Dacia celebrates double win at the what car? Car of the year awards 2022

  • All-New Sandero has been named ‘Best Small Car for Value’ at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2022
  • New Duster takes home the award for ‘Best Family SUV for Value’
  • What Car? judges praise the All-New Sandero for its practicality, equipment and attractive pricing
  • New Duster wins acclaim for its value, versatility and generous specification
  • Dacia is also recognised as the second most reliable car brand
  • All-New Sandero, the most affordable car in the UK, is available from £10,145 on the road
  • New Dacia Duster is available from £14,295 on the road

Dacia is celebrating success at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2022 after the All-New Sandero was judged the ‘Best Small Car for Value’ and the New Duster won the ‘Best Family SUV for Value’. In addition, Dacia was named the second most reliable car brand.

The unbeatable value of the All-New Sandero was officially recognised after the expert What Car? judging panel was won over by the supermini’s unrivalled blend of practicality, specification and attractive pricing.

Reflecting on the judge’s decision to recognise the Sandero, Steve Huntingford, Editor, What Car?, said: “There's a lot more to the latest Sandero than just a tempting price tag. It's one of the roomiest small cars you can buy and comes surprisingly well equipped in our recommended Comfort trim. As a bonus, Bi-Fuel versions can run on either petrol or cheaper liquefied petroleum gas to help reduce your fuel bills, and they offer punchier performance.”

The latest version of the acclaimed Sandero is available in Essential and Comfort specifications. Showcasing Dacia’s newest exterior design, Sandero includes Y-shaped LED daytime running lights, full LED front lighting, and a lower roofline and angled windscreen that combine to give more presence on the road. Inside, a completely new interior features high-quality fabric inlays and the latest touchscreen infotainment technology. The All-New Dacia Sandero is priced from £10,145 on the road.

Taking the number one spot as ‘Best Family SUV for Value’, the New Duster impressed the What Car? experts with its versatility and equipment levels.

On the magazine announcing the New Duster as its family SUV champion, What Car?’s Steve Huntingford commented: “Value has been a Dacia strength for years, but it's still hard to believe it can sell a car that's as practical and as versatile as the Duster for so little. You can fit more into it than rivals which cost many thousands more, and our recommended versions come with all the kit you're likely to want.”

Launched last year, the New Duster blends the model’s trademark versatility and robustness with advanced features, technology, and a bold new style. Notably, it is now available with the dual-clutch automatic EDC gearbox, a brand new 8-inch touchscreen, and a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. It can be ordered in a choice of trim levels – Essential, Comfort and Prestige. Depending on the engine and transmission, customers can also pick from either two- or four-wheel drive. The New Dacia Duster is priced from £14,295 on the road.

Reaffirming the rugged, dependable nature of the brand and its models, Dacia also took the runner-up spot when it came to What Car? highlighting its reliability heroes. It named Dacia as the second most reliable car brand, with Steve Huntingford adding: “Dacia is all about affordable motoring, so it’s great to see its cars performing so strongly when it comes to dependability. The brand’s star performer is the previous-generation Sandero hatchback (2013-2020); it was one of only six cars to gain a 100% reliability rating in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, with no owners reporting any faults with their cars.”

Speaking about the wins, Luke Broad, Dacia Brand Director for the UK and Ireland said: “We’re delighted to add these awards to the Dacia trophy cabinet, especially as they recognise exactly what Dacia sets out to do in providing customers with robust, good quality cars that also deliver exceptional value.”

The What Car? Awards are among the most prestigious in the automotive industry. Influenced by the comprehensive road tests conducted by the vastly experienced What Car? team, the awards are allocated based on the team’s findings from their exhaustive testing process.

Dacia Duster Double Win Image