The Dacia Sandero hatchback is on track to become Europe’s top-selling car in 2024, according to industry reports gathered by Car. This assessment reflects a broader shift in the market toward affordable, practical models that deliver high value for money and low operating costs.
In the first half of the year, European buyers purchased 143,500 Sandero units. This figure marks a 16% year-on-year increase versus 2023, underscoring rising demand for economical urban transport. Analysts point to the model’s low price as the primary driver of its appeal, noting that in Germany the Sandero is marketed around €11,500, a price point that translates into roughly 1.1 million rubles at current exchange rates for comparative purposes.
Following the Sandero, the Volkswagen Golf held the second spot with approximately 125,000 units sold, a year-on-year rise of 25%. Renault Clio placed third with about 114,000 units, up 15% from the previous year. The Volkswagen T-Roc crossover and the Peugeot 208 hatchback rounded out the top five, each posting strong sales and contributing to a competitive mid-size segment across the region.
Meanwhile, professional automotive commentators have weighed in on the used-car market dynamics. Sergei Zinoviev, a respected auto expert from the magazine Behind the Wheel, has discussed shortcomings observed in the third-generation Toyota RAV4 after it moves into the second-hand market. His observations emphasize reliability concerns that can emerge as vehicles age and accumulate higher mileage, particularly in markets with varying service standards and climate conditions.
In discussing the Russian market context, the third-generation Toyota RAV4 was officially offered with two gasoline engine options, a 2.0-liter and a 2.4-liter. These engines are generally reliable when properly maintained, but they demand good oil quality and consistent servicing. Skimping on oil quality can hasten wear on the timing drive, and piston rings may accumulate carbon deposits more quickly than expected under marginal maintenance conditions.
Operational wear can also appear sooner than anticipated. After roughly 60,000 to 100,000 kilometers, issues such as water-pump failure and crankshaft-seal leaks may arise. In AWD versions, the clutch bearing is susceptible to moisture intrusion, and in the steering system, wear of the intermediate-shaft joints and plastic rack bushings tends to be a common cost of ownership concern. These maintenance realities remind buyers that the total cost of ownership matters as much as the sticker price when evaluating the value proposition of any SUV, especially in markets with diverse driving conditions.
Overall, consumers in Russia and neighboring regions have highlighted a range of drawbacks associated with the third-generation RAV4, particularly as the vehicle ages and service histories vary. This sentiment aligns with broader market observations that price-conscious buyers in Europe and Eurasia weigh initial purchase cost against long-term maintenance and reliability when choosing between compact hatchbacks like the Sandero and more feature-rich crossovers from established brands.