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Dacia Logan Bi-Fuel LPG gauge

How Dacia Bi-Fuel LPG cars will save you money

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Dacia Duster Bi-Fuel

Dacia has become the only new car brand in the UK to sell cars able to run on LPG petroleum gas – and the firm claims its new Bi-Fuel range could save the average motorist more than £400 a year.

This is because LPG is so much cheaper than petrol – 62p a litre, at the time of writing, rather than an average 109p per litre.

Offered across the Dacia range of Sandero, Duster and Logan MCV, the 1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel cars are priced at £400 more than an equivalent 1.0 TCe petrol engine.

This means that if you drive 12,000 miles annually, the Bi-Fuel cars will pay for themselves within a year.

Head of Dacia UK, Luke Broad, says that even with today’s low petrol prices, a Bi-Fuel Dacia will save more than £1,000 over the average four-year PCP deal.

Once fuel prices begin to rise again, the savings will compound. When petrol prices return to around 120p a litre, Dacia Bi-Fuel models could save as much as £2,000 over four years.

What is Dacia Bi-Fuel LPG?

Dacia Sandero Bi-Fuel

LPG, or liquid petroleum gas, is sold at over 1,200 filling stations in the UK.

Most petrol cars can also run on LPG with some simple conversions – but Dacia designed its TCe petrol engine with LPG in mind, making the conversion easier still.

It is carried out on the production line in the factory, rather than once the car has been built. This is how Dacia can offer the same three-year warranty and impose the same service intervals as a normal petrol model.

An extra bonus is the 1.0 TCe LPG engine produces 10 percent more power than the regular car – 100hp instead of 90hp. 

The LPG fuel tank is located in the spare wheel well, so boot space is identical to normal models.

Dacia Sandero Bi-Fuel LPG and petrol filler

The LPG fuel filler is also located within the regular fuel filler flap, rather than an ugly plastic cut-out in the rear bumper.

How do Dacia Bi-Fuel models work?

Dacia Logan Bi-Fuel LPG gauge

Dacia Bi-Fuel models start off running on petrol, and automatically switch to LPG. There is also a controller on the dashboard, complete with LPG fuel gauge.

Because the petrol tank remains, Dacia Bi-Fuel cars have a much bigger range than regular cars – up to almost 750 miles when using both petrol and LPG, claims the firm.  

Overall, it costs around 30 percent less to run a Dacia on LPG than it does on petrol – and LPG also emits more than 10 percent less CO2 than a petrol car, plus fewer particulates.

Dacia Bi-Fuel new car range

Dacia Logan Bi-Fuel

Every Dacia model offers a Bi-Fuel version: that’s Sandero (and Sandero Stepway), Logan MCV (and Logan MCV Stepway), and Duster. 

The cheapest Dacia LPG model is the Sandero Essential 1.0 TCe 100 Bi-Fuel, which costs £9,145. A regular Sandero Essential 1.0 TCe 90 costs £8,795. 

The popular Duster is offered as an Essential 1.0 TCe 100 Bi-Fuel from £13,195. 

Because Dacia Bi-Fuel cars are classed as alternative fuel vehicles, they even benefit from a £10 saving on VED road fund licence. 

Dacia Spring concept preview's Europe's cheapest electric carDacia

Dacia Spring concept previews new, ultra-affordable electric car

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Dacia Spring concept preview's Europe's cheapest electric car

Dacia has unveiled what might be the most important concept car of the Geneva non-show. The Spring previews Europe’s most affordable electric car, with a production version due in early 2021. 

‘Spring’ is an appropriate name, then, given it could launch many motorists into their first electric car. Dacia says it ‘utilises Group Renault’s 10-year experience as pioneer and leader in electric mobility’.

Reading between the lines, you might wonder if the Spring shares much with Renault’s popular Zoe EV.

