What's the best CHEAP new car? Citroen vs Dacia vs Toyota | What Car?

What's the best cheap car you can buy? We take the value-focused Citroen C3, Dacia Sandero and Toyota Aygo X on a 620-mile road trip to find out if new car bargains still exist.
Watch for a full breakdown on everything you need to know about these cars and to find out exactly what they will cost you to run.
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[@lakesandfells]

For me the Dacia was the clear winner in this test.

[@ralzvy]

for me no cus its a dacia

[@Adi7x]

MG4

[@kaloyancholakov3725]

You have to be a madman/risktaker to buy dacia before toyota.

[@AdrianroTV]

True, Dacia has the most comfort out of the 3, it has bigger space, bigger boot, faster acceleration and it looks better than the other 2.

[@aarondynamics1311]

@@ralzvy What's that supposed to mean?

[@dragosi8980]

For the Dacia phone holder you can buy a very small cable to charge the phone, that's the whole idea. So you don' have a long cable going all through your dashboard. It's a great idea.

[@KanishQQuotes]

Yes but urinalist gonna cry about no leather clad dashboard in a cheap city car

[@raka522]

The top USB port is also connected directly to the radio. If you only have the simple 8" media display installed and not the Media Nav, Android Auto or Apple Car Play can only be used via USB cable and not via WiFi.

[@geoffb3240]

So the gutless, 4 seat, boot the size of a thimble car wins?!?! Hmmmm!

[@khalidacosta7133]

Yeah that's how it works. Doesn't even have a reach adjustable steering wheel. I had a mid spec 2017 C3 as a rental and I'd rather have that again over a jacked up Aygo.

[@haziqali9716]

Actually love my Aygo X as a first car but would prefer a dacia just because this car genuinely has no power whatsoever 😢

[@petermooney2016]

An SUV? 1 out of 3 - no Sports, and no Utility with a weeny boot.

[@borsh2002]

@@petermooney2016 best comment, i must recon!

[@spig021]

The Toyota is NOT an SUV just because it has big plastic wheel arches.

[@WithCars909]

I like this idea of taking 3 cheap cars on a road trip, more of this please

[@whatcar]

Thank you! We have more cheap car road trips in the diary.

[@WithCars909]

@@whatcar great to hear 👍

[@DavidJohnston58]

​@@whatcar I have now subscribed 👌

[@crestas9]

@@whatcarplease also consider the Skoda Fabia or the Seat Ibiza

[@jonsnow9428]

Way more informative than that other channel that just seems to just drag race each car. Also this may be a second (town) car purchase to get the kids to school

[@ggj666]

I must be getting old, the "budget" end of the car market is still 5K more than I have ever spent on a car.

[@DavidJohnston58]

That's biting a lot of us on the butt!

[@Myst3YT]

@nevis8106 No longer in North America unfortunately.

[@chrishart8548]

​@nevis8106i think not even owning a car at all is the way most people in the uk are heading. Used cars look to me now what i think new cars should cost.

[@chrishart8548]

@nevis8106 really depends how bad the cost of living crisis gets. For a lot of people the car will be the first thing to go.

[@I_know_what_im_talking_about]

@@chrishart8548- we going back to horses or what? How you gonna travel without a car?! There’s PLENTY of quality used cars available. No reason to buy New unless you really like a model, really need it and obviously can afford it.

[@drasticplastic]

I traded in a C3 against an Aygo X automatic for my wife. We had it 3 months and she absolutely hated it too small too slow and far too noisy. So I ended trading it in for another C3 which she finds very comfortable and loves. It taught me an expensive lesson do not surprise your wife with a new car without asking her 1st.

[@LIONtib]

Or maybe just don't downgrade from a subcompact to a supermini??

[@JimboRustles]

I drove a C3 and found it dreadful compared to my 2010 Honda Civic, can't imagined what an Aygo feels like then

[@LIONtib]

@@JimboRustles The Civic is in a class above the C3. To be fair the C3 is only nice in the upper trim levels. The lower ones look and feel as cheap as it gets. And the Aygo is somehow worse.

[@JimboRustles]

@@LIONtib It was the engine that felt horrible, supposedly it's 83 hp but feels like 50, a 75 hp Peugeot 206 runs like a Swiss clock compared to those 3 cylinders.

[@ianworley8169]

I loved the look of the C3 and wanted to buy one for my wife. I was made up to be given one as a hire car on holiday. The worst car I've ever driven. It actually made me feel nauseous driving it on winding roads. Wallowed about on the least bends and utterly gutless up steep hills. Horrible car.

[@MTMihai]

Wow, you actually managed to put that lack of space, lack of power, lack of looks Double Cross in pole position. Impressive!

[@eadsierestorations]

Yes....how much do Toyota pay you? Lol....how actually sad.

[@dustinzitto618]

I travelled from Bulgaria to Germany and back in the Dacia Logan (sedan version of the Sandero). The car is a bit noisy, fact, but the seats are superb. Back support is top notch.

[@TheDarrenP]

Mostly older tech which is far more reliable.

[@tennolife9930]

We own a 2011 Logan 1.6L, it almost has 200k km on the dash. The car saw the service exactly zero times (besides oil/filters and belts). We also took it on roads where a land rover would clench its cheeks because for some reason the suspension is very soft and it has a lot of ground clearance, thing's seen the islands of greece, the mountains of switzerland and everything in between. It's absolutely surprising how good of a car it is. And we bought it new, top range with all the good stuff for only ~5000 EUR, I really doubt there is a single car on this planet more economical and practical than that. (maybe a close contender, but no necessarily due to its price, the Volkswagen Golf/Variant from 1999-2006 with the 1.9 TDI engine)

[@raka522]

@@TheDarrenP The fact that Dacia has mostly older technology is no longer the case since the Sandero 3. Current Clio technology is actually installed thanks to the current EU laws, which require certain safety functions that older vehicle chassis can no longer fulfill.

