WHAT CAR AWARDS - For the fourth year running Dacia takes the Best Small Car under £12,000 award.

• Dacia Sandero wins ‘Best Small Car under £12,000’
• Dacia supermini awarded for fourth consecutive year
• Sandero continues to grow in the UK with over 16,000 sold in 2015

Dacia has picked up the title of What Car? 2016 ‘Best Small Car for less than £12,000’ with its Sandero 1.2 Ambiance hatchback for the fourth consecutive year.

First picking up the accolade in 2013 following the brand’s entrance into the UK car market, and retaining the award in 2014 and 2015, the practical and affordable supermini has taken the honours once more to truly reaffirm its popularity alongside the rest of Dacia’s ‘shockingly affordable’ range.

Commenting on the decision to give the award to the Sandero for the fourth time, Jim Holder, Editorial Director, What Car? said: “If you're looking for budget motoring, it’s hard to go wrong with the Dacia Sandero. In entry-level specification it’s the cheapest new car available in the UK, yet it offers comfortable seating for four adults and a big boot. We’d recommend spending a little more on the slightly higher-specification Ambiance version, though. It adds several key creature comforts, including remote central locking, electric front windows and Bluetooth connectivity, which makes the Sandero much more enjoyable to own.”

Also commenting on the result, Louise O’Sullivan, Head of Dacia UK said: “We’re delighted that the judges at What Car? have recognised the Sandero’s qualities for a fourth consecutive year – especially given that starting from a ‘shockingly affordable’ price of £5,995 you can get one from just half the amount of the category it competes in.”

The Dacia Sandero is a five-door hatchback, available in three trim levels with a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel engine. Pricing starts from £5,995, making it the lowest priced new car on sale in the UK today. The specific Ambiance version chosen by What Car? comes with features such as Bluetooth connectivity, electric windows and USB connectivity.

Dacia continued its prodigious rise in the UK with another strong year of sales, with 26,267 new Dacia vehicles sold during 2015, up ten per cent compared to 2014. Dacia recorded 3.5 million sales across Europe in November 2015 since relaunching in 2004.