I find it tough to write about a vehicle if I fall directly in that car’s intended target market. I have to look at the vehicle as a motoring journalist as well as a potential customer and sometimes these two sides don’t agree at all. And such is the case with the new Renault Sandero. Armed with fresh styling and plenty of standard specification, the motoring-journalist voice inside my head was being drowned out. So, before it falls completely out of hearing range, let me allow that side of me (let’s call her Consumer Kelly) to do the talking first.
With a turbocharged 898 cm3 unit delivering 66 kW and 135 N.m of torque, I expected there to be a little more oomph, but I soon discovered that I needed to make good use of the Sandero’s rev range and five-speed manual ‘box to get it to feel as zippy as I would like it to be, which is weird for a forced-induced car. This, I suspect, will impact on fuel consumption – an area that turbocharged units are supposed to thrive in. Renault claims a consumption of 5,2 litres/100 km. The Sandero’s ride is slightly firm as a result of the 15-inch wheels, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s also a very settled vehicle thanks to the standard fitment of a stability control system in both the Expression and Dynamique models.
The 20-something-year-old side of me (we shall name her Fun Kelly) that has little money and places a lot of value in well, value for money and how much nice stuff (as I would say were I chatting to my friends) I could get for my hard-earned cash, doesn’t always look at engine offering and ride quality first though. What this side of me immediately considers is how many people can I fit in the vehicle with relative comfort, would there be space for all our luggage should we want to road trip, how can I play my tunes to sing along to and how comfortable is the car as a living space.
In terms of people-carrying abilities and luggage space, the Sandero offers a decent amount of both. The rear bench is able to house three passengers and offers ample legroom for all. Renault claims that the boot can swallow 292 dm3 of luggage – more than its closest competitors that offer 270 dm3 in the case of the Volkswagen Polo Vivo, 251 dm3 for the Toyota Etios and 284 dm3 for the Ford Figo. When it comes to music, the Sandero offers an MP3-compatible audio system that can play CDs or be connected via USB or Bluetooth. There’s also the befit of satellite audio controls behind the steering wheel. On a comfort level, there’s cruise control and air-conditioning (available as an option on the Expression) in the high-spec Dynamique model, while both come fitted with central locking, a height-adjustable steering column, and safety features that include ABD with EBD and brake assist and dual front air bags (with side airbags available on the Dynamique).
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that Consumer Kelly doesn’t look at all those things too and that that side of me doesn’t look at bang for buck – of course it does. But Consumer Kelly also has to consider the fact that this is a Renault and that while it’s an excellent value proposition straight off the showroom floor, there’s always that part of my mind wondering what the aftersales experience would be like. Let’s be honest, it faces stiff competition, all of which come with relatively good after sale support and wide dealer networks, and two of which are locally made, so parts should be easier to come by.
Then Fun Kelly takes over and is swayed by the fact that, even though the dealer network isn’t as big as the others’ and even though servicing comes courtesy of a multi-franchise, Renault SA has given this vehicle a standard 2-year/30 000 km service plan and a 5-year/150 000 km warranty. Of its competitors, only the Etios has a service plan to match that of the Sandero’s.
Okay, so both sides of me agree on a few things – with all that it offers as standard, the Sandero is a bargain. The verdict from Consumer Kelly is this: the engine isn’t quite up to scratch and, therefore, the engine may need to be worked a bit harder than one would like, but I can’t deny that it’s good value-for-money. Fun Kelly says this: there aren’t aren’t any cars at this end of the market that can offer all that the Sandero offers. It’s a very tempting buy among a crowd that offers rather basic specification. Both sides agree, however, that if you can live with an engine that underperforms slightly, the Sandero is definitely worth a look.
*Specifications:
Model: Renault Sandero
Engine: 898 cm3, three-cylinder turbopetrol
Transmission: five-speed manual
Power: 66 kW @ 5 280 r/min
Torque: 135 N.m @ 2 500 r/min
0-100 km/h: 11,1 secs
Fuel consumption: 5,2 litres/100 km
CO2: 119 g/km
Luggage capacity: 290 dm3
Price: Expression (with optional air-con): R133 900; Dynamique: R141 500
Service plan: 2 years/30 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
*According to Renault
Look out for a comparative test between the new Sandero and its rivals – the Toyota Etios, Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Ford Figo – in the April issue, on sale 24 March.