[@rantg]

can I hear more details about your trip? we are about to do the same :)

[@erikvangelder6671]

I've owned a Dacia Duster Dci (Diesel) for vife years now. Never had any problem, it is as reliable as I'd expect (but didn't get) from much more expensive brands. Of course, an anectodic example is hardly proof of anything, but my experience seems to underscribe what many have experienced with Dacia. I'm going to trade our Dacia it now, because of financial strategic considerations, and practical considerations as to which fuel is best for the shorter trips I nowerdays do, unlike before when I usually did longer trips (and more often). Our next car will be, not surprisingly, a Dacia Duster again, but this time around, it will be the Hybrid version. As the Sandero is technically practically the same or at least very similar to the Duster Sandero, I expect the Sandero's to be just as reliable

[@Twmpa]

Cramped, claustrophobic, gutless, limited rear space, small boot, slowest infotainment, most expensive. All terms used to describe the Toyota which also only has four seats, sits in a class below the other two and is the most expensive. The top of the range Aygo X at nearly 20 grand for what is effectively a competitor to a Kia Picanto is ludicrously expensive. Yet somehow, it wins this test???

[@TheMaleforce]

Test was done by generation woke who have no idea about anything, the Aygo is not a proper car as you say it's more like a Picanto. One simple rule applies to depreciation, the more you pay the more you lose. Dacia Sandero is far better than the other two.

[@konhenry9713]

Toyota boot space is limited and this conclusion to toyota winning is ridiculous

[@devonbikefilms]

Advertising revenue? I’ve driven all these cars and this is not the conclusion I would have come to. The Dacia on the other hand, I’d definitely be happy with that. The toy mota is just too expensive.

[@leaningtower73]

In fact what a weird conclusion these guys came up with. Who told them practicality is not important in the low end price range? Just for interior space and boot capacity I would buy the Sandero

[@riceburner4747]

Competitor to the KIA?? I bet you pay more in maintenance. If I would be looking for large/luxurious cars, I wouldn't be looking at these. Cheap DEPENDABLE car is what I'D WANT.🇱🇷

[@maxhugen]

"The average price of a car in *2023* ?" £37k number may well be *because the **_average_** person couldn't afford a new car in 2023.*

[@rleerm]

I suppose that price excludes 2nd hand cars and includes lease. Best cheap car is a 2nd hand car. Best for environment as well.

[@vangestelwijnen]

Same here in the Netherlands. Almost 40K in Euro's for a new car.... My 2009 Renault costed 14K new and has all I need. Where did it all go wrong?

[@maxhugen]

@@vangestelwijnen But but but you'll save money... on the insurance - oops, I meant on tires - oops I meant on depreciation - oops... 😂 AND... you could buy another Renault for probably less than the cost of a replacement EV battery.

[@chrishart8548]

​@@rleermsomeone has to buy the car new for there to be second hand cars

[@chrishart8548]

​@@vangestelwijneninflation. Money printing, and covid lockdowns.

[@stevencampbell1150]

I can answer that with 2 words... Good news! The Dacia Sandero is going to win hands down and they're brilliant value and great cars to drive.

[@TheSwaroopB]

*crowd cheers* "Ahem, moving on..."

[@ivanjovanovic362]

Holy sh*t that Dacia looks the best and is the best 😂

[@costelgigi31]

Poor people cannot afford but the best of the best. 🤣

[@Tom-sg4iv]

​@@costelgigi31I had cash for 40x top level Sandero's, but only got one. And I must say I'm very happy with the car. Amazing value for money.

[@costelgigi31]

@@Tom-sg4iv No value is good value, no safety is best safety.

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

It is the best, but I think the C3 looks a lot more stylish.

[@doru10922]

That Toyota is the entry level? The Sandero top of the trim? At 15 000 still cheaper than Toyota

[@markvincent4340]

The aygo and sandero are completely different. Aygo is a four seater, sandero has five seats. Aygo boot is so small, but sandero is pretty big. Sandero beats the aygo any day.

[@codincoman9019]

Except if you need a smaller car, with a small boot etc.

[@markvincent4340]

@@codincoman9019 Exactly

[@razvanursache9493]

Who would pay more money for a smaller car? More money for less boot space, for less space on the back bench, less power, less looks? Where's the convenience in that?

[@peterhayward1848]

More safety kit and better reliability in the Aygo X.

[@codincoman9019]

@@razvanursache9493, nu toți au aceleași nevoi ca tine. De exemplu, eu prefer o mașină mai mică, mai fiabilă, cu costuri mai mici de întreținere pe durata vieții (TCO, Total Cost of Ownership), cu design mai fain etc.

[@jansefran1752]

Dacia is the winner. Very good car. Much better than most of people thinks.

[@olias2716]

two star crash rating......no thanks....

[@jansefran1752]

@@olias2716 If you hawe no intentions to crash - than this is irellavant ... If you crash a lot - than - is necessery to hawe a car - strong / safe as TANK - VOLVO for example.

[@marksouthwell4490]

​@@olias2716for occupant safety they'd probably score 4 or 5 on the older system, they now scored on intelligent safety features IE lane departure warning etc. so for occupant and structural safety they're most likely a safe car

[@vangestelwijnen]

@@olias2716 Buying a car for the event that never happens. Or buying a car for daily pleasure and convenience?

[@Twmpa]

@@olias2716 These cars are marked down by the NCAP organisations nowadays because they do not have the electronic driver inteference and distraction (sorry, assistance) technologies such as lane departure warning.

