DACIA SANDERO

This is a new Autocar Award, one that is reflective of the times in which we're living and the pressures they are exerting on all of us.

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Now more than ever, we need to know where to look for great budget cars: those that are not only cheap to buy and run but which also offer genuine value that can be appreciated by anyone, whatever their preferences or agenda.

We all have a need for simple, insurable, cost-effective transport; a need for a car that doesn't necessarily reflect our individuality, drive our aspiration or enable our lifestyle but which goes about meeting our daily needs with competence, efficiency and, ideally, a cheery flourish.

Our inaugural winner wouldn't have taken any great leap of the imagination to guess - but we didn't decide its worthiness by chucking some suggestions around a room and counting a show of hands.

The Dacia Sandero was one of five new cars we gathered together back in March in order to find out which is Britain's very best sub-£15,000 new car.