Relatively recently, some car manufacturers, in order to increase sales, took an unusual step: they added a budget car to their lineup. How is it different from a regular car? When producing a budget-class car, cheaper interior finishing materials, outdated solutions in the design of the engine and suspension, and lower-quality body painting may be used. Due to this, the end buyer receives a “simplified” version of a new car, which, at least for several years, should not cause trouble to its owner.
One of these representatives of the budget segment is the Renault Sandero car. What kind of car is this? Reviews from owners about Renault Sandero, disadvantages and advantages - this is what the article will discuss.
Philosophical digression from the topic - to take or not to take a “state employee”?
Since the appearance of the concept of a “budget class car” on the Internet, the battle between supporters and opponents of the very idea of producing such cars has not stopped.
What is better to take - a used car of “noble blood” with possible hidden defects and without a warranty, or a new budget car, which will be serviced by an official dealer for several years.
Advantages of used cars (according to owners):
- Quality of materials and production. It is believed that when producing a budget car, they save on everything, but here we get a full-fledged car, although not a new one.
- Reliability. A used car is more reliable (only after purchase you need to bring it up to scratch), while a state-owned car is a “disposable car”, it will serve out its warranty years, and then you can throw it away.
- Comfort. A used normal car has much better quality finishing materials, better sound insulation, and it’s much more comfortable to move around in such a car (well, sometimes the air conditioning doesn’t work, but that’s okay).
Everything seems to be clear with used cars. They are better, as it were, but this is subject to the purchase of a good copy that does not have problems.
Now let's look at the two main advantages of a new, but budget car:
- Actually, it's new. Does not require initial investment. You can be sure that he was not in an accident, that everything is fine with the technical part. And if a factory defect does emerge, it can be repaired free of charge under warranty.
- Price. This indicator is fundamental when purchasing a budget vehicle. For a relatively low cost, the buyer receives a new car with a guarantee. Yes, cheap, not premium, but new!
The disadvantages of the Renault Sandero, reviews of which filled the Internet from owners, boil down mainly to the quality of the body paint and cheap finishing materials.
Each person decides for himself what to ultimately purchase. You just need to remember that when you buy a budget car, you pay exactly what you get, and you shouldn’t expect the comfort of a Mercedes or the agility of a BMW from it. This will avoid disappointment from the purchase.
With a volume of 1.149 cc. cm.
This type of internal combustion engine (model D4F) is the smallest in volume in the Renault Sandero model range.
The power of this power unit is 75 hp. (55 kW) and 5500 rpm. The torque rating is 107 Nm at 4250 rpm. The fuel supply mechanism provides for the operation of an injector with distributed injection. For each of the four cylinders, which are arranged according to the L4 scheme, there are 4 valves. The cylinder diameter is 79.5 mm and the compression ratio is 9.8. A 16-valve with a volume of 1.2 liters can only be selected with the second generation Renault Sandero model. The gas distribution mechanism (GRM) is equipped with a flexible belt drive, and the design of the power unit itself provides for the presence of two camshafts. Owners should not delay the scheduled replacement of the belt when the end of its regulated operation approaches, since a break can lead to damage to the valves and deformation of the cylinder head.
Reviews from owners of cars with a 1.2 liter engine confirm the car's insufficient dynamics compared to more powerful options, however, fuel consumption is much lower. In their methodological materials and conclusions, the manufacturer’s specialists note that the service life of an engine of this class, which is installed on the Renault Sandero 1.2, averages 1 million km. Of course, in practice this indicator may differ significantly depending on many external factors. One of the signs of significant engine malfunctions is when the engine stalls or extraneous noise appears.
Exterior of the new Renault Sandero
The second generation of Renault Sandero cars immediately attracts attention with its appearance. It is clear that the designers did a great job. The front and rear parts of the car have changed the most (compared to the previous generation). At the front, the new Renault Sandero received a huge Renault logo in the center of the radiator grille, two excellent headlights with separate low and high beams. The headlights, grille and logo form an excellent composition together with the hood, giving the impression that the car is smiling predatorily. At the rear, the shape of the taillights and trunk lid has been radically changed.
The car looks harmonious and collected. It is also worth noting that the Renault Sandero Stepway modification looks more complete and interesting, thanks to a different shape of the rear and front bumpers, door sills and wheel arches, as well as larger diameter wheels. The roof rails on this model add a certain charm. According to owner reviews, the disadvantages of the Renault Sandero Stepway include “yawping” along the highway at speeds of more than 130 km/h due to the high ground clearance.
But it is worth noting a significant drawback of the Renault Sandero body: a very thin layer of paint. At the slightest impact on the body, chips and scratches form, which can ultimately lead to the appearance of pockets of corrosion.
