Little motor that became running joke on Top Gear named Europe’s BEST selling car – even beating the Tesla Model Y

DACIA’S budget-friendly Sandero is the best-selling car across Europe for another year - despite once being the subject of a famous running joke on Top Gear.

The little model can be picked up brand new for under £15,000 - which is “good news” for penny-pinching drivers in the UK.

According to recently revealed stats, Dacia sold 309,392 units of the Sandero - making it Europe’s best-selling vehicle across all channels.

It also makes it the best-selling vehicle in the European retail market since 2017.

That means it even outsold the Tesla Model Y, which remains the world’s best-seller.

The Sandero is perhaps best known for the fame it found during the height of Top Gear's popularity.

It was frequently mentioned during "the news" - a segment where presenters Clarkson, Hammond and May rounded up the latest events in the car industry.

Any word of the model being renewed was announced by May with a trademark cry of "good news".

Likewise, the report that the debut version had been delayed in 2008 was met with a shout of "bad news".

Indeed, the latter also gave rise to a viral moment as, in reaction to May's despair, Clarkson quipped back: "Oh no… anyway."

The supermini has been on sale in the UK since 2008, with the third-gen model, released in 2020, and especially the 2022 refresh, becoming a hot favourite with motorists.

Its popularity is likely down to a number of factors, not least its low price that makes it a budget alternative to more expensive small hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Polo.

Indeed, the Sandero is the UK's cheapest new car.

But despite its price, it’s remarkably spacious inside, making it great for families.

It also features a comfortable driving position, good fuel economy, and basic but functional gadgets.

2024 was generally a very good year for Dacia as a brand, as it became the continent’s biggest seller to retail customers overall.

In total, Dacia sold 676,340 cars last year, which was an increase of nearly 3% on 2023.

They also account for close to 4% of all passenger car sales across Europe.

Dacia is not just about selling low-price hatchbacks though, as Sun Motors' supremo Rob Gill discovered last week.

The Romanian marque is currently competing in the world famous Dakar Rally - a punishing 3,200-mile speed test across the breathtaking dunes of Saudi Arabia.

Or, as Rob puts it, the equivalent of the entire WRC season in 13 days.

Our man caught up with the Dacia team, which includes superstar driver Nasser al-Attiyah.