Now more than ever, we need to know where to look for great budget cars: those that are not only cheap to buy and run but which also offer genuine value that can be appreciated by anyone, whatever their preferences or agenda.
We all have a need for simple, insurable, cost-effective transport; a need for a car that doesn't necessarily reflect our individuality, drive our aspiration or enable our lifestyle but which goes about meeting our daily needs with competence, efficiency and, ideally, a cheery flourish.
Our inaugural winner wouldn't have taken any great leap of the imagination to guess - but we didn't decide its worthiness by chucking some suggestions around a room and counting a show of hands.
The Dacia Sandero was one of five new cars we gathered together back in March in order to find out which is Britain's very best sub-£15,000 new car.
This story is from the April 26, 2023 edition of Autocar UK.
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This story is from the April 26, 2023 edition of Autocar UK.
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