Test drive of the Dacia Sandero ECO-G LPG: much more than a cheap car

We have already said it on other occasions: the Dacia supermini has stopped being a “cheap”, “low-cost” or anti-crisis car. We anticipated this when we attended the static first contact with the new Dacia Sandero. And more recently on the occasion of the range test of the Dacia Sandero on the occasion of its national presentation to the press.

Rather, we can define the Sandero as an affordable car that offers an excellent balance between what you pay for it and what you get in return.

Currently you can get a Dacia Sandero from around 8,800 with offers and financing, according to the brand’s configurator. But I’ll tell you in advance that it is not worth it. It is the Sandero Access SCe with 65 CV, with a very basic finish and an atmospheric engine that essentially limits its use to the city and little more.

The minimum I recommend investing in a Sandero if you want to keep a cheap but complete car that is fully satisfying to drive is the 90 CV TCe, which starts at 10,814 euros with the Essential finish, again based on the price given by the Dacia configurator, with offers and financing.

But for only 500 euros more you get the Sandero ECO-G with the same engine adapted to also run on LPG. Don’t hesitate. Even if you know nothing about this fuel, believe me, the Sandero LPG is worth it. And I’m going to try to explain why in this test.

Dacia Sandero TCe petrol vs ECO-G with LPG

Apart from the higher initial outlay, or the loss of space for the spare wheel (optional, a puncture repair kit comes as standard, the only option for the ECO-G), which is now occupied by the 40-litre gas tank, I can’t think of any other reason to choose the TCe over the ECO-G in the case of the Duster. Well, there’s one more: if you want a Sandero with an automatic gearbox, it has to be the petrol one.

From here on, everything is advantages for the ECO-G, which can run interchangeably on petrol or LPG. And even if you don’t have an LPG refuelling station nearby, you won’t find it hard to find one even when travelling, as you can check on this map of petrol stations with LPG.

The result? Well, a range of 1,000 km between the 40 litres of gas and the 50 litres of petrol. And as long as you can refuel LPG, the kilometres you drive in “gas mode” save around 40% compared with petrol, due to LPG’s lower consumption. Add to this the additional advantages provided by the DGT ECO label that corresponds to the Sandero LPG, which are not few, and you’ll see that it makes a lot of sense.

First doubts about LPG resolved just like that

We will go into more detail later, but let me clear up possible doubts you are probably already thinking about. The first: the car is factory-designed to run on both fuels. The installation is therefore part of the manufacturing process, it has the same warranty as the car and is completely safe. And maintenance is the same; being an LPG car won’t cost you more.

The second: refuelling gas is very easy, many service stations already have this option at the pumps where you normally refuel petrol or diesel. You just have to attach the corresponding adapter included with the car to the gas filler point, located next to the petrol one.

And the third: driving an LPG car is as simple as driving a petrol one. You won’t notice anything different, and you can choose between LPG mode or petrol mode at any time, simply by pressing the corresponding button on the console.

Behind the wheel of the Dacia Sandero ECO-G

Now we get fully into driving and sensations. And I have to say that the Dacia Sandero ECO-G has pleasantly surprised me. In general terms, the leap in perceived quality over the previous Sandero is also confirmed when driving it. This was to be expected, since the platform is the same one used by both the Renault Clio and the Renault Captur.

The engine is a three-cylinder 1.0 with turbocharger that is also used in the Dacia Duster LPG or the Renault Clio LPG, to name just a few. When running in petrol mode, performance does not differ from the TCe, delivering 90 CV and a maximum torque of 160 Nm. But in gas mode both figures rise slightly, delivering 100 CV and 170 Nm of torque.

This does not change the performance, which is equivalent whether running on petrol or LPG. You won’t notice anything at the wheel or the accelerator either. And if in the test of the Dacia Duster ECO-G LPG we already noted that the small 1.0 moves the Dacia SUV along with ease, you can imagine that the Sandero will feel even more comfortable. It is a very pleasant engine, both for its smooth operation and lack of noise and for the way it delivers power, especially at mid-range revs.

Furthermore, this new generation of the Sandero already equips the 1.0 with a six-speed gearbox, which allows you to drive on roads or motorways with the engine very relaxed at low revs. As the engine has plenty of power, you won’t have to keep resorting to the gearbox either.

Up to 1,000 km without refuelling by combining petrol and LPG

In our test we measured an average consumption of 8.4 l/100 km of LPG. That may sound like a lot, but don’t worry, it’s normal for the car to use more in LPG mode than running on petrol. The price difference of LPG, roughly half that of petrol, means the sums work out in the end, and the average saving in euros per kilometre can be put at around 35-40%.