Dacia Spring concept preview's Europe's cheapest electric car

It’ll actually be a much closer relation to Renault’s City K-ZE. Indeed, Dacia’s claim that the Spring will be good for ‘more than 124 miles’ based on the WLTP test procedure, sounds closer to the K-ZE’s NEDC-rated 168-mile range. 

Dacia says the Spring will be ‘perfect for urban and suburban use’. If its charging specifications match the K-ZE, it’ll juice up to 80 percent in 50 minutes using DC fast charging. The K-ZE uses a 26.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, with a 44hp electric motor up-front. That could be improved for Western markets.

As the concept car shows, the Spring will be a robust yet compact SUV. It’s more stout, but no less stylish, than the sleeker, sportier new Ford Puma. 

Dacia Spring concept preview's Europe's cheapest electric car

The Spring could prove to be a very well-timed low-budget EV entry, given the planned expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone October 2021 – and, of course, the introduction of others like it.

And itcould be genuinely cheap, too. In overseas markets, the K-ZE sells for a quarter of the price of the cheapest Tesla. In the UK, our conservative guess is that will translate to an entry price of less than £15,000. 

Dacia Spring concept preview's Europe's cheapest electric car

While the grey and orange contrast colours of the prototype seem like they’ll be the preserve of the (virtual) motor show floor, don’t discount some of the concept’s quirks making it to production.

The only thing that’s as much of a surefire win in dealers as small SUVs, is customisation. We anticipate the production Spring, while not as loud and proud as the concept, won’t be drab or dreary.

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Dacia brings back LPG to the UKDacia

Dacia is bringing back LPG on new cars

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Dacia brings back LPG to the UK

Dacia is launching a factory-fitted dual-fuel system across its range, with availability covering the Duster, Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV and Logan MCV Stepway. It’s the only car manufacturer to offer an LPG system in the UK.

The new 1.0-litre bi-fuel 100 engine can use either petrol or LPG. This delivers reduced fuel costs, lower emissions and improved performance. Dacia claims drivers could save near-on £600 per year if they buy the bi-fuel model over standard petrol variants, when covering an average of 12,000 miles per year.

In ‘LPG Mode’, a Sandero Stepway will deliver 39.8mpg and emissions of 116g/km. This represents a drop of nine percent compared with the petrol model. The Duster saves even more, improving its CO2 figure by 11 percent, returning 129g/km and 35.3mpg. 

Dacia brings back LPG to the UK

What’s needed to ready a car for LPG consumption? There’s now a large high-strength steel LPG tank where the spare wheel used to be. It’s 32 litres in the Sandero and Logan, and 34 litres in the Duster. None of the above suffer in terms of boot space for having an LPG tank.

If you combine both petrol and LPG with full tanks, a combined range of over 600 miles is possible. The popularity of the technology was first seen in Europe. In Italy, one in three Dacia vehicles is fitted with the system. 

Given that it’s an in-house offering, work is done on the production line and no delays are expected. Servicing intervals remain similar to those of petrol or diesel variants. Bi-fuel models will come with a 60,000-mile three-year warranty as standard, similar to other Dacia models. 

Dacia brings back LPG to the UK

The system will be on sale this month. The Sandero starts from £9,095, the Logan from £10,595 and the Duster from £12,895.

“The Dacia range is all about delivering value for money without compromising on quality and running costs, and the introduction of LPG models to the UK reinforces this ethos,” said Luke Broad, head of brand for Dacia UK.

“The technology is proven in Dacia products and the new 1.0-litre bi-fuel engine is an impressive piece of engineering which has been developed to fulfil all of the criteria expected of models like the Duster, Sandero and Logan MCV. With this new LPG engine, plus our petrol and diesel powertrains, we have the perfect Dacia model for any customer, no matter what they are looking for.”

Dacia Duster is now more expensiveDacia

Dacia will give you £750 to buy a new Duster

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Dacia Duster is now more expensive

The entire Dacia Duster range now comes with a £750 deposit contribution on cars ordered before 31 March 2020.

