• Very roomy and space-efficient
• Comfy for passengers in both rows
• Boxy boot with no wasted space

How much space is there?

Being a super-sized supermini pays off. At 4,088mm long, the Sandero is about 40mm longer than its Citroen C3 or Renault Clio rivals – but still 200mm shorter than a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus. It’s also 50mm wider than a Clio, but the difference in cabin width feels much greater.

It means that there’s plenty of room in both rows for passengers. That size-and-a-half positioning means that there is more space than in rival superminis and consequently it is remarkably comfortable for even tall adults in the back row (not something that can be said for all cars at this price).

Boot space and storage

As a thoroughly sensible car, the Sandero puts luggage space over sporty styling and the boot is nearly vertical below the parcel shelf. If you don’t specify the full-size spare wheel, the official 328-litre loadbay volume swells to include an additional 78 litres under the floor. The BiFuel version has the same capacity, but loses its spare wheel, which is replaced by a gas tank.

The boot is one area where the Sandero shows some obvious cost cutting – there’s no trim over the high loading lip (you can get thick protective film to prevent scratches, or an accessory ‘Flexcover’ that unrolls to protect the bumper and boot lip or the folded seats) and basic models lack a split-folding rear seat.

Is it easy to park?

The Sandero’s compact dimensions and upright windows make it a doddle to park. Higher-spec models come with a reversing camera and sensors, which may seem overkill in such a small car – but they certainly help to remove the hassle of manoeuvring in a crowded space.

There is efficient use of space throughout and large, wide-opening doors for rear passengers, complemented by big windows for great visibility.

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Safety

• Two-star rating reflects Euro NCAP’s higher standards
• Reasonable amount of safety kit
• Rear seats feature two Isofix points

All Sanderos feature Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) that operates between 4-106mph. If there’s a risk of a collision, audible and visual warnings are activated. Brake force can be applied if not enough action – or none at all – is taken by the driver to slow down.

Despite that upgrade, Euro NCAP’s standards have been significantly toughened-up since the last Sandero – and many of the Sandero’s current rivals – were tested, meaning the 2022 model has to hit high benchmarks for a good score.

With just two stars, you might consider that it failed, but because of those changing standards we still consider the Sandero’s safety acceptable when compared with rivals designed – and tested – before 2017. We consider the Sandero to be a safe car overall, but one which lacks the driver assistance technology of more expensive alternatives.

Other safety features include:

• ESC (Electronic Stability Control) to quell skids
• Emergency Call (E-call) to call the emergency services in the event of an accident
• Six airbags (twin front and side bags for both front-seat occupants, plus curtain headbags)
• ISOFIX points to attach child seats in both outer rear seats