What's the news?

Yes. It's true. You will soon be able to buy a brand new Dacia Sandero in the UK for £5,995. For that you'll be getting a car similar in size to the UK's best seller - the Fiesta. Although a brand new Fiesta hasn't cost £5,995 since 1989.

Exterior

For your six grand, Dacia offers nothing you don't need. Base level Access models are only available in white and come with 15-inch steel wheels, but you do get daytime running lights. To enhance your wheels or for a choice of colours you need to upgrade to Ambience or Laureate spec, but even the range topper is only £7,995. Here you get body coloured bumpers, mirrors and handles, a chrome grille and front fog lamps.

Interior

Despite its tiny price, the Sandero promises to be massive inside with a 320-litre boot that expands to 1,200 litres with the rear seats folded. Standard Access models get very little in interior goodies. You get power steering, a 60/40 split folding back seat and some wires where a radio should be. However, those who want to upgrade can do so cheaply. Ambience models are only £600 more, providing a CD/radio with USB and auxiliary input, Bluetooth, front electric windows and remote central locking. Top of the range cars get air conditioning, electric mirrors and rear windows, plus cruise control.

Upgrades are cheap too, with a seven-inch touchscreen satnav system available for just £250; and £600 gets you leather upholstery.

Mechanicals

Three frugal engines are available at launch - a super-efficient 0.9-litre petrol three-pot, a tried and tested 1.2-litre petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel. The latter returns 74.3mpg and emissions of less than 100g/km, rewarding buyers with a £0 road tax bill and making it exempt from London's Congestion Charge.

Safety features come in the form of ABS, traction control, ESP and four airbags as standard.

Anything else?

Order books for the Sandero open on 22nd October, and we expect a sizeable queue to snap one up.