It has long been seen coming. The anticrisis car is already one of the kings of the market. Under the seal of Renault and in the shadow of his brother sleeker Clio, the Dacia Sandero was the third best selling car in December, handing him over. With a rate almost € 7,000 less, are they really so different? Does the low cost another price to pay? The analyzed road … and in circuit.

If the September 20, 2004 someone had predicted that today would be one of the market leaders in sales that mark, a rate of kebab and unpaved roads, we presented its first product in the heart of Turkey… the nicest thing anyone would have told him is that he was not sane. In the economic “boom”, Romanian brand Dacia visionary, recently acquired by the Renault group, he invited us to know who called it “miracle car “means a Logan for 5,000 €. No ABS, no power steering, no frontal airbag, no air conditioning, with a body 20 mm higher than any saloon … not even contemplated for Western Europe.

The Dacia Logan was born as a workhorse for emerging markets and whims of fate, Today is not only the brand’s market growth, but the few “pulling truck” and at a rate of 44%. Improved equipment, months after that exotic trip in France gave the nod to that Logan and a car, you are finished creating a whole range: now it has four different models. And if the Dacia Duster He anticipated a year ago to become successful for months by surprise the best-selling SUV, Sandero is now hoisted the flag: If in August 2013 was the best selling car market in December is still in the top 3. Are there any who can not believe? It may not have followed the evolution of the brand.

Dacia Emergente

Not only in design and better presented, The low cost is not what it was in 2013. Dacia Sandero climb to even being aware that you do on mechanical parts of old Renault Clio, is another story. True, you scratch and lose, and noticeable cost savings, for example, the giant wheel (unregulated even in depth), in a too soft seating and a mechanism to regulate its height that almost seems to catapult you in a shared instrumentation for diesel and gasoline and unmarked cutting in a trunk or a tank cap only open by wrench … or even a parasol without cover for the mirror that produces reflections incomodísimos for the driver. But so it is that, with the same length as the battle and Renault, Dacia knows what plays: significantly improves space Clio, up to 10 cm wide back leg 2 cm, height 7cm and 40 liters of trunk.

In addition and above all after his last restyling, Dacia Sandero already equips the computer, ESP, front side airbags and Isofix standard, and mountable option until parking sensors (206 €), Bluetooth and USB (standard on Laureate), air conditioning (425 €), cruise control (150 €), browser with touch screen (230) … A real treat and by that payment all, Dacia Sandero 1.5 dCi one will not cost more than 12,500 € to 5,000 € … even less than a Clio virtually the same equipment.

Of course, a Renault Clio is a Renault Clio … and this lush new Clio IV. Engages in sight, and touch, and that despite brand new platform, the new Sandero literally “copy” also its new center console, air vents and controls distribution … and first uneasy. How much price difference? But materials, colorful, components and, above all, final adjustment step seem to ask anything else arrancarlo to be displayed as a superior vehicle. How to finish confirm?

circuit

so we choose put the cars in the INTA (National Institute of Aerospace Technology) to perform specific exercises and see how it behaves each limit. We started by a eslalon, Y clear victory for Renault Clio. Fast, active, reactive, with an ESP noninterfering and immediate changes in direction. used only 9.0 seconds, a 9.5 by Dacia discover which it takes easy, but in the strong support loses precision. Understeer and greatly increase the rate does not fall between cones, a very intrusive ESP always try to prevent further landslides body.

Followed by always demanding and definitive test or elusive moose. And good general note, yes, with Renault Clio also better: It is more accurate guidance, without much body roll and more compliant correcting trajectories. Get well beat faster way, 72.2 km / h compared to 69.7 km / h of a Dacia Sandero in the end it’s down again rate: goes as far as it endures the ESP, since the limit you lose your direction, and when it starts and ends before going to slide right.

Last year, asymmetrical braking from 80 km / h, with right and left wheels on dry asphalt on slippery floor. And here, surprising response Dacia Sandero, which for the car in just 60.2 meters, 70 meters from the Renault Clio. Strong and fast, but, yes, also more nervous reaction, sometimes forcing keep direction to keep the path. The Renault Clio clearly lengthens braking, although change is more stable and linear. The match ends more (Clio) or less (Sandero) control that is the question.

… And road

For something like what happens in circuit. Not so much the how, but how. Because cold data then hide another reality. In fact, you wait for the good overall results in performance Renault Clio 1.5 dCi, but perhaps they surprise you more great records of a humble Dacia Sandero. And is that, sharing same mechanics Diesel 90 hp Renault (Fantastic, by the way), with a body lighter 80 kg and therefore, with the ability to “pull” exchange developments 15 percent longer, Dacia will understand that much has refined its utilitarian … even this time increased rigidity damping.

No wonder so In response, smoothness or mechanical performance, the differences between them are minimal. Only consumption (still good both give clear advantage to Renault to count on city with Stop / Start … and touch, of course. Because, beyond good and couples figures, Renault Clio car always feels better. Not bad Dacia Sandero wheel, pleasant in everyday driving and with a more than correct ride comfort. But the Clio is something else.

It notes and touch, especially a much more accurate and informative, and more suspensions direction filterability. And you feel more as you increase the level of demand. more isolated (in Dacia cut deadening material is noted), pulls better, more settled circulates at high speed and, above all, the body is always more subject. Looser, less forceful in supporting and not as accurate in their paths, the Dacia Sandero driving easy, but calls for more caution behind the wheel. Yes, I understood as a transportation tool, not only poses no problem, but may even exceed expectations.

Final conclusion

Does the Sandero? Yes. Is it better to Clio? As well. Does the final victory? So far, always for Renault. And, even with notable differences, success is always at home. The two ended December between the 10 best-selling cars. The Sandero meets as car service … plus another important added value in 2013: his meager 3 star hotel in the earlier crash tests EuroNCAP have already risen to 4, with protection values ​​to a Citroen C3 than a Nissan Micra or. Does anyone still doubt as to its credibility? I, having lived that September 2004 and no. And, in 2013, the renovated Dacia Sandero was presented this time in the luxurious estate of La Bobadilla in Granada, rhythm and Iberian ham. Of course, symptomatic. Another thing is that you also ask more to a car, and driving precision touch and ended up staying with the Renault Clio.