The cheapest way into a new petrol hatchback in Britain still comes with three pedals. Dacia UK lists the facelifted 2026 Sandero at £14,765 for the Essential TCe 100, and every version on its price page uses the same engine and the same six-speed manual gearbox.
That makes the Sandero one of the rare new cars where you can’t accidentally end up with an automatic, even if you wanted one.
The official prices
According to Dacia UK Sandero versions and prices, the range has three trims, all quoted as manufacturer recommended retail prices before metallic paint:
- Essential TCe 100 MY26: £14,765
- Expression TCe 100 MY26: £15,765
- Journey TCe 100 MY26: £17,065
So the step from the base car to the top Journey is £2,300, and none of it buys a different powertrain. You pay for kit, not for gears.
The numbers Dacia printed
Dacia’s spec data lists the TCe 100 as a 999 cc three-cylinder turbo petrol making 100 hp DIN (74 kW) and 200 Nm, driving the front wheels. It quotes 0–62 mph in 9.7 seconds, 53.3 mpg combined and 121 g/km of CO2 on the WLTP cycle. The car also gets a redesigned front end, a 10-inch media screen and up to 17 driver-assistance systems depending on trim.
The clutch
Here’s the part that matters to us. Dacia’s configurator data codes every 2026 Sandero hatch as BVM6, its six-speed manual, with “Manual” in the gearbox field and six forward gears. There’s no CVT, no dual-clutch and no automatic listed for the hatchback at all. If you want a new Sandero hatch in the UK, you shift it yourself. The cabin shot above shows the lever sitting right below the climate controls, where it belongs. Dacia’s automatic option in this family lives on the Sandero Stepway hybrid instead, which is a different car with its own price list.
Why it matters
Plenty of brands have quietly pulled the manual from their cheapest cars, either because automatics sell better or because hybrids help them meet emissions targets. Dacia went the other way on the Sandero hatch: one turbo triple, one manual, three trims. At £14,765 it’s the least expensive car in Autogonzo’s daily clutch series so far, and it proves a factory clutch doesn’t need a sports-car price.
Highlights
- 2026 Dacia Sandero starts at £14,765 (Essential TCe 100 MY26), MRRP excluding metallic paint
- Expression £15,765, Journey £17,065
- 999 cc turbo three-cylinder, 100 hp, 200 Nm, front-wheel drive
- Six-speed manual (BVM6) on every hatch version; no automatic listed
- 0–62 mph 9.7 s, 53.3 mpg combined, 121 g/km CO2
Leave a Reply