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.

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.