[@chrisburn7178]

First sentence: "Big luxury SUVs are pointless, wasteful and dangerous personal vanity projects". There, fixed it. Thumbs up for these little cars 👍

[@naferemix]

Dacia easily. Shame the price has shot up so much but it’s all the necessary benefits of a new Clio without the ‘impersonation’ of a plush interior and creaky extra decor

[@FrenchBulldogsCantSpeakFrench]

Yea and their 2 star crash safety rating is amazing..

[@dustinzitto618]

@@FrenchBulldogsCantSpeakFrenchnot for structural reasons though.

[@FrenchBulldogsCantSpeakFrench]

@@dustinzitto618 hmm maybe because they’re so bloody cheap..

[@skeed.5768]

​@@FrenchBulldogsCantSpeakFrenchtheir crash rating is 2 stars because of the lack of pedestrian safety systems, but if you crash in a dacia you have just as much chance of a survival as if you crashed in a renault clio

[@FrenchBulldogsCantSpeakFrench]

Still not an excuse for being unsafe 🤦🏼

[@russell5791]

So it's like comparing apples and pears. The Sandero is in a different class, it's a 5 seater, faster, has a boot that can be used. And its thousands cheaper. Yes if you are in the market for a small city car, then the Toyota is better and will depreciate less and probably outlive a sandero. Can't really compare the 2

[@hughventer2934]

This has been one of the best videos from what car. So refreshing to review affordable cars, they don’t seem as scripted and look like they’re enjoying themselves.

[@whatcar]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed.

[@DavidJohnston58]

100%

[@urbanspaceman7183]

You have got to be kidding. Dacia by a country mile. You have just lost all credibility.

[@wallycustard1281]

My colleague has a new Dacia. It felt cheap and designed to fall apart after 5 years. I didn't like it at all. It was cheap for a reason.

[@markwiles3485]

Dacia’s facelift for the Sandero removed the six speed gearbox, replacing it with a five speed. They also swapped Media Nav (with built-in satnav and wireless Apple CarPlay) with Media Display that has no satnav and requires a USB cable for CarPlay. The Sandero in the former top of the range Comfort specification of 2020/21/22 was much better value than the Expression of late 2022 onwards. £13245 on the road in May 2022 and great value then.

[@ligametis]

I don't think Sandero is really the best Dacia model to buy. New Duster is more expensive but looks like a way higher class car.

[@alanmole7292]

My Wife’s 22 plate Sandero Stepway has six speeds, Apple car play, touch screen colour display with Satnav, climate control, cruise and speed limiter, everything you could want for £18000. It also goes like. sh1t off a shovel.

[@sebastianstoica578]

The Sandero still has the 6 speed gearbox in the Stepway version. And that varies depending on the market. In Romania you can get it with both 5 and 6 speed gearbox.

[@Jehowy666]

It's the other way around, the old, pre-facelift model had 5 speed gearbox, since ~november 21 all Sandero have 6-speed.

[@sebastianstoica578]

@@Jehowy666, they have reintroduced the 5 speed gearboxes on some models since a year or so ago.

[@runningawayvagabond5876]

Wish we could get the Dacia over on this side of the world but unfortunately I live in the land of single people thinking they NEED a 7 passenger SUV or some bro thinking he might get a trailer at some unspecified point in time in the future so gets a full size full cab pickup. The cheeky Sandero would be dead in the water as soon as it landed.

[@68404]

I thought Dacia would vbe available in Ukraine. Or are you just a tourist?

[@gingernutpreacher]

​@@68404are you picking a fight over zone one suporting ukraine?

[@Don_Puparo]

USA@@68404

[@razvanipati]

Buy a Lada Niva and shut up

[@Blue2024_rs]

@@68404 I think he os from the US. It's obvious that Dacia is selling in UA, as Romania is it nighbour

[@evergreenalba]

They're still too pricey for those who are earning less than £30k. The cost of living and stagnant wages are killing off the small car sector.

[@jonathonedwards6741]

I spent a lot of time in an aygo X last year as my Suzuki Swift Sport was in for a lot of work (service leading to seized calipers leading to clutch going, leading to someone hitting it) things I can say is it has a playful chassis, fuel economy is good regardless of what I do with the accelerator, tech was basic (just how I like it, less distractions), but it was a noticeable difference in power. I joke that the swift is slow but this was another level.

[@losch78]

I had the C3 as rental last summer, and was generally surprised that it felt quite a nice car. And I think it still looks sort of stylish quirky, probably the last cheap of these 3.

[@runawayronnie]

I also was given a C3 rental for the first time. Almost brand new in base trim ( Spain ). It's by far the worst car I've driven in a long time. What it did do however is get us from A to B without issue which is all I asked of it. Would never consider owning one tho.

[@ianworley8169]

​@@runawayronnieI was made up to get one on holiday. I could not agree more. An absolute porker to drive. The worst hire car I've ever had by a mile.

[@DavidJohnston58]

We went with the Dacia, great little car, screen does all we want, has auto lights and wipers, sat nav and it's dual fuel. LPG we still have three garages in town with pump and it's 74.9 this week. Ironic that we bought it as a runaround and now use it for longer journeys. Only use our Citroen e-C4 as the runaround given the amount of problems and stress we had on road trips getting a vacant, working charger. Since swapping the cars around motoring has become a pleasure again.

[@tiberiupopescu238]

Sandero with LPG directly from Dacia, don't know if available in UK, is by far away the cheapest to drive and best overall budget car in this class.

[@davidspencer7254]

LPG hard to find.

[@saxon-mt5by]

Agreed. I run a petrol/LPG car and haven't used LPG since 2019 - all the local filling stations have gone.@@davidspencer7254

[@weetbix2083]

More useable space and airy interior, but they not very durable long term.

