While Australia’s best-selling model last year was a ute that can cost more than $90,000 before on-roads, in Europe a much more affordable vehicle took the top spot in 2025.
For the second year in a row, the Dacia Sandero topped the charts in Europe – at least according to the Renault-owned brand, with data from JATO not yet publicly available.
Dacia claims it’s actually had the best-selling car in Europe since 2017 if only private sales are counted, but that the Sandero took over in 2024 if sales are counted across all channels. It says one in 55 cars sold in Europe was a Sandero.
However, there’s no breakdown of Sandero sales yet in Europe for 2025. Dacia itself says it sold 289,295 Sanderos worldwide, which was down 6.5 per cent year-on-year. The Romanian brand’s total global sales were 697,408, up 3.1 per cent.
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The Volkswagen Golf was Europe’s best-selling model from 2008 to 2021, with the Peugeot 208 taking over in 2022 and then being shoved aside by the Tesla Model Y in 2023.
The Sandero in turn took the top spot in 2024, something it has reportedly held onto in 2025.
In Germany, the Sandero range opens at €12,790 (~A$22,200), making it the brand’s most affordable model though not its smallest – the Spring EV is smaller, but starts at €16,900 (~A$29,400).
For context, the Volkswagen Golf range opens at €29,395 (~$51,200), while the Peugeot 208 opens at €24,130 (~$42,000).
The Sandero hatchback measures 4102mm long, 1853mm wide and 1495mm tall on a 2604mm wheelbase, making it around the same size as the 208. The rugged-looking Stepway variant is slightly taller.
It’s offered with a choice of three powertrains: a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine offering 48kW of power and 95Nm of torque; a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder with 75kW and 200Nm; and the 89kW Eco-G three-pot.
The latter starts on petrol power and then switches to LPG; when the LPG tank is empty, it switches back to petrol power. Dacia claims a total driving range of up to 1500km with two full tanks.
Available transmissions are a five-speed manual, a six-speed manual, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
The Sandero shares a budget-focused version of the CMF-B architecture with other models like the Dacia Duster small SUV.
While the Duster is sold here with Renault badges, the Sandero – first launched in 2008 and now in its third generation, launched in 2020 – has never been offered in Australia.
MORE: This budget hatch toppled Tesla to become Europe’s best-selling model