It’s part of Dacia’s new finance offers for 2020, with the deposit contribution available when you buy a Duster on a four-year PCP deal. Monthly repayments start from just £139 for the entry-level Access model.

The mid-range Dacia Duster SE Twenty TCe 130 is available for £184 per month after a deposit of £1,807. The interest rate is 6.9 percent APR.

In SE Twenty trim, the Duster comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a multi-view camera and blind-spot warning.

Make mine a 99

Dacia Sandero

Meanwhile, the Dacia Sandero – Britain’s cheapest new car – is available for less than £100 a month on a four-year PCP deal.

The £99 deal is based on the entry-level Sandero Access, which might be a little too basic for most buyers. Although the steel wheels and unpainted bumpers aren’t deal-breakers, the absence of a radio, electric windows and air conditioning might be harder to live with.

Spending an extra £10 a month on the Sandero in Essential trim would be a wise move. At the very least, the Sandero Essential adds a radio, electric windows and air conditioning.

Finally, the Logan MCV and Logan MCV Stepway models are available for £119 and £189 per month respectively. The Logan MCV is Britain’s cheapest estate car and boasts a cavernous 573-litre boot.

Customers who own a car over six years old can also take advantage of Dacia’s ‘New for Old‘ scheme and save up to £1,000 on a new Dacia Duster and £500 if purchasing a Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV or Logan MCV Stepway.

Click here to discover the difference between Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), Personal Contract Hire (PCH) and leasing. Make sure you choose the finance option that’s right for you before signing on the dotted line.

The Pope and his Dacia DusterGroupe Renault

Father Duster: the Pope takes delivery of a Dacia

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The Pope and his Dacia Duster

The Pope has taken delivery of a Dacia Duster 4×4. As celebrity endorsements go, they don’t come more heavenly than this.

Remember that you are Duster, and to Duster you shall return. Or something.

Pope Francis is known for his modesty and the promotion of frugality, so Europe’s cheapest family SUV ticks many boxes. He certainly looks delighted with his latest wheels.

Pope John Francis

The Duster was transformed by the Prototype Department and the unfortunately named Dacia Special Needs team in Romania, in partnership with coach-builder Romturingia.

The converted Duster has five seats, including ‘a particularly comfortable rear bench’, plus a large sunroof and a removable glass superstructure.

It sits 30mm lower than normal to suit the Pope’s love of slammed vehicles. It also makes for easier access.

These aren’t upgrades you’ll find in the Dacia Duster brochure, but the entry-level Access model comes with Vatican-friendly white paint and is available from £139 a month. Pope Francis would almost certainly approve.

Dacia Duster 4x4 Vatican City

Xavier Martinet, general manager of Groupe Renault Italy, said: “With this gift to His Holiness, Groupe Renault renews its strong and continuous commitment to putting Man at the centre of its priorities.”

This isn’t the first time Pope Francis has experienced life with a Dacia. During a visit to Armenia in 2016, the Pope used a standard Dacia Logan saloon, a car not available in the UK. 

Back in 2013, the Pope accepted a gift of a Renault 4 for use in the Vatican City, while his global visits have seen him travelling in everything from a Fiat 500L to a Kia Soul. Not that this has stopped Pope Francis from accepting expensive supercars…

Dacia Duster 4x4 for the Pope

In 2018, a Lamborghini Huracan created for Pope Francis sold for €715,000 (£610,000) at an auction in Monaco. The special edition was built by the Lamborghini ‘Ad Personam‘ department, and was painted Bianco Monocerus with Giallo Tiberino stripes running along the body to pay homage to the colours of the Vatican City flag.

The proceeds from the sale were handed over to the Holy Father for the benefit of four charities.

Dacia Duster Good Housekeeping awardDacia

Dacia Duster SUV wins Reader Recommended award

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Dacia Duster Good Housekeeping award

The Dacia Duster has earned praise from Good Housekeeping magazine, winning the Reader Recommended award.

