It seems like only yesterday that we were being bombarded by phone calls from banks urging us to SPEND! SPEND! SPEND! but despite recent interest-rate cuts the money has dried up and it's a brave consumer who'll pluck up the courage to apply for car financing.
But wait, what about Renault's new-on-the-market Sandero" In this case, cheap doesn't equate to nasty. The five-door hatchback is being assembled at Rosslyn, near Pretoria, after a billion-buck investment by the Renault-Nissan alliance.
It's a soundly-built hatch with sufficient features to ensure buyers don't feel they're slumming and local assembly should prevent the parts shortages which haved afflicted some imported Renaults.
Renault also imports the Logan, a sedan that's also pretty cheap - in fact slightly cheaper than the Sandero, spec for spec - but I think it's ugly.
The Sandero, on the other hand, is good-looking in an inoffensive way. It won't turn heads and the cheapest 1.4 sells for just less than R100 000 but I was driving the 1.6 Expression+Pack that's almost half as much again at R136 800.
It slots in just below the top-of-the-range Dynamique so comeswith power front windows, aircon and anti-lock brakes - but not the higher model's rear power windows, power external mirrors and alloy rims.
The Sandero is larger and more spacious than most of its rivals in the compact hatch segment. The boot volume is 320 litres - very large for its class - but even so the rear seat folds (in one piece) and not flat. The full-sized spare wheel lives in the fresh air under the boot.
The car feels solid enough with good build quality and, while lacking that reassuring, solid "thunk" when a door is closed, it's certainly not tinny. The interior is neat and functional with a hard plastic fascia in keeping with it's price but brightened by a silver plastic centre console; matching silver bits appear on the doors.
My biggest criticisms of the cabin are that the driver's seat is rickety, as though not properly anchored, and the steering wheel has no adjustment. The passenger seat was firm enough. The ergonomics were acceptable and drivers of average height should feel right at home.
Surprisingly, given the relative austerity of the cabin, were the red-needled, white background gauges.
The car scored high on cabin space: its advertising claims space for five large adults is pushing it a bit but there is good leg and headroom front and rear.
The test car had a 1.6-litre, multipoint fuel-injected engine and was reasonably brisk; top speed is listed as 174km/h and it was quite happy cruising on the highway at 120km/h..
A fair amount of road noise intrudes, the engine is noisy, but ride quality is good and returned fuel consumption was 7.2 litres/100km after a mix of open-0road and city driving.
Verdict
Renault has an entry-level vehicle of a modern design with good build quality and reasonable spec. The question is whether price-conscious buyers would opt for a new vehicle such as a Sandero or opt for a low-distance second-hand vehicle with a higher spec. - Star Motoring