[1] With a slightly shorter wheelbase than the Dacia Logan sedan from which it derives, the Sandero was developed at Renault's Technocentre near Paris, France, in conjunction with the regional engineering centres based in Brazil and Romania.

In May 2011, Renault launched in Brazil a facelifted version of Sandero, which enjoys a new face and a revised interior.

In terms of active safety Dacia Sandero features the latest generation Bosch 8.1 ABS which incorporates EBD and EBA (emergency brake assist).

[15] The EuroNCAP 2008 test for the 'safety pack' model equipped with side body and head airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners, received a score of 31 for adults, 38 for children occupants and 6 for pedestrians, these results being rated as 4 from 5 stars for adults and children occupants.

The Brazilian Stepway has a 1.6 litre 112 hp (82 kW) 16 valve engine, the Hi-Flex one with bio-ethanol abilities,[18] and it is marketed in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico.

[31] Official photos with the new Sandero were released by Dacia on 17 September 2012, showing an exterior design theme similar to the new Logan and a dashboard inspired from Lodgy.

It features raised ride height, grey plastic side skirts, overfenders, and a crossover-look bumpers.

[54] In August 2014, Renault Sport CEO Patrice Ratti revealed to the Autocar magazine that a hot hatch R.S.

Using the 150 hp (110 kW) 2.0 16v F4R engine, and capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.0 seconds and reaching a top speed of 202km/h (126mph), the Sandero R.S.

[59] Dacia has also updated its engine range with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol that sits in the entry-level trims, replacing the old 1.2-litre unit.

awarded the second generation Sandero as the Best supermini less than £12,000, noting that "it offers something genuinely new and different in that it brings real space for bargain prices".

The more powerful version of the engine, badged as ECO-G 100 Bi-Fuel received 100 hp (74 kW) and a 6-speed manual transmission.

It is also equipped with electric power steering, LED headlights, emergency brake assist, blind-spot warning, park assist (with front and rear sensors, rearview camera), hill start assist, keyless entry, heated front seats, automatic air conditioning with digital display, reverse camera, electric parking brake, automatic wipers, a remote trunk release and electric glass sunroof as standard or optional, depending on the market.

In June 2022, the Sandero received a slight restyling incorporating the brand's new logo alongside other Dacia models.

and explain a fact about the Sandero during the show's news segment, to which Jeremy Clarkson would reply "Great!"

In the fourth episode of Series 12, when May said he had "Good News", Clarkson immediately asked "Is it the Dacia Sandero?

and May (Sandero) having to drive into the abandoned city of Pripyat, with Richard Hammond's Fiesta having already run out of fuel.

May pointed out the large price difference between the Fiesta and the Sandero, stating that at £17,500 vs. £7,500 he could afford to lose his car, buy another, and still be better off than Hammond.

[85] According to some sources, its second generation was intended to become a fourth Reasonably Priced Car on Top Gear,[86] however its use was prevented due to its delayed release in Britain.

In 2021, following his time on Top Gear, May filmed a favorable review of the Sandero for the DriveTribe YouTube channel.