Dacia Sandero Ireland Buyer Guide: TCe 100, €200 Motor Tax and the Two-Star NCAP Explained

The Dacia Sandero is the cheapest way into a new five-door hatchback in Ireland, and it has quietly become one of Europe's biggest sellers. Dacia says the Sandero has been the best-selling car to private buyers in Europe every year since 2017. This Dacia Sandero Ireland buyer guide covers what the late 2025 update changed, the engine you get, what a new one costs from Dacia Ireland, what the two-star safety rating really means, and what to check on a used Sandero.

Quick Summary

• The current, third-generation Sandero was revealed in September 2020 and updated in October 2025 with a new front end, a 10-inch screen and more safety systems.
• Dacia Ireland lists the Sandero from €18,890 in three versions, Essential, Expression and Journey, all with the TCe 100 petrol engine.
• The TCe 100 has CO2 from 121 g/km, which puts a new car in the €200 motor tax band on the WLTP table.
• Euro NCAP gave the Sandero two stars in 2021, mainly for missing driver assistance systems; the updated car adds several of them.
• Every new Dacia in Ireland has a 5-year or 150,000 km warranty, and we found no Sandero recall in the RSA lists from 2021 to 2026.

If you already know a Sandero suits you, you can browse used Dacia cars for sale on EcoSteer and use this guide to check each one.

Dacia Sandero in Ireland: the key facts

The Sandero first appeared in 2008, and Dacia says it had sold 2.6 million across three generations by late 2022. The version most Irish buyers will see is the third generation, which Dacia revealed on 29 September 2020 with a new design, a new platform and new equipment. It is a five-seat supermini, sold alongside the raised Sandero Stepway, which has its own trims and engines.

In its October 2025 press kit, Dacia said the Sandero had been Europe's best-selling retail car since 2017, and that in 2024 it was Europe's best-selling car across all channels, with 309,392 units sold that year. Popularity on that scale matters for a used buyer: parts are widely available, and most independent garages will know the car.

What changed with the late 2025 update

Dacia announced the updated Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Jogger and Logan on 6 October 2025. For the Sandero, the main changes were:

• A new Dacia light signature at the front and rear, new wheels and new wheel covers.
• A new multimedia system with connected navigation and a 10-inch screen, a digital colour instrument cluster, a new steering wheel and a wireless phone charger, depending on version.
• New driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking with vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist and motorbike detection, and a driver attention alert, plus a "My Safety" button that recalls the driver's preferred settings.
• A new TCe 100 engine, with 100 hp instead of the 90 hp of the previous TCe 90.

Dacia Ireland's Sandero page describes the current car with a redesigned grille, a renewed interior, a 10-inch central screen and a 7-inch digital instrument display, and lists lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition with speed alert, automatic high beam and a fatigue detection camera among its safety equipment.

Engines and gearboxes

Dacia Ireland currently lists one engine for the Sandero: the TCe 100, a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol with 100 hp and up to 200 Nm of torque. Dacia quotes CO2 from 121 g/km and fuel use from 5.3 litres per 100 km on the WLTP combined cycle, and says the engine uses a timing chain. Dacia's press kit pairs it with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Across Europe, Dacia also sells the Sandero with the SCe 65 petrol and an Eco-G 120 petrol and LPG bi-fuel version with an automatic gearbox, and a 155 hybrid is due on the Sandero Stepway. Dacia Ireland's current Sandero page lists only the TCe 100, so do not assume the other versions are sold new here.

On the used market, most third-generation Sanderos built before the update have the TCe 90 version of the same three-cylinder engine. Check the engine and fuel type on the Vehicle Registration Certificate, and if a car is described as LPG or automatic, confirm it with a Dacia dealer from the VIN.

Price, trims and motor tax

Dacia Ireland lists the Sandero in three versions: Essential, Expression and Journey. The entry Essential starts from €18,890 and includes a smartphone holder, a media control unit and folding rear seats. Expression and Journey add more equipment; check the configurator on dacia.ie for the current specification and price of each.

Motor tax depends on CO2 and on when the car was first registered. On the WLTP table that applies to most cars registered from 2021, SIMI lists the 111 to 120 g/km band at €190 a year and the 121 to 130 g/km band at €200. A new TCe 100 from 121 g/km falls in the €200 band; an individual used car may differ, so look up its registration on motortax.ie before you buy.

Safety: what the two-star rating means

Euro NCAP tested a Sandero Stepway with the 1.0 TCe engine in 2021 and awarded the Sandero two stars. The scores were 70% for adult occupants, 72% for child occupants, 41% for vulnerable road users and 42% for safety assist.

