essential, that is currently £9.83/mo more expensive.
Journey is the comfort-and-cameras version: 16-inch Tamia alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, multi view camera, front parking sensors and a 7-inch digital driver display. It also brings heated front seats, wireless phone charging, built-in navigation, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beam, power-folding mirrors and an electric parking brake.
The Journey is currently available from £236.63 a month. Against the Expression, that is currently £18.31/mo more expensive.
Eight paint colours are offered across the range, among them Amber yellow, Cedar green, Glacier white, Iron blue, Pearl black, Sandstone, Shadow grey and Urban grey. Availability varies by version, so check the individual deal - and our guide to choosing mileage, term and spec is worth five minutes before you order.
If you like the Sandero but want a higher driving position and a more rugged look, the Dacia Sandero Stepway covers much the same ground on raised suspension. You can also see the rest of the range on our Dacia leasing page.
Dacia Sandero StepwayRaised, rugged siblingSpecifications from Dacia's UK data and Euro NCAP; equipment and availability vary by version, so check the individual deal. FVL has arranged vehicle leases for over 25 years.
Page updated 19 September 2026 by First Vehicle Leasing. Prices and availability shown on this page are live and change as deals are refreshed.
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