There are four areas assessed by the panel at the Good Housekeeping Institute: performance/enjoyment, overall acceptability, whether they’d purchase again, and whether they’d recommend a product to friends and family.

Dacia Duster Good Housekeeping award

An impressive 92 percent of Duster owners would happily recommend the car to people they know. Also, 85 percent said the Duster was good value for money, with an overall rating of 8.4 out of 10.

The Duster is ‘far better for the money’ than ‘more expensive competitors’, says Good Housekeeping, and beats them ‘hands down’.

It also ‘looks stylish, has innovative technology and a quality interior and exterior’.

Dacia Duster Good Housekeeping award

The Duster seems to punch above its weight in terms of perceived quality, equipment and style, reckons the expert panel, perhaps proving that saving doesn’t necessarily mean sacrifice.

“We’re hugely excited by the positive response and feedback that owners have for the Duster and delighted that the car has received a Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended stamp of approval,” said Ben Fletcher, head of Dacia UK.

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Dacia Logan MCV taxiDacia

Taxi! Dacia launches special Logan MCV deal for canny cabbies

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Dacia Logan MCV taxi

With its huge boot and low price, the Dacia Logan MCV has always been a great value estate car. But now, Dacia is hoping to appeal to the nation’s cabbies with a hire purchase deal designed exclusively for taxi operators.

All hail the Dacia Logan MCV Comfort Blue dCi 95, which is available to cabbies for £246 a month over 48 months after a £2,580 deposit. With 95hp on tap, it won’t be the fastest taxi off the rank, but the diesel engine emits just 97-103g/km CO2 and can return between 60.1mpg and 62.7mpg on a combined cycle (north or south of the river).

Comfort spec offers a seven-inch touchscreen with sat-nav (useful for when your passenger isn’t a fit state to tell you the way home), along with air conditioning, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, cruise control, rear parking sensors and heated door mirrors.

Dacia Logan MCV taxi cabin

Alternatively, the Logan MCV Essential Blue dCi 95 is also eligible for the offer, priced at £227 a month after a £2,380 deposit. The spec isn’t quite as generous, but you do get air conditioning and a USB connection for MP3 players.

Both models get the same 573 litres of boot space, a 60/40 split folding rear seat and space for five adults.

Ben Fletcher, head of Dacia UK, said: “There’s no other car on sale in Britain that can match the Logan MCV for value, equipment or space, while the added attraction of low running costs make it the perfect choice for taxi operators.

“With these latest competitive hire purchase rates, taxi drivers can take advantage of the reassurance of running a brand-new car, backed up by a manufacturer warranty, at a monthly cost that’s impossible to ignore.”

Dacia Logan MCV taxi boot

Earlier this month, Dacia revealed the specs for its new range-topping Techroad trim level, which is available on the Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV Stepway and Duster. Prices start from £11,660 and deliveries will start this month.

Dacia Techroad pricesDacia

Affordable luxury: range-topping Dacia Techroad prices and specs revealed

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Dacia Techroad prices

The top-of-the-range Dacia Techroad special editions will cost from £11,660, with the first customers taking delivery in April.

Dacia unveiled the new models at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, with the Techroad trim available on the Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV Stepway and Duster. Two exclusive colours are available: Fusion Red and Highland Grey.

All Dacia Techroad cars feature side decals, red detailing on the door mirrors, Techroad badges and red centre caps for the two-tone alloy wheels (16-inch on the Stepway models and 17-inch on the Duster).

On the inside, Techroad models boast seats with red and grey detailing, along with red accents on the air vents, around the gear lever, and on the door handles and floor mats.

Sandero Stepway and Logan MCV Stepway Techroad

Dacia Techroad interior

The Sandero Stepway Techroad costs £11,660 (£660 more than the Comfort version), with the Logan MCV Stepway Techroad priced at £13,160 (£665 more than the Comfort).

