Car News Articles

A $10,000 car - it just has to be cheap and nasty, doesn’t it? Or does it?

The phrase “you get what you pay for” does spring to mind.

Whether it’s kitchen appliances, garden tools or cars, if something’s cheap, you don’t expect a lot.

So news that Renault is considering importing the cut-price Dacia Sandero into Australia has been met with the usual reservations about safety and quality.

That’s fair enough, too, given the ordinary crash test results posted by some of the budget Chinese brands.

But the Sandero is likely to be a different proposition.

After all, is Renault going to import a car that damages its hard-won reputation for top-notch safety?

If it comes to Australia, this $10,000 car will wear a Renault badge, which means the French brand’s reputation is on the line. Local boss Rudi Koenig says the company won’t sell anything that demeans its brand.

So if you take safety concerns out of the equation, does the Sandero make sense as a city runabout?

It depends what you compare it against.

On the one hand, you can get a low mileage, second-hand Toyota Yaris with a safety package for $12,000 to $13,000 – or a brand new Hyundai Getz for $13,990.

Makes you think $10,000 might be too much to punt on an unknown brand?

But what about if you pitch it against another increasingly popular budget form of city runabout – the scooter?

After all, a top-of-the-range Piaggio two-wheeler can set you back almost $9000. Yes, it’s very economical, but with the Sandero you’ll get four extra seats, protection from the rain and better crash protection than any scooter on the planet.

So, does the Sandero make a compelling case as a point A to point B city car?

Or are you prepared to pay more for peace of mind?

Richard Blackburn