We’re trying to be positive and project happiness here at DCB HQ. It’s all about personal wellbeing, about being contented not… content producers. Happiness is about finding the space and time to relax and chill out in a world bombarded by statistics, loan applications and manufactured consent. But sometimes such a zen-like state of being is impossible to achieve. Especially when it involves the torture of the mind. Today our minds here at DCB HQ are tortured. Disturbed by the bad news, new-bad-news concerning the Dacia Sandero. 

Now there is nothing wrong with owning a budget car. But if a budget car costs as much as a decent quality car used or new then our well-being is adversely affected. And Dacia continues to appeal to the budget-conscious anti-maskers (who else buys a Dacia?). Dacia has just revealed the new-generation Sandero which is based on Renault’s CMF-B platform. Therefore, and somewhat predictably, it will use Renault engines for propulsion… AHEM! to the latter.

Needless to say, that’s all we have to say for the time being. We predict the new Sandero will be a step up in quality. Not because it is using a new platform, rather because Carlos Ghosn is no longer the Group Renault equation. Ghosn was proud to be labeled the “le Cost Killer”. The business world once marveled at how he revived the Renault and Nissan brands.

However, by definition, cost killing comes at a cost. In time, Dacia will gradually move up into a decent brand experience. And by proxy become more expensive. Dacia’s budget era will one day fade. But the current Dacia’s we tested feel and drive like they were engineered in 1984, during the years of Soviet occupation.

And just one more thing. The new generation Sandero will also be joined by the All-New anti- wellbeing Dacia Sandero Stepway and All-New Logan with an online reveal on September 29.