Both models are offered with a TCe 90 petrol engine, while the Logan MCV Stepway Techroad also gets the Blue dCi 95 diesel. 

In addition to the upgrades listed above, Stepway Techroad editions boast a soft-feel steering wheel, air conditioning, the Media Nav multimedia system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, DAB radio, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, cruise control and a speed limiter.

Duster Techroad

Dacia Duster Techroad

The Dacia Duster Techroad costs £16,360 (£660 more than the Prestige version) and is offered with a choice of three engines: TCe 130 and 150 turbocharged petrol units, plus the Blue dCi 115 diesel. Two- and four-wheel-drive versions are available.

Spec includes rear parking sensors, climate control, hands-free key card, blind-spot detection and multi-view camera, along with Media Nav Evolution with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

You can order a Dacia Techroad today: deliveries will commence this month.

Dacia Logan MCV Stepway

2018 Dacia Logan MCV Stepway Comfort TCe 90 review: the Aldi A4 Allroad

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Dacia Logan MCV Stepway

The Dacia Logan MCV Stepway costs, as near as makes no difference, £12,000. Think about that for a moment – twelve grand for a brand new estate car with a boot the size of the Royal Albert Hall.

For some context, that’s nearly £2k less than the price of an entry-level Ford Fiesta. Furthermore, if you can live without the faux-SUV trimmings, a ‘naked’ Logan MCV could be yours for £8,500.

So, it’s cheap. But a lifetime of piecing together inexpensive furniture and eating low-cost food tells you that cheap doesn’t necessarily mean good. Is the Logan MCV Stepway the exception to the rule?

In short, yes. Dacia’s cut-price wagon is one of the most honest, good-value and likeable family cars on the market, even if the SUV cladding is an unfortunate nod to fashion and trends.

It starts from the spec, with Dacia adopting a ‘take it or leave it’ stance with the Logan MCV Stepway. If a 90hp three-cylinder petrol engine and Comfort trim don’t appeal, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Comfort is essentially the old Laureate trim, so the specification far outweighs what you’d expect from an estate car with a knocked-down price. Air conditioning, DAB radio, 7-inch touchscreen, sat-nav, steering wheel controls, rear parking sensors and smart 16-inch alloy wheels are all present and correct.

Sure, the interior feels like it’s built to a price, but that’s because it is. However, everything is where you’d expect it to be and there’s a refreshing simplicity to the layout and the controls. Who cares if some of the plastics are scratchy or a little low-rent – the only time you’ll touch them is when you give them a quick clean every once in a while.

The toast of the tip

Dacia Logan MCV Stepway boot

Besides, the Logan MCV Stepway shines in other areas, most notably the sheer amount of space. The 573-litre boot extends to 1,518 litres with the rear seats folded down, making this car the toast of the tip and a firm favourite of the flat-pack generation.

Still want that Audi A6 Allroad with its measly 565-litre boot or a Range Rover with its paltry 550-litre luggage capacity? That’s a rhetorical question.

There’s enough room for three adults on the rear bench, although the Logan MCV loses marks for the fact that the 60/40-split rear seats don’t fold entirely flat. But, unless you’re embarking on a house clearance every weekend, you’re unlikely to require more space.

Meanwhile, although we haven’t driven the Logan weighed down with the entire contents of a home that has gone under the hammer in the boot and Martin Roberts, Dion Dublin and Lucy Alexander sat in the passenger seats, you’re unlikely to require more pace. The Renault-sourced 0.9 TCe turbocharged engine delivers lively and surprisingly punchy performance, although the 12.4 seconds it takes to hit 62mph means you won’t beat many crossovers to the recycling centre.

Stick within its comfort zone and the Logan MCV Stepway could deliver up to 51.4mpg, while CO2 emissions of 125g/km equate to a first-year VED rate of £165, followed by £140 from year two.