The rating was pulled down by more than crash structure alone. Euro NCAP noted marginal chest protection in the frontal test, poor far-side protection because there was no centre airbag, weak pedestrian protection at the windscreen base and pillars, an emergency braking system that did not detect pedestrians or cyclists, and no lane support system. The car-to-car emergency braking performed well.

The October 2025 update added pedestrian and cyclist detection to the emergency braking and, according to Dacia Ireland, lane-keeping assist. Euro NCAP's published rating is still the 2021 result, so it does not reflect those additions. If safety is a priority, a post-update car is the better buy, and on any used Sandero check exactly which driver aids are fitted.

Recalls and known issues

We checked the RSA's recalls by manufacturer lists for 2021 to 2026 and did not find a recall registered for the Dacia Sandero in Ireland. That is a good sign, but it is not a guarantee: give the VIN to a Dacia dealer and ask whether any recall or service campaign is outstanding before you buy.

As with any small petrol car, the usual checks apply: a service history that matches the mileage, oil changes on time for a turbocharged engine, and an NCT record without repeated failures.

What to check on a used Dacia Sandero in Ireland

1. Build date and version: confirm whether the car is a pre-update model or one built after the October 2025 update, and which trim it is.
2. Engine and fuel: check the Vehicle Registration Certificate, especially if a car is advertised as LPG or automatic.
3. Warranty remaining: Dacia Ireland's standard warranty runs for 5 years or 150,000 km from first registration, whichever comes first.
4. Service history: stamps or invoices that match the mileage.
5. Safety equipment: check which driver aids the car actually has, since this changed with the update.
6. NCT history: check the NCT certificate and the mileage at each test for readings that go down or jump around.
7. Recall status: ask a Dacia dealer to check the VIN.

Sandero or a bigger Dacia?

If you need more space or a higher driving position, the Sandero Stepway and the Duster are the obvious step up within the brand; see our Dacia Duster buyer guide for Ireland. If you want a small car with a hybrid engine, our Toyota Aygo X buyer guide covers a smaller, hybrid alternative.

New or used?

A new Sandero gets you the post-update safety systems, the 10-inch screen and the full 5-year warranty. A used third-generation car costs less up front but usually has the older TCe 90, fewer driver aids and less warranty left. A nearly new post-update car can be a good middle ground if you find one.

Is the Sandero right for you?

The Sandero suits buyers who want a simple, practical five-door car for the lowest price, with a long warranty and low running costs. It is less suited to buyers who put the highest safety rating first. When you are ready, compare used Dacia cars on EcoSteer and check each car against the list above.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Dacia Sandero a good car to buy in Ireland?

For buyers who want a new or nearly new car for the lowest outlay, yes. Dacia Ireland lists the Sandero from €18,890, it comes with a 5-year or 150,000 km warranty, and we found no Sandero recall in the RSA lists from 2021 to 2026. The trade-off is a two-star Euro NCAP rating from 2021, so check which safety systems a used car has.

What engine does the Dacia Sandero have in Ireland?

Dacia Ireland currently lists the Sandero with the TCe 100, a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 100 hp and up to 200 Nm, with CO2 from 121 g/km. Cars built before the late 2025 update mostly have the earlier TCe 90 version of the same engine.

How much is motor tax on a Dacia Sandero?

It depends on the CO2 figure and the registration date. A new Sandero TCe 100 from 121 g/km falls in the 121 to 130 g/km band on the WLTP table, which SIMI lists at €200 a year. Check the exact rate for any registration on motortax.ie.

Why does the Dacia Sandero have a two-star safety rating?

Euro NCAP tested a Sandero Stepway in 2021 and gave it two stars. It scored 70% for adult occupants and 72% for children, but lost points for weak pedestrian protection, an emergency braking system that did not detect pedestrians or cyclists, and no lane support. Dacia says the updated car from late 2025 adds pedestrian and cyclist detection and lane-keeping assist.

Does a used Dacia Sandero still have warranty?

Possibly. Dacia Ireland's standard warranty is 5 years or 150,000 km from first registration, whichever comes first, so a Sandero first registered in 2022 or later may still be covered. Ask the seller for the service book and confirm the status with a Dacia dealer.

Sources

• Dacia Ireland: New Sandero
• Dacia Ireland: Sandero powertrains
• Dacia Ireland: Warranty
• Dacia media: New Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Jogger and Logan press kit (6 October 2025)
• Dacia media: All-new Sandero, Stepway and Logan press kit (29 September 2020)
• Dacia media: Dacia Sandero, the secrets of its success (October 2022)
• Euro NCAP: Dacia Sandero (2021)
• SIMI: Motor tax rates on CO2 emissions
• Road Safety Authority: Recalls by manufacturer
• Motor Tax Online