[@LIONtib]

​@@weetbix2083Not durable? In Romania the vast majority of cars on the road are first and second gen Logans, Sanderos and Dusters. I've seen some with over 400k-500k kilometers that were still going strong despite the blatant lack of maintenance. Dacia is many things but unreliable is definitely not one of them.

[@costelgigi31]

@@LIONtib Yeap, and most of you had 5 Dacia cars in the last 3 years. We know the mantra.🤣

[@siraff4461]

WOW. THANK YOU for including overall ownership costs. Hardly any review ever bothers and it winds me up no end when someone says "but this one's cheaper" based on its sticker price alone. This is a perfect example of why the Citroen is cheap so long as you can't count. Having to explain it to everyone who doesn't understand TCO gets old real quick so maybe if people follow your lead and include it in reviews it will be more well known. Excellent review too. The only thing I would like to have added would be a town/suburban section since school runs and commutes are these things' bread and butter. Thanks again.

[@Goriaas]

Depreciation is the biggest problem with TCO. That's why buying a car that is AT LEAST 3-4 years old is always better in terms of TCO

[@siraff4461]

@@Goriaas Almost always. There are some which can be cheaper to own from new - such as ultra rare stuff which is worth more the day you get it than you paid when you order it. You also have to factor in wear and tear items, likelyhood of a breakdown and how much value you place on warranty cover. For instance I got a Transit minibus new in 2018. It has only needed front brakes so far and because of the way the market has gone its worth more now than I payed for it when it was new. On the other hand my Kuga plug-in is now three years old and has lost roughly £18k in that time meaning that even though the Kuga does 50-60mpg regularly and the bus around 25mpg, the Kuga has cost more to own and run.

[@michaelsteiner5775]

The Aygo may be the worst by comparing the obvious but if I had to choose one car for the next 300.000km or 20 years it's the only option. The others will struggle lasting as long like the Toyota. That's just the way it is and this is why they are so expensive.

[@destroyedsoul1791]

Why would anyone want to keep that POS for 20 years

[@carlosgilpinheiro7510]

In your dreams.

[@terryosborn]

Am I dreaming? A new car test that is of affordable PETROL cars with not an EV in sight, well done guys.

[@sergioleonardo8837]

It's amazing what people demand on cars these days. I looked around to trade my two oldies and tried both the Sandero and the C3 and honestly they where both decent but I really enjoyed driving the C3. it was more comfortable than the Dacia and I thought the interior looked better too. It seems the only thing going for the Toyota is the infotainment (God help us if someone has to drive somewhere and not have this huge TV screen to look at because they don't know where they are going...) . I'm a practical person and don't need that much tech to just drive around with my family or whatever gear i need to take.

[@shroomyesc]

I immediately noticed in the Aygo the audio quality go down, there's a tinny echo in the car probably due to less sound insulation. Theoretically, the Aygo is in a class below the other two which would explain that but the price doesn't reflect it theoretically being an A-segment vehicle rather than B.

[@gsonz172]

The Aygo X is a city car, people buy it because of its small size and good economy. If you want more space in the boot or better performance you buy a Yaris (which would fit better to this comparison anyways). Also don't forget that the Aygo has adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assist as standard, together with other stuff like high beam assist. The Aygo X should rather be compared to similar sized cars like Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto and Suzuki Ignis. This would make way more sense.

[@adriang.c.2986]

agree, it is different class, the problem is the price of the yaris :)

[@bondjamesbond9041]

Not sure about finance rates but as an outright purchase a Suzuki Swift would be my choice. It has the reliability of the Toyota but is bigger inside and more practical.

[@jdmguy44]

Agreed. I'd go for the Swift. Not much more expensive to buy than these three. Generous spec. Looks/drives very well and proven reliability. It's even built in Japan which you can't beat.

[@Twin.motors]

Awsome comparison. MUCH better than carwow's rare 5mil supercar vs 3 mil supercar comparisons.

[@mitchreeves1]

The Citroen's huge downfall that nobody mentions, is that although they've almost matched the Dacia Sandero on price, their finance rates are incredibly high. The C3 is 13.9% APR! The Dacia is 7.9%. That makes an enormous difference on monthly payments. The Dacia is still miles ahead of the pack in terms of value for money.

[@whatcar]

We do cover that at the end of the video! 11.9% APR for that version of the C3 at the time of filming.

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

Suzuki is miles ahead of Dacia. New Swift with ZERO % APR. New Swift is much better than Sandero.

[@mitchreeves1]

@whatcar sorry, I do know that you mentioned it. I'm just saying that in general, few mention this. Bravo that you did! I currently have a 72 plate Dacia on 5.9%. I managed to bag that car in the nick of time! If I got the same car today it's £100pm more (my deposit was £2700).

[@mitchreeves1]

@Mgoblagulkablong it's not 0%, it's currently 7.9%. The same as Dacia

[@janvanhaaster2093]

Financing a car is a stupid way to get rid of your money. If you can pay XXX each month for a loan, you also could have saved it as you obviously don't need it. Cash is king, and if you don't have the money just buy a cheap 2ndhand car.

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

Pop out rear windows, like the Aygo has, are really good for ventilation. The wind pulls air out of the cabin through these windows when you're driving, without creating the turbulence that causes booming noises, like wind down windows do.

[@DougHolmes]

Surely getting a good second-hand car would be a better bet

[@mitchreeves1]

Used car finance rates are insane. You may as well buy new if you want a newer vehicle.

[@davidspencer7254]

You can always make that argument. But used cars have less warranty (whats covered degrades year on year) if any at all, you don't know the wear and tear and most importantly come with more expensive part replacement costs when stuff goes wrong.

[@JohnnyMQB]

@@davidspencer7254 depends who you know for getting things fixed

[@JohnnyMQB]

@@mitchreeves1 why finance just get a bank loan and pay them back instead.