Specifications
Options and prices | Photo | Specifications
| Reviews | Video | Exterior colors | Crash test | Manual
Comparative table of technical characteristics of Renault Sandero in the new body.
| Engine | 1.6 | ||||||
| Gearbox type | AKP4 | RKP5 | MKP5 | MKP5 | |||
| Cylinder displacement, cm3 | 1.6 | ||||||
| Cylinder size per piston stroke, mm | 79,5 | 78 | |||||
| Number of cylinders | 4 | ||||||
| Number of valves | 16 | 8 | 8 | 16 | |||
| Compression ratio | 9,8 | 9,5 | 9,5 | 10,7 | |||
| Maximum power kW, hp | 75 (102) | 60,5 (82) | 60,5 (82) | 83 (113) | |||
| Crankshaft rotation speed at maximum power, rpm | 5 750 | 5 000 | 5 000 | 5 500 | |||
| Maximum torque, Nm | 145 | 134 | 134 | 152 | |||
| Crankshaft rotation speed at maximum torque, rpm | 3 750 | 2 800 | 2 800 | 4 000 | |||
| Injection type | Electronically controlled multipoint fuel injection | ||||||
| Fuel | Petrol | ||||||
| Toxicity standards | EURO4 | EURO5 | EURO5 | EURO5 | |||
| TRANSMISSION | |||||||
| Number of gears | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |||
| Gear ratios | |||||||
| I | 2,727 | 3,545 | 3,727 | 3,727 | |||
| II | 1,499 | 2,238 | 2,048 | 2,048 | |||
| III | 1 | 1,464 | 1,393 | 1,393 | |||
| IV | 0,710 | 0,967 | 1,029 | 1,029 | |||
| V | — | 0,738 | 0,756 | 0,756 | |||
| Reverse | 2,457 | 3,545 | 3,545 | 3,545 | |||
| Final drive ratio | 3,65 | 4,5 | 4,5 | 4,067 | |||
| STEERING | |||||||
| Turning diameter, m | 9,7 | ||||||
| SUSPENSION | |||||||
| Front suspension type | Independent, spring, MacPherson type with or without anti-roll bar | ||||||
| Rear suspension type | Semi-independent, spring, with or without telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers and anti-roll bar | ||||||
| Tire size | 185/65 R15 | ||||||
| Brake system type | The front wheel brakes are disc, the rear wheels are drum brakes. | ||||||
| ABS Bosch 9.0* | Standard* | ||||||
| Front brakes: discs, mm | 258 x 12 | 259 x 12 | 259 x 12 | 258 x 22 | |||
| Rear brakes: drums, inches | 8 | ||||||
| Maximum speed, km/h | 171 | 164 | 172 | 177 | |||
| Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, s | 11,7 | 12,4 | 11,9 | 10,7 | |||
| Urban cycle | 10,9 | 9,0 | 9,8 | 8,5 | |||
| Country cycle | 6,6 | 5,7 | 5,8 | 5,6 | |||
| Mixed cycle | 8,3 | 6,9 | 7,2 | 6,6 | |||
| CO2 emissions, g/km | 197 | 159 | 168 | 153 | |||
| Fuel tank | 50 | ||||||
| Curb weight (with driver) | 1 151 | 1 117 | 1 100 | 1 119 | |||
| Front axle load | 860 | 815 | 810 | 820 | |||
| Rear axle load | 800 | 850 | 840 | 755 | |||
| Gross vehicle weight | 1 590 | 1 550 | 1 540 | 1 525 | |||
| Maximum permissible towed trailer weight with brake system | 1 090 | 1 150 | 1 090 | 790 | |||
| Maximum permissible towed trailer weight without brake system | 580 | 555 | 550 | 555 | |||
| Length | 4 057 | ||||||
| Width (without side mirrors) | 1 733 | ||||||
| Height | 1 523 | ||||||
| Wheelbase | 2 589 | ||||||
| Front track | 1 497 | ||||||
| Rear track | 1 486 | ||||||
| Trunk volume | 320 | ||||||
| Ground clearance (under load) | 155 | ||||||
What's inside?
The car's interior looks modern and interesting. The front panel has been completely redesigned, the shape of the steering wheel and seats have been changed. The climate control unit and radio are interestingly designed. The signal is transferred from the end of the steering column switch directly to the steering wheel, which is more convenient. The budget quality of the interior can be determined by the quality of the plastic, the absence of plugs for the screws securing the door trim and instrument panel.
According to reviews from Renault Sandero owners, there are a lot of shortcomings in the car's interior. After several months of use, abrasions and scratches form in the areas where the plastic trim adheres to the paintwork of the door. Also, after a while, unpleasant “crickets” appear in the central instrument panel. The quality of the floor covering material leaves much to be desired.
Renault Sandero suspension
The front suspension is the good old, time-tested MacPherson strut, and the rear is a semi-independent beam. Nothing new; the same suspension, practically unchanged, has been used on the Renault Logan family for ten years.
It’s really hard to find fault with the Renault Sandero’s suspension: it perfectly absorbs any irregularities and allows you to pass speed bumps at a decent speed. The high ground clearance of the new Renault, together with such a suspension, even allows you to drive on light off-road conditions. The main thing is not to forget that the Renault Sandero is still not a full-fledged SUV.
