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Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Dacia Sandero II: the buying guide

City car · 2012–2020 · Petrol, Diesel

✓ 27 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€347/month
Indicative prices
€6,490 – €10,070

3 known faults

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Dacia Sandero II, front three-quarter view

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Good choice, check first

Simple, roomy supermini for its size (320 L boot), rated 4 stars by Euro NCAP in 2013. The weak points noted by L'argus and Fiches-auto mainly concern the clutch and the manual gearbox, as well as the particulate filter and EGR of the 1.5 dCi. The 0.9 TCe 90 with manual gearbox is the petrol choice recommended by Fiches-auto; the Easy-R automated gearbox is criticised.

Reliability
4.0/5
Indicative prices
€6,490 – €10,070
Monthly cost
€347
Euro NCAP
4/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 0.9 TCe 90, 1.5 dCi 90.

  • 1.2 16V 75

    Petrol · Manual · 75 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 110 Nm: simple and proven, but judged too sluggish outside town by Fiches-auto. Replaced by the 1.0 SCe 75 at the end-2016 facelift.

  • 1.2 16V 75 GPL

    Petrol · Manual · 75 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.2 16V petrol and LPG bi-fuel version, with manual gearbox, according to the L'argus technical sheet.

  • 1.0 SCe 75

    Petrol · Manual · 75 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Naturally aspirated three-cylinder with 97 Nm, introduced with the end-2016 facelift: more modern and more economical than the 1.2, but still laboured on acceleration. Not offered on the Stepway.

    Engine: Renault 1.0 SCe (naturally aspirated three-cylinder)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice

  • 0.9 TCe 90

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Manual · 90 hp · 6.3 L/100 km · 142 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    Turbo three-cylinder, the best petrol choice according to Fiches-auto, which recommends the manual gearbox.

    Engine: Renault 0.9 TCe (H4Bt)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • 0.9 TCe 90 Easy-R

    Petrol · Automatic · 90 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Same engine paired with the Easy-R automated gearbox, judged slow and jerky by L'argus; for Fiches-auto, the transmission spoils the whole package.

    Engine: Renault 0.9 TCe (H4Bt)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • 1.5 dCi 75

    Diesel · Manual · 75 hp · Crit'Air 2

    Entry-level 1.5 dCi, judged limited on motorways and under load by Fiches-auto.

    Engine: Renault 1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.5 dCi 90

    ✓ Recommended

    Diesel · Manual · 90 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 dCi with 220 Nm, economical, recommended for high-mileage drivers by Fiches-auto; buy one with a complete service history and avoid examples that have only been driven in town.

    Engine: Renault 1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.5 Blue dCi 95

    Diesel · Manual · 95 hp · Crit'Air 2

    End-of-career AdBlue version; L'argus flags the urea tank and oil consumption as points to watch.

Market prices

€6,490 – €10,070

Indicative range: 2014 to 2020, yearly medians of 88 online listings collected by AutoUncle (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Fragile clutch and squeals when disengaging

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The clutch is among the faults most frequently cited by owners on Fiches-auto (32 mentions out of 413 reviews): judder, burning smell, difficult gear changes. One owner of a 2016 0.9 TCe 90 with automated gearbox reports replacing the clutch and flywheel at around 6,000 km. L'argus also reports squeals when disengaging the clutch on the Dacia Sandero and Duster, attributed to a batch of non-compliant clutch slave cylinders, replaced by a new part number introduced into production in early 2020; the repair also includes retightening the flywheel and clutch mechanism.

Versions
1.2 16V 75, 1.2 16V 75 GPL, 1.0 SCe 75, 0.9 TCe 90, 0.9 TCe 90 Easy-R, 1.5 dCi 75, 1.5 dCi 90, 1.5 Blue dCi 95
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Noisy manual gearbox

Severity 2/3 · Costly

L'argus lists the manual gearbox among the weak points common to all versions. Fiches-auto describes a gearbox that can creak or whistle, especially when changing gear while cold, with possible causes being the linkage, the synchros or the internal bearings.

Versions
1.2 16V 75, 1.2 16V 75 GPL, 1.0 SCe 75, 0.9 TCe 90, 1.5 dCi 75, 1.5 dCi 90, 1.5 Blue dCi 95
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Clogged particulate filter and EGR valve (1.5 dCi)

Severity 1/3 · Annoying

L'argus cites the particulate filter among the points to watch on the Sandero's 1.5 dCi, and Car Verif presents the EGR valve, which clogs, as a classic weak point of this engine. Fiches-auto also lists the EGR and the particulate filter among the faults reported on the dCi 90 and advises avoiding examples that have only been driven in town.

Versions
1.5 dCi 75, 1.5 dCi 90, 1.5 Blue dCi 95
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Dacia Sandero”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€155
Insurance€74
Maintenance€28
Depreciation€90
Total per month€347

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€155

0.9 TCe 90 version: combined consumption of 6.3 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

6.3 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €155

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€74

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€28

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€90

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Try the clutch and the gearbox when cold: no slipping, judder, squeals when disengaging, gears that catch.
  • Easy-R: check the smoothness of gear changes and of pull-offs, and ask for the history of clutch repairs.
  • 1.5 dCi: check there is no engine or particulate filter warning light and no loss of power, and prefer a car that has been driven on the road.
  • Listen to the front axle on rough roads, a weak point cited by L'argus.
  • Inspect the paintwork, which L'argus considers fragile.
  • Have a Dacia dealership check, using the serial number, the recalls and campaigns still outstanding.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Has the clutch or flywheel already been replaced, and at what mileage?
  • How is the car normally used: mostly in town or on the road?
  • Do you have the service invoices?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: crash71100, CC0

Dacia Sandero

III · since 2020

Good choice, check first
Price
€10,500 – €15,600
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Renault Clio

V · since 2019

Good choice
Price
€10,994 – €14,990
Reliability
4/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: MoCars, CC0

Peugeot 208

II · since 2019

Buy with care
Price
€8,900 – €18,000
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Cutlass, CC0

Citroën C3

III · 2016–2024

Extra caution
Price
€5,200 – €11,300
Reliability
2.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Dacia Sandero II (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Sandero 2 safe?

Euro NCAP awarded it 4 stars in May 2013, with 80% for adult occupant protection and 79% for child protection; the safety assist score is 55%.

Which engine should I choose for a Sandero 2?

Fiches-auto recommends the 0.9 TCe 90 with manual gearbox for petrol, and the 1.5 dCi 90 for high-mileage drivers, provided there is a complete service history. The Easy-R automated gearbox is criticised.

What is the boot capacity of the Sandero 2?

320 litres, according to the technical sheets of Fiches-auto.

Found a listing?

Soon, we will analyse your Dacia Sandero listing: price, mileage, watch points.

Get notified at launch