[@mitchreeves1]

@johnnycarruthers9737 even so, interest rates are still high. Most people find it much harder to get a bank loan than finance.

[@stepheng8779]

Buy an Aygo X if you've got no friends or family, are never going on holiday, doing a big shop or going to the tip, it's perfect 🎉 Dacia by a mile 👍

[@geoffreyjohnson543]

I have an Aygo X Pure. Usually only me or me and my spouse, so rear seat room and small boot is not a problem, and seats fold for trips to the tip. It beats the Dacia on fuel economy ( 78 mpg on a recent 500 mile round trip), has all the tech you need (auto lights, lane assist, rear camera, collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, apple carplay etc), low insurance. If I needed a bigger car I would consider the Sandero, but for my circumstances the Aygo is great.

[@dutchhondarebel]

For that amount of money, a decent used car. Plenty of significantly more comfy used cars.

[@khalidacosta7133]

Shhhh if everyone did that, you wouldn't have a used car that is cheap to buy.... Don't buy a used car and definitely never buy a budget new car. Get a nice car that is fully loaded!

[@lowfeelsblvd]

I cannot fathom why anyone would buy that Aygo X. My 21-plate Mazda 3 was less than that and has heated seats, a sunroof, a slick gearbox, 186hp and has the refinement and ride of a golf!

[@JohnnyMQB]

exactly but they must have a brand new car as it comes with warranty and usually free servicing they'll also probably pcp it then give it back after 3 year at half the value for someone like myself to swoop in on a nice wee bargain for the next 10 years idiots.

[@henryv3943]

Great review guys. Interesting comparisons. Happy Easter.

[@delacaravanio]

Below the parcel shelf?! What a load of bollocks. The Aygo fitted four cases. The parcel shelf was what prevented the boot closing, but because of some journalistic code, or whatever, these three refused to take it out. But the thing is, it’s a hatchback and the parcel shelf is designed to be taken out. It’s not a load bearing part. Motoring journalists shouldn’t set stupid rules like “below the parcel shelf” that not only don’t apply in the real world, but make no sense in terms of how the car is intended to be used by the manufacturer. These are cheap runarounds. If you’re going on holidays with your mates, aged 22 or whatever, you will just leave the parcel shelf at home and stuff the boot.

[@tjadventures]

My father in law has a lpg Dacia Sandero stepway. The car is pretty nice looking inside and out and the engine is quite peppy. Because it’s optimized for lpg it has 100hp. He did have a fair amount of weird electronic fault warnings in his 2-3 years of ownership but it seems to be holding up pretty good. Although I believe Toyota is still one of the best companies out there, I don’t think the comparison in your video is quite right. The aygo is, in my opinion, a class smaller than the other two, I believe the Yaris is in the same class as the sandero, but I I enjoyed the video and I like how you accounted for so many factors!

[@stevensarson482]

The AygoX with the Golding roof panel turns it into a modern 2CV. Despite all the shortcomings, those large narrow wheels give it a very good ride .

[@RetroRoberino]

Always nice to see some tests like this made for people like us who don't have an unlimited amount of cash flowing out their wazoo.

[@duncands9172]

A sister of mine last summer and the summer before drove 600 miles in my mother's Volvo V70 2.5 diesel without any trouble. Year. 1997. I was recently at a bus stop and a fantastic 2008 Ford focus drove past me. Before that another fabulous looking drove past me. Year. 2000. Last summer I was at a classic car show and saw a Vw Polo. Year. 1990. A sister of mine has a 2008 Polo, and that means she could keep it for another 18 to 20 years. After seeing the Focus, I thought, search around for a really good 2010 Focus and keep it for another 10 or more years or the same with a V70. Now to an idea. Why don't the three of you buy a 2008 Polo, Focus, and V70 and take them on a 600 mile journey to see how they get on?

[@brei21]

This straightforward review of the boot capacity was refreshing to see. It's helpful to have a standard reference point, like the cabin suitcases that everyone can relate to and use for comparison. This is much more useful than just a random number for boot capacity, especially when a 30-40L difference might not actually mean room for an extra bag due to the interior shapes

[@user-nb5nm4ol8p]

I choose AygoX, C3 with 1.2 puretech engine is zero reliability and Dacia Sandero less comfortable than both

[@petrolpoodle6617]

These comments really wind me up - typical viewers of KZbin that (to be fair just like I used to) have absolutely no idea how much time, effort and work goes into making these videos (8 hours of editing on top of half a day filming for a 15 to 20 min product and I'm a professional videographer) but get so SO personally hurt if _their_ favourite didn't win. For the record, the Dacia also seemed an easy win to me but they clearly made it an incredibly close call between the two, so who cares. Let's however appreciate that they went through every car in immense detail, properly laid out all the things you need to consider when buying one of these 3 and avoided attempting to be a knock off clone of the Top Gear trio. A brilliant format in my opinion, numbers properly researched and the final decision I can _understand_ but just don't agree with. Epic work guys, keep it up!

[@weetbix2083]

Long term ownership the C3 and Sandero are good for 100k miles where as the Aygo will be good for 200-250k miles.

[@marksouthwell4490]

Are you thinking of the previous generation Aygos

[@rthompson938]

I can tell you what will be more reliable snd that is the Toyota.

[@Don_Puparo]

its not the 80's u know...

