Car Fule

hard time for buying a new car in France. After 2020 and 2021 marked by a slowdown in Covid-related deliveries, the nature of the problems has since changed. Component shortages and skyrocketing fuel prices have increases lead times and prices ! So much so that to buy a new car in 2023, you have to pay a hell of a lot… More and more French people are jumping or hesitating to take the plunge towards the entry-level models. At the moment, the cheapest car in France remains the Dacia Sandero which starts at €10,790 in finish Essential. This is €2,000 more than in February 2021, when it cost “only” €8,690. So are these access models really worth it?

Stripped, but not ugly

In general, if entry-level prices are so attractive, it’s because that they sacrifice comfort, equipment, and safety equipment. But contrary to what was still done a few years ago, cheap no longer means ugly. Remember, a few years ago, entry-level models were models with black plastic bumper, without hubcaps, or even without headlamp fairings ! Current productions have more taste and are not lacking in quality:

Dacia Sandero Essential – 10 790€

The cheapest car in France, the Dacia Sandero, is available for less than €11,000 in the entry version called Essential. At this price, the central locking of the doors, the folding bench seat 2/3-1/3 the radio Bluetooth and the electric front windows. For the rest, air conditioning, GPS, cruise control and metallic paint are optional. Under the hood, there is a block 1.0L SCe with 65 horsepower.

Fiat Panda – €11,190

On the side of Fiat, the Panda is offered (excluding discounts or ecological bonuses) at the entry level for €11,190. This is the price to benefit from the manual air conditioningfrom central locking and electric front windows. On the other hand, splittable bench seat, radio, GPS and body-coloured bumpers are optional. His interest lies in his 70 horsepower micro-hybrid engine which, thanks to its electric starter-alternator, offers more efficient pick-ups than its Romanian rival.

Hyundai i10 India – 12 390€

Hyundai has maintained within the range of its micro-city ​​i10 an entry-level Initia variant. This, like the habits of the Koreans Hyundai, Kia or SsangYong, offers lots of standard equipment at this price. The electric front windows, a car radio and central locking of course. But above all a cruise control/speed limiterautomatic headlights and a lane keeping assistant ! For less than €12,500! Its small engine is a 1.0 L of 67 horsepowerwhich of course lacks a bit of tone.

Read also :

Fiat Panda: the city car will continue its career until 2026

Citroën C3 You! : the city car at bargain prices!

Hyundai i10 67 hp test

Citroën C3 You! – 15 340€

A stripped C3? It is possible with the You! For €15,340 excluding bonuses and discounts, it offers a large number of standard equipment. Starting with the air conditionerthem electric front windows and mirrorsa 2/3-1/3 bench seat, a car radio and the cruise control/speed limiter. Its block is a 1.2 Puretech 83 horsepower which already offers (which also justifies its price) more pep than the models mentioned above.

Dacia Duster Essential – 15 490€

To change city cars, the Dacia Duster is a more livable family model, which is trading in the basic Essential version for €15,490. Like its little sister Sandero, it includes the split bench seat at this price, l’autoradio Bluetoothcentral locking and the electric front windows and mirrors. Its block is a 1.0L of 100 horsepower who accepts LPGa good point !