But it’s worth paying attention to some reviews from Renault Sandero owners about the shortcomings of the suspension. According to some car users, its suspension lacks rigidity, which impairs handling.
Offered engines and transmission
Are you wondering what the shortcomings of 1 and 2 engine mean in the reviews of Renault Sandero owners? This is data on the dynamics of acceleration at first and second speeds, which in this case do not “shine” with excellent performance.
The Renault Sandero buyer is offered a choice of two “ancient” gasoline engines:
- 8-valve 82 hp With. It’s an old, reliable engine that pulls quite well at low end, but don’t forget that due to the number of valves, it’s hard to call it fast. It is more suitable for leisurely movement for calm people.
- 16-valve 102 hp. With. Also a middle-aged representative of the Renault family. Especially for Renault Sandero and Logan it has been modified to the Euro-5 standard. However, this modification had a somewhat negative impact on its operation in an unheated state. When driving on a cold engine, unstable idle speed and jerking are observed when the car starts moving.
Recently, a new unit with a timing chain drive has appeared in the engine line. It’s too early to say anything about it, since the general impression of buyers about it has not completely formed.
Renault Sandero transmission options:
- Five-speed manual. An older, but very reliable gearbox.
- Four-speed automatic. The reliability of this unit is excellent, but, alas, due to the small number of stages and obsolescence, this transmission option is suitable for very leisurely drivers, and it is better to start overtaking on the highway with a very large margin of distance. These shortcomings of the Renault Sandero automatic and reviews from owners about its negative qualities suggest certain thoughts. If the buyer wants to drive faster and not be afraid of prolonged overtaking, it is better to choose a manual transmission.
Prices and options
Content
Renault Sandero 2021 model year is offered to customers in three versions: “Access”, “Life” and “Drive”, and Logan 2019 – in four: “Access”, “Life”, “Drive” and “Style”. Both models in the basic “Access” configuration with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine (82 hp) and a 5-speed manual transmission are sold for 577,000 rubles. For this price, the car received: driver's front airbag, ABS, IZOFIX, central locking with remote control, electronic anti-theft device and 15-inch steel wheels. There is no need to seriously consider these versions of machines for personal use. Such configurations are purely a marketing ploy to attract more potential buyers due to a low starting price and nothing more.
Let's better compare the minimum prices for models with automatic transmissions, which are now more popular. Renault Sandero “Life” with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine (102 hp) and a 4-speed automatic transmission costs 747,990 rubles, and Logan in the same configuration and modification costs 734,990 rubles, that is, 13,000 more R. (2%) cheaper. For this money, both cars, in addition to the previous “Access” version, are equipped with: front passenger airbag, on-board computer, air conditioning and front power windows. But Sandero also received cruise control and fog lights.
For both the sedan and the hatchback, you can purchase the “Audio” package (consisting of an audio system and steering column joystick) for 10,990 rubles, as well as the “Winter” package (electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors, heated front seats and windshield) for 16,990 rubles As a result, Sandero and Logan for 775,970 rubles. and 762,970 rub. Accordingly, it can already be considered as a car for personal use. Also offered as additional options: remote engine start system - for 6,990 rubles, "Era-Glonass" - for 11,990 rubles. and a multimedia navigation system with a 7-inch screen - for 19,990 rubles.
Now let's take a closer look at the top versions of Renault models. Sandero “Drive” 1.6 (102 hp) 4AT costs 817,990 rubles, Logan “Drive” in the same configuration and modification costs 789,990 rubles, that is, 28,000 rubles more. (3%) cheaper, and Logan “Style” - 840,990 rubles, i.e. for 23,000 rub. (3%) more expensive. The “Drive” version assumes that the cars have: rear windows, electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors, heated front seats, an audio system, cruise control and 15-inch alloy wheels. But Sandero also received front side airbags and climate control, and not air conditioning, unlike its rival.
Renault Logan “Style” has acquired the same passive safety and climate comfort as the five-door hatchback in the “Drive” configuration. But in addition to this, it also received a dynamic stability control system (ESP), rear parking sensors and a heated windshield. It is worth noting that the top-end Sandero can additionally be equipped with a heated windshield for 7,990 rubles and a safety package (ESP + rear parking sensors) for 15,990 rubles. As a result, Sandero “Drive” will cost buyers 841,970 rubles, that is, 980 rubles. (0.1%) more expensive than Logan “Style”.
To conclude the comparison of prices and configurations of Renault models, it is necessary to mention that the sedan and hatchback have off-road versions of Stepway and Stepway City. Renault Sandero Stepway costs from 738,990 to 891,990 rubles, and Logan Stepway costs from 695,990 to 852,990 rubles. A distinctive feature of this series is its higher ground clearance - 195 mm. Renault Sandero Stepway City is sold from 840,990 to 922,990 rubles, and Renault Logan Stepway City - from 816,990 to 883,990 rubles. Stepway City cars are equipped with only the most powerful engine (113 hp) and a continuously variable transmission CVT X-Tronic.