[@rthompson938]

@@Don_Puparo what has that got to do with it🤔

[@stevekenilworth]

can be hit and miss they sure not as good as they were , now you also get a Mazda Toyota too. but if you look at the yaris 2011-2020 the Hyundai has better reliability, but 2021 to current yaris only slightly better. lots pretty reliable cars these days if not go french as i was looking for a car tested a few french ones all had issues and one even injector issues, but the swift that right up there with the best of small cars on reliability, car im looking at is the i20 only thing it don't have is sat nav but for me that not an issue, one less thing what can get taken away from you or to go wrong, it has adaptive cruise control, phone connect, tyre censors has a list equipment, also a light weight car and for brand its 5th place but for small cars it joint place with other Japanese cars. sadly Toyota reliability has got worse over the years but the good news now we have a good selection small city cars what just as reliable

[@razvanyke]

Very cool video, guys ! Well done

[@peter.russell]

Nice one. Well done, getting there and very interesting to watch so thank you :-)

[@user-iz8hk1ww7i]

All my previous Citroens, including a C4 have been notoriously unreliable. Poor electronics and unreliable engines. Coincidentally, after giving up on Citroens, I leased an Aygo while waiting for my new car to be delivered, and even though it was a tiny car with a minute 1.0 petrol engine, I was immediately struck by its superior quality compared to any Citroen I ever had. I will never buy another Citroen after my experiences with them. I agree that the Aygo X is the best choice here but the Dacia seems a decent proposition too.

[@BSquare1989]

If they were all unreliable, why did you stick with citroen?

[@user-iz8hk1ww7i]

​@@BSquare1989 I liked the the fact that they were quirky, and different to the German offerings. They were also cheap, new. I also expected that with each new model, old problems would be ironed out resulting in improved reliability. After the warranty expires, repair costs proved inhibitive. I also guess that I was loyal to a car brand but I would never take another Citroen, even if one was handed to me free.

[@user-oi2cu1xs8e]

Not my experience I have had the previous version C4, and a current shape C3 with zero problems, its a shame that the customer experience varies as they should be good cars, if you go to France they are everywhere.

[@user-iz8hk1ww7i]

​@@user-oi2cu1xs8e It's great that you've had good experiences with Citroen's, a complete contrast with mine - Gasket on a brand new Citroen blown few days after purchase, leaky engines C4 engines, leaks into footwell, windows scratched by seals, cruise control frequently failing on motorway (depollution warning light was linked to this), intermittent heavy steering, tailgate kept permanently locked by poor electronics... and in spite of all these problems, last year, I even considered buying a new DS4 - basically, a rebranded Citroen, but when I opened the bonnet and saw that it was more or less mechanically identical to the C4, I went to a completely different car brand. I guess that the French are loyal to French Car Brands... in 2023, the top 3 selling cars were: 1) Renault 2) Peugeot 3) Citroen Similarly, the Germans are loyal to German Brands... in 2023, the top selling brands were... 1)Volkswagen 2) Mercedes 3) Audi 4) BMW Even in Romania, the Dacia was the number one car brand (originally Romanian, now part of the Renault Group). To me, brand loyally to Citroen has proved extremely costly but I hope your experience with Citroens remains good.

[@carlosgilpinheiro7510]

How can you have superior quality in an Aygo than in a C4? What quality are you talking about? That Aygo in a same level of a C1... Comparing this with a C4 is what makes your opinion not reliable. What other models did you have how can you explain the quantity of 1gen C4 with 20 years? Sometimes the cause of many problems are the mechanics that assist the cars. Yes a lot of them don't have the knowledge or the scanners to diagnose the multiplex electronics and what can be correct easily they turn a nightmare.

[@martinwood9014]

Got to be Sandero all day

[@davewhittles]

the toyota for me it looks the best and will hold value better than the other two

[@martinwood9014]

Glad you have more cheaper car comparison vids coming up

[@detmer87]

Toyota shouldn't be on this list. Suzuki Swift would make more sense.

[@poppyneese1811]

Dacia for me, dang you James May👊 I wish we could get the Dacia here in the States. The Citroen looks really good from the rear, a lil to much going on in the front. I know the Toyota would be the best, but being of Scottish Heritage I root against the leader always.

[@gugugh10]

I'm really glad that you did this comparative test! Very good!!! I was undecided in choosing between Dacia and Citroen! Thank you! And to more clips and presentations of budget cars!

[@hoderharris]

Brilliant comparison. As American who frequently travels to Europe for my job, i am always envious of the sub compact options you guys have vs what is sold in the States...

[@LIONtib]

Why? At least you guys have the roads to accommodate huge 7 seaters and pick ups, even if you don't really need all that space.

[@ferjscor]

Great video . Not everyone is rich and have money for Audi RS 7....

[@jandoerlidoe3412]

I would choose the Sandero trough... ( I now have Dacia Logan MCV )

[@thomasp818]

About the infotainment system. It's quite unfair to not take the screen for the Citroën while you take it for Sandero which obviously on the entry level of the Sandero you don't even have a screen.

[@vinnyanthony23]

I bought our 17 plate C3 in 2018 and since then it hasn't cost us a thing bar normal maintenance. Been a brilliant little runaround car.

[@matejsojka6683]

did you calculate lpg runing costs in bifuel dacia?

[@mikadavies660]

For the money and excellent comfort, I would highly recommend the Citroën C4. I own a full electric E-C4 and I know that you can buy a 1 year old E-C4 for the cost of any of these. The massive plus on the E-C4 is the quality suspension and seating.

[@chrishart8548]

You can get a vauxhall mokka E for even less loads for £11k could've believe it untill i looked .

[@hunchanchoc8418]

Just don't try to make a journey to somewhere 200 miles away...

[@mikadavies660]

@hunchanchoc8418 Shame you didn't tell me that months ago....!! Every trip to my head office is over 200 miles... I drive like any other car... steady 80mph very early in the morning. Stop for a 20min top up and go! Arriving between 6:30 and 7am... So WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL.??? Are you going to say I can't make it?

[@hunchanchoc8418]

@@mikadavies660 How much range do you have left when you reach the office? I presume the charger you use en-route is a fast-charger? And you are able to recharge while you're parked at the office? And as you state, you are driving in the dead of night, so charging stations at services are not likely to be busy. Great! For that journey all the stars are aligned and it works out just dandy!