Another thing I really liked about this new Sandero ECO-G, especially compared with the previous generation, is the integration of LPG into the car. There is now a specific button to the left of the steering wheel to switch between petrol and LPG modes, which you can do on the move at any time. Previously a “fitted” button was added to the dashboard, with warning lights to monitor the gas level in the tank.

In addition, the information screen between the instrument dials lets you check the average consumption and the remaining range or fuel, both in LPG mode and in petrol mode.

With the range provided by the LPG tank it is easy to cover about 450 km. This means you’ll only use petrol once the gas runs out (petrol mode switches on automatically in this case), until you refuel LPG again. You could also get close to 1,000 km without refuelling… but half of those, the ones driven on petrol, will cost you more. Using the Sandero ECO-G on petrol, the average consumption we measured during the test was 7.2 l/100 km.

It’s worth noting that the Sandero has an “ECO” mode that is activated by a button on the console. After much testing, I personally think it is best not to use it, since the difference in throttle response is so great that you will often find yourself switching it off. In the long run, I think it is easier to use little fuel in normal mode if you are careful with your right foot and always maintain good pulling power, than to drive in “ECO” mode knowing the car won’t respond the same way to the accelerator when you need it.

To wrap up the dynamic section, the Sandero is now much more efficient and comfortable. That said, although it uses the same platform, it doesn’t convey the same feeling when driving as a Clio does, especially on winding roads. By the way, the Clio LPG costs around 3,000 euros more than the Sandero.

As a curiosity, I have had the chance to drive some units of the previous-generation Dacia Sandero that friends or acquaintances have bought, all delighted with the engine and consumption, but with complaints about a very firm suspension, which I was able to confirm. The new Sandero is, above all, a car with a suspension geared towards comfort. The steering could be a little more precise, but in no case does it feel insecure or force us to keep an eye on the wheel to make corrections. The brakes, for their part, perform without problems.

The Dacia Sandero inside

I have already said that the new Sandero conveys a sense of quality far superior to the previous generation, both visually (the design counts for a lot) and in terms of the materials used, the fit and finish, and the equipment options, which we will look at later.

For example, you can now equip a Sandero with features such as an electric parking brake, keyless entry, an electric sunroof, and a connectivity system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto…

I particularly liked the seats, firm but comfortable and with good grip, and with upholstery that looks like it can take anything. In the better-equipped versions the cabin no longer has the simple look that characterised the previous Sandero, especially thanks to decorative details such as the chrome air vents or the textile trim on the dashboard and door panels. Some controls, such as those for the automatic air conditioning, are exactly the same as those used in the Clio.

Interior space is good for the size of the car, and the same can be said of boot capacity, which increases slightly to almost 330 litres, in line with cars in its segment.

There are some plastics, especially on the door panels or the very top of the dashboard, which feel like hard plastic to the touch; there is more of this type of plastic than there might be in a Clio. But the fit is good, there are no creaks… the textured finish on the dashboard adds a nice touch.

Essential or Comfort: which trim to choose?

The most affordable Sandero ECO-G comes in Essential trim, and its price starts at 11,314 euros. You don’t need to spend more if your budget is very tight. But you’ll see that it’s worth stepping up to Comfort trim, which costs 1,400 euros more. This way you get a well-equipped LPG Sandero for under 13,000 euros.

Essential trim lives up to its name and includes the essentials, such as fog lights, cruise control and speed limiter, a folding rear bench, or the ingenious system for turning your smartphone into the vehicle’s multimedia centre. That said, you would have to add the 440 euros for air conditioning.

That’s why Comfort is the better choice, which adds manual air conditioning, Media Display with an 8-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors, front one-touch electric windows, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors in body colour, driver’s seat with height adjustment, rain and light sensors, a steering wheel adjustable for reach as well as height, leather-wrapped, and upholstery with a better appearance.

The best thing about the Sandero is that the optional equipment is also very affordable. For the Sandero Comfort we recommend considering the rear view camera (270 euros), the blind spot detection system (340 euros), automatic air conditioning (230 euros), the Easy Pack with automatic parking brake (400 euros), 16-inch alloy wheels (270 euros) and the keyless entry system (150 euros).

Don’t overlook the Stepway version

By the way, another recommendation if you’re looking at a Sandero is not to overlook the Stepway version. At present, at the prices on the Dacia configurator, the difference is about 580 euros, and you get a car with a different look.

I would say it looks more relaxed or youthful, although tastes vary. But you can’t deny it a certain crossover style, if only because of the aesthetic differences in the grille and the protective body cladding on the sides, and the option of a practical roof rail system.

In addition, the raised suspension will let you drive with some confidence on well-maintained tracks or paths, and deal more capably with the obstacles we often encounter in the city, such as kerbs or speed bumps.

Image gallery: Dacia Sandero LPG

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackDacia Sandero23 versions · from 13,520 €