Fans of the Dacia Sandero should look away now. The latest version of the affordable model secured just two stars in a Euro NCAP crash test…
Dacia Sandero Falls Short On Safety
The Dacia Sandero, in addition to once being a running gag on Top Gear, is the poster child of affordable motoring. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest models available in the UK. Unfortunately, its latest iteration may have some serious safety defects; having secured just two stars in a recent Euro NCAP crash test. Euro NCAP is a major tester of car safety and, whilst its ratings have no real standing, it’s widely regarded as the standard in the automotive industry. Cars are rated out of five safety stars; based on in-car tech and safety afforded to adult and child occupants.
According to testers, the Sandero fell short because the radar-only emergency braking system only reacts to other vehicles on the road; failing to register other road-users, like pedestrians or cyclists. There were also concerns raised over the car’s safety towards adults. In this category it secured just a 70% rating, well below the 87% secured by the Honda Jazz. Crucially though, they claimed that its safety is still ‘respectable’ and that it would have secured four stars with a superior braking system.
‘Car of the Year’ Title Could Be Stripped
Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research’s director of insurance research, commented on the Sandero’s lacklustre performance. He said, “the Sandero’s Euro NCAP rating is a major disappointment and it’s therefore not a new car we would recommend. There are other cars in the supermini segment, whether new or a few years old, that can offer better safety and value for money”. He added, “Renault and Nissan both have five-star-rated models in the supermini segment with the Clio and Micra, and the Sandero is closely related to these vehicles. But it appears Dacia has made a clear decision not to prioritise safety, exposing occupants and other road users to increased risk”.
In addition, What Car? is now considering whether to strip the Sandero of its ‘Car of the Year’ award. Publishers said, “we are analysing the findings from Euro NCAP in detail and discussing with Dacia its plans to improve the safety rating. If this cannot be improved, the Dacia Sandero will lose its overall Car of the Year title”.
Road Accidents Expected To Rise By A Fifth, As Lockdown Eases – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/road-accidents-expected-to-rise-by-a-fifth-as-lockdown-eases/
Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Car Clocking – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-car-clocking/