[@mikadavies660]

@hunchanchoc8418 I'm in Construction. We always start early. I has around 20 to 30 miles left and my boss is a dinosaur. No chargers at the office. But one about 3 miles away.

[@philipsutton5652]

Was not expecting to see my hometown of 30 years when the video popped up.

[@exileatsushi7165]

I don't often comment (sorry fot that), but I love this video concept, plus other big channels (yes I am looking at you, "automobilewaw") didn't even think about this. I hope we will get more of this! PS: those You! and SUV jokes never get old 😁

[@augustinmarginean]

Agreed somewhat with the verdict, however, the elephant in the room is the fact Toyota is so damn slow and gutless. On long term that will definitely be frustrating for the owner. The small turbo engine's can be so fun to daily drive because of the mid range punch. For me that will make the difference.

[@hunchanchoc8418]

The real elephant in the room is that the Toyota is near-enough a 2 seater with negligible boot space! Might as well have an MG Midget.

[@anthonypagano6384]

Where is the Suzuki Ignis and Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto

[@user-vd3ko9zy6u]

scrap yard

[@weetbix2083]

@@user-vd3ko9zy6u The Ignis will long time outlive the C3 and Sandero

[@user-vd3ko9zy6u]

will it feck utter scrap @@weetbix2083

[@slumpika]

Or the Fiat Tipo.

[@khalidacosta7133]

@@weetbix2083 No it won't. You'll have stuffed it into a wall because you hated it.

[@vrku9979]

My winner is Dacia Sandero with LPG. I try Logan and its really comfy! Way better than my Skoda Rapid. It has turbo lag and slower response than TSI by VW but it runs on LPG so its really cheap. And stepway trim looks good.

I'm a Toyota fan, but I also have a Sandero at home, from the year 2000, and I can't say I'm sorry for having it, until now it has been like any other Toyota, zero reliability issues.

[@adrianvanheems8041]

Beware! The C3 has a wet cambelt, big expense when it has to be replaced.

[@khalidacosta7133]

I just did mine at 100k... it was £350. About normal to what a cambelt costs now.

[@user-oi2cu1xs8e]

Main dealers will do it for £500, recommended interval is 6 years but most people seem to go to 8 for some reason, all cambelt cars need changing at some point. Have been told by specialists that you must only use the PSA kit.

[@giojohn9807]

Isn't the normal Toyota Aygo cheaper then the Aygo X (Cross) ? Or is the normal Aygo not available there ?

[@sIightIybored]

The latter.

[@shroomyesc]

There isn't a normal Aygo anymore after 2022, the Aygo X is the only Aygo left.

[@giojohn9807]

@@shroomyesc Thanks

[@JohnnyMQB]

much cheaper this is just a jacked up shitbox that doesnt do anything better than a standard aygo

[@user-hf7jp2lt5x]

Worth checking if any have wet cam belts. A couple of these in the life of the car will add thousands to the running costs.

[@clubbi911]

I like the C3 Origin ❤ Comfy, roomy, quirky 👍🏼

[@goga.games18]

I would love to own aygo x Perfect for city and will last 20 years no problem since its Toyota But sadly its too slow i wish engine was at least 1.3

[@khalidacosta7133]

It'll rust out after 8 years...

[@carlosgilpinheiro7510]

Maybe people need to realise that not all Toyota are reliable and will not last more than the others. And maybe when we need to make a bigger repair the costs of Japanese components from Denso will be a lot expensive that ones from Bosch or Valeo.

[@trackingcalin1988]

The Sandero is so expensive there in UK..

[@comicmania2008]

Hi, very nice road test / comparison, I liked the look of each of the 3 cars. But, I'm 18 months into my Aygo X (Edge) ownership. Took out the PCP deal, paying £168 /month. Loving the Toyota experience, I'm oldish, at 64, retired, so speed is not a worry for me, and neither is the rear passenger room or tiny boot-space. I've been averaging at least 58 mpg in rural Lincolnshire, and even had 68 mpg on nice days, but get about 48 mpg around town. Love the trim level, the infotainment screen is great, the general driving position and nice feel to the car, the engine is chunky, reliable, starts well, not had any breakdowns or factory recalls. The car also boasts lane assist, active cruise control and loads of other stuff that your review never covered. When my deal comes to an end in 2 years, I was going to trade up to a Yaris X hybrid which I test drove when I took mine for the 1st service, but if they turbocharge the newer model Aygo X, I'm likely to have another Aygo X. A turbo giving it another - say 15-20 BHP would make an enormous difference for the better on hills and motorways, hope you are reading this Toyota! Toyota are very nice to deal with, they looked after me very well.

[@jmandameloya]

Did you add the extra maintenance cost of the wet belt of the C3? Tis makes the C3 a bad purchase, on top of everything said

[@chrisjefferies6693]

Just buy second hand cheaper still The amount the car is depreciated it’s just not worth buying new

[@JohnnyMQB]

This man just gets it

[@chrisjefferies6693]

@@JohnnyMQB the thing is they are talking about by new cars for like 13-14k like everyone can just Magic that sort of cash up I couldn’t even before the cost of living when I first see this pop up on KZbin I expected the cars to be secondhand not brand-new that would of been a better watch to be honest cars like 4/5k that people could more likely afford at a push should of been which of these cheap 5/4k cars would be better for the average family I stopped after 10mins sorry guys

[@JohnnyMQB]

@@chrisjefferies6693 plus they're not really much better than the older versions of the same model just slightly more up to date

[@velouris76]

There’s a somewhat case of bad timing of an ad break here… 07:06 “Will, touch that knob” then goes into ad break… 😂😂😂😂😂

[@mattw8332]

Used to buy What Car? magazine back in the late 1980s. Back then the budget car road tests used to feature the FSO Polonez, Lada Riva, Skoda Estelle, Yugo 45a and the Citroen 2CV6. For a little more decadence there would be a Hyundai Pony. List prices of those would be around the £3,500 - 5,000 mark.