An insurance group of 7E completes the budget motoring package, making the Logan MCV Stepway cheap to buy and inexpensive to run. Not quite disposable – the Stepway cosmetics and a range of premium-looking colours nudge this version of the Logan MCV, if not quite Prada, certainly beyond Primack.

The Stepway cladding is largely for effect, although the skid plates, wheelarch extensions and side sills will deliver a little extra protection from hedge cuttings, wayward tent pegs or whatever life throws at you over the weekend.

The ‘Aldi’ A4 Allroad?

Dacia Logan MCV Stepway profile

Sadly, although the 40mm raised ride height should make the odd rutted track a little more bearable, it doesn’t deliver anything in the way of off-road ability. Put aside any thoughts of this being a knocked-down ‘Aldi’ A4 Allroad. Still, at least Dacia owners have more chance of somebody letting them out of a junction.

Once out of the junction, the Logan MCV Stepway rides and drives as you’d expect an estate car based on the running gear of a Renault Clio to behave. The ride is okay, but the suspension fails to smooth out the worst imperfections, while the steering is vague and lifeless.

It’s not all bad news: the five-speed gearbox is surprisingly satisfying, body roll is largely kept in check and the driving position is okay. It’s just a shame that the steering wheel only adjusts for height and not reach.

The best thing since sliced bread?

Dacia Logan MCV Stepway interior

You could dismiss the Logan MCV Stepway as an overpriced version of an estate car that works best in its most basic and affordable specification. But even at £12k, this remains one of the best-value cars of 2018.

Crucially, it’s also a good car in isolation, a solid four-star review car. The Stepway styling masks a look that can look ungainly from certain angles, especially in profile and from the rear three-quarters, while the spec is generous if hardly cutting-edge.

There’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity, the infotainment system is a little dated, and the level of safety equipment falls behind that of newer rivals. It comes down to a choice – buy a used car with improved tech and a ‘better’ badge, or a new estate car for the price of a well-specced city car.

In standard guise, the Logan MCV is a white coffee in a world of skinny lattes and macchiatos or a sliced white loaf in a bakery of spelt and sourdough. The Stepway is a touch of extravagance but with one eye on common sense.

If a large boot, low price and neat styling top your wishlist this autumn, the Dacia Logan MCV Stepway leaves other sub-£20k cars in the shade. It’s good, honest.

Five 2018 Dacia Logan MCV Stepway rivals

  • Skoda Rapid Spaceback
  • Kia Ceed Sportwagon
  • Fiat Qubo
  • Ford Focus Estate
  • Fiat Tipo Estate

How much did our test car cost?

  • Dacia Logan MCV Stepway Comfort TCe 90: £12,890

Which engine does Dacia offer with the Logan MCV Stepway in 2018?

  • 90hp petrol (TCe 90)

Where the Dacia Logan MCV Stepway sits in the model range

    • Logan MCV Access
    • Logan MCV Essential
    • Logan MCV Comfort
    • Logan MCV Stepway Comfort

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Best first cars for new drivers

Best first cars for new drivers

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Best first cars for new driversResearch from HPI discovered that 21% of UK drivers have paid more for a car than its true value. However, that figure was markedly higher (30%) among 18-24 year olds, with 17% of that demographic admitting they rushed the purchase of their first car out of eagerness to get on the road.

Helpfully, HPI has also compiled a list of the cheapest new cars to run, to make that decision process a little easier. The data takes into account price, depreciation (loss in value over time), insurance, fuel economy and, tax. Join us as we count down the top 10 cars.

10. SEAT Ibiza Sport CoupeBest first cars for new drivers

In at number 10 is the SEAT Ibiza Sport Coupe 1.0 E petrol, a stylish supermini based on the Volkswagen Polo. The more practical five-door Ibiza is only marginally more expensive to run.

