The Dacia Sandero is the 2023 Auto Express Supermini of the Year, with the Skoda Fabia and Toyota Yaris commended

For the first time in three years, a new car has taken our supermini crown. In 2023, it’s the turn of the revised Dacia Sandero to lead the way – and while the updates for this year are only minor, its chief qualities of value for money and practicality have become more relevant than ever.

Prices for the Sandero range start at £13,795, making it one of the cheapest new cars on sale today. But a car needs to be much more than simply cheap for our judges to hand out such a significant award, and the Dacia offers plenty for that modest amount of cash.

• Dacia Sandero review

Under the skin, the Sandero shares its platform with the Renault Clio – a brilliant starting point, given that it’s the car that has won our Supermini of the Year category since 2020. As a result, in the Sandero, you’re getting one of the most spacious cars in the class; in fact, it comes close to, or even beats, some cars from the segment above. Its 328-litre boot is a generous size, too.

You might expect a cheap supermini to be hamstrung by a wheezy engine, but even here, the Sandero surprises. Its turbocharged motor has plenty of low-down grunt, so performance is more than adequate, even with a full complement of passengers on board. We also like the smooth ride, and the handling is safe and secure.

Sure, you might miss out on the sharp-looking alloy wheels and the glitzy touchscreens you can find in some other superminis, but those aren’t necessities. And when it comes to the simple, basic requirements of a capable supermini, nothing else in the class can come close.

Our choice

Dacia Sandero 1.0 TCe Essential (£13,795)

Even the base Essential trim gets air-conditioning and cruise control as standard, yet with a £1,500 deposit on a three-year PCP with a 10,000 mile annual limit, it costs only £221 per month.

Commended

Skoda Fabia

The Skoda Fabia is a consistently strong choice in this segment, mainly because it feels so well finished and grown up that it could easily be mistaken for something from the class above. Superb refinement, a stylish cabin and a huge boot all contribute to its excellent showing again this year.

Toyota Yaris

Supermini buyers want a car that’s both cheap to run and dependable, and few rivals deliver those qualities quite so effectively as the Toyota Yaris. Its hybrid powertrain delivers superb real-world efficiency, yet it’s very smooth and refined, while the Yaris also rides and handles well, too.

You’ll find all the information on our New Car Awards 2023 winners and the reasons why we chose them on these pages. Just follow the links below to read more…

New Car Awards 2023: the winners

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