[@GrahamGroovyUK]

Then in 1989 the £5995 Proton GL saloon arrived. Not much of a looker but so reliable and easy to drive. We need cars like this again. For the Sandero to go from £6k before C-Vid to £14k is crazy. A pre reg Clio is cheaper.

[@tomazikov]

Well while I like all three I will stick to mine which is a preface lifted Sandero but if I bought it today I would have the one that you drove with expression trim with auto AC which costs just below 16 grand in our country and I am very happy and satisfied with mine

[@sebastiandros1911]

I recently rented a Sandero Stepway automatic for a week and liked it, it is a good car.

[@costelgigi31]

for one week it is reliable enough. 🤣

[@sebastiandros1911]

​@@costelgigi3135k on board, it wasn't brand new. Only time will tell how reliable they are, but I don't see why not.

[@johnlightbody9942]

Bought C3 brand new 2018...thought was xlnt purchase... First MOT, new front discs required, year later with barely 40k mileage two strut top mounts required, but worse, red roof now has dozens of white spots, advised is lacquer separating from paint, Citroen won't cover... £1500 to respray... Now regret ever choosing Citroen....

[@philipscott1128]

Just wait until the oil immersed, wet timing belt disintegrates. That will be the icing on the cake!

[@Dante1282]

@@philipscott1128 Yes it will but it wont be much of an issues if you cheap out on mainentance just cause its a cheap car. The biggest enemy of any engine is a lack of mainentance. A wetbelt just accelarates the process if you dont take care of the engine/car.

[@thomasp818]

It's not really Citroën but stellantis. Even Peugeot has this puretech bad motor. But they made a new puretech for the next c3 with a timing chain instead of timing belt and d'ajustement to upgrade the fiability.

[@RetroRoberino]

I feel like the C3 has been done a bit dirty here. The C3 is meant to be a slushbox and a comfy, soft car. Does it not deliver on that? I hate hard seats and stiff suspensions unless I am in a sports car.

[@tectoramia-sz1lu]

Toyota every time for me. Get it serviced at a Toyota dealer and get a year's warranty until it's 10yrs old or has done 100,000 miles.

[@_petar]

New duster with options is 30k euro, just like Qashqai so RIP cheap cars, prepare for rip offs!

[@contyoutufication]

Qasqai is 45k euros the hybrid version, the duster hybrid full is 30k... 15k difference on full versions...

[@mrmrmrcaf7801]

Not...the full hybrid , full option one is 27k but the TCe 130 4X2 Expression, everybody will buy is 23k. You can get one for 20k without problems, you don't need all the options...

[@jhonnypusong6906]

Aygo is the best Reliability Economy Proven ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@marksouthwell4490]

Suzuki ignis much better buy, plus has excellent reliability, excellent economy , better price

[@lm68lancashire60]

I recently did a similar 600 mile plus journey up north and averaged 51.2mpg in my wife’s Jaguar E-Pace 2.0 diesel…..honestly thought these cars would have been more economical…..great video as usual. X

[@bhavik2003]

Tata should launch their car in the UK.

[@Ambienfinity]

It'd be the Toyota every time. It will prove reliable. Three southerners on a sojourn north in what Lord Vetinari in Discworld called 'The Grand Sneer.' Believe it or not, we actually have running water in the north now. 😆

[@ptownsend4391]

The "talkies" will be at cinemas next week as well.

[@saxon-mt5by]

and we're promised colour television before the end of the year!@@ptownsend4391

[@Ambienfinity]

@@ptownsend4391 Oh wow, can't wait. Running water too!

[@andywells397]

The toyota wont break down and cost a fortune in repairs..people like that.

[@83esiu]

Wow. I can see that you have visited a Fosse Park in Leicester :) Years back i have been an owner of Citroen Grand Picasso VTR+ (2009 or 2010) 1.6 diesel and it was great: spacious, fairly economical and 7 steater. The only issue was oil leaks from the engine - issue that i have spent hundreds if not thousands of ££ until Greg's Automotive garage in Leisester have sorted for me - issue as easy as replacing an engine screws. Later on I have owned Citroen C4 Exclusive from 2012 (also 1.6 diesel, but came out of the factory without a DPF filter and Denon audio - loved it) and I can say I have been very happy with the car (only issue was a an air con which wasn't really powerful) but as my kids have grown (and i have bought a dog - Harrier) I had to sell it. Usually I have been changing my cars every 2 years (until covid time kicked in) and few cars later i own a Volvo v60 Cross Country 2.0 D4 and, because of the current car prices, I'm not looking to sell it ant time soon. As I'm a fan of Citroen I believe, nowadays a Dacia is a better choice ;)

[@WheelieMacBin]

I have a 2023 Dacia Sandero Essential 90Tce, and it does everything I need it to do. I clock up quite a few miles on the motorway and the turbo makes a real difference to the experience. The other two cars in this test not having turbocharged engines would be a real deal breaker for me.

[@clivegeary4587]

The Toyota, as mentioned, a 10 year warranty

[@pixie706]

As a mere female I've never ever taken any notice of interior decor . performance and comfort are priorities in car selection.

[@HugoParedes]

I’m curious, what do you prioritise? Price?

[@pixie706]

@@HugoParedes read my comment

[@ijoseluis]

It's on the slower depreciation that the Toyota's longer guarantee works. The difference to the Sandero in overall value isn't probably significant, excepting for those who really don't need space and privilege driving quality. To have kids or not, that is the question. I liked your video. Honesty is the best policy.

[@Bambotb]

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