Over a typical three-year/60,000-mile ownership period, the Ibiza would cost £261.60 a month, or 31p a mile. The total cost of ownership works out at £9,417.56.

9. Nissan NoteBest first cars for new drivers

Nissan is actually phasing out its Note mini-MPV in favour of the more upmarket new Micra. So if you want one, you’ll need to be quick.The 1.2 Visia petrol has the lowest running costs.

The practical Note will cost you £9397.25 over three years and 30,000 miles of motoring. That equates to £261.03 a month and 31p a mile.

8. Suzuki SwiftBest first cars for new drivers

Choose the Swift with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and this supermini struggles to live up to its name. However, it is very cost-effective to run, with the SZ2 version offering the most for your money.

The cost of running a Swift over three years ducks under £9,000 – at £8,949.02. Your total monthly bill should be £248.58, or 30p a mile.

7. Nissan MicraBest first cars for new drivers

We’re not big fans of the outgoing Micra, but it is cheap to run. As with the Nissan Note, the 1.2 Visia petrol is the cheapest version for new drivers.

You could be driving a Nissan Micra for £228.81 a month all-in. Over three years and 30,000 miles that means a total bill of £8237.02 – a modest 27p a mile.

6. Citroen C1Best first cars for new drivers

The sixth-placed Citroen C1 is twinned with the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 108 city cars, both of which appear slightly further up this list.

Choose the C1 and running costs are almost identical to the Micra, at £228.42 and 27p a mile. Your total outlay over three years and 30,000 miles would be £8222.97.

5. Toyota AygoBest first cars for new drivers

We’d have an Aygo 1.0 over the equivalent C1. It’s funkier-looking and the Toyota badge probably boosts resale values. The Aygo retains 40% of its original purchase price after three years and 30,000 miles, versus 38% for the C1.

Your total bill for driving an Aygo adds up to £8,123.97, which breaks down as £225.67 a month and 27p a mile. But there are four new cars that are cheaper still…

4. Dacia Logan MCVBest first cars for new drivers

Up until this point, every car on our list has been a small hatchback. But you can run a versatile estate car on a tight budget, too. Meet the Dacia Logan MCV (that’s ‘Maximum Capacity Vehicle’, in case you were wondering).

Interestingly, the most cost-effective Logan is the 1.5 dCi – the first diesel in our list. Getting some Maximum Capacity into your life will set you back a modest £223.30 a month, or 27p a mile. The overall, three-year bill is £8,038.70.

3. Peugeot 108Best first cars for new drivers

Here’s the last of the C1/Aygo/108 – and the Peugeot takes the title as the cheapest to run. The best 108 to go for is the 1.0 Access, which finishes third in HPI’s list.

While both the Citroen and Toyota will cost you 27p a mile, the 108 comes in at just 25p – thanks in part to a strong 45% retained value after three years and 60,000 miles. The monthly cost is £212.42, while the overall figure is £7,646.97.

2. Dacia SanderoBest first cars for new drivers

In entry-level Access spec, the Dacia Sandero is Britain’s cheapest new car. However, stronger resale values for the Sandero Ambiance mean this plusher version works out cheaper overall. As with the Logan MCV, the 1.5 dCi diesel is the engine to go for.

It won’t make your neighbours jealous, but after three years/60,000 miles the Sandero will owe you just £7,212.17. Not bad for three years of driving in a brand new car. That cost breaks down as £200.35 a month and 24p a mile.

1. Suzuki CelerioBest first cars for new drivers

The Celerio blotted its copybook early with a highly-publicised brake test failure. Thankfully, those issues have now been resolved and this likeable city car redeems itself with first place in the HPI list.

A Celerio makes an excellent first car for drivers on a tight budget. Opt for the 1.0 SZ2 and you’ll pay £7,099.95 over three years and 30,000 miles. That equates to £197.22 a month and a mere 24p a mile. It’s cheaper than walking… almost.