The cheapest new cars in Romania start in September 2026 from under €15,000, but only three models have a list price of at most €16,000. Dacia occupies the first three places, and the most accessible alternative from another brand is the Suzuki Swift.
We ranked the models by the recommended VAT-inclusive list price of the cheapest version published for Romania. We did not subtract the Rabla eco-voucher, financing bonuses, scrappage discounts or temporary promotions. In this way, the sums can be compared on the same basis. Prices were checked on 8 September 2026 and can change; the final offer must be requested from the dealer, including in lei and with any mandatory delivery costs.
Top 10 cheapest new cars in Romania
| Rank | Model and base version | Powertrain | List price with VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dacia Logan Essential | TCe 100, manual | 14.950 € |
| 2 | Dacia Sandero Expression | TCe 100, manual | 15.750 € |
| 3 | Dacia Sandero Stepway Essential | TCe 110, manual | 16.000 € |
| 4 | Suzuki Swift Cool | 1.2 mild-hybrid, 83 hp, manual | 16.625 € |
| 5 | Hyundai i20 Comfort | 1.0 petrol, 90 hp, manual | 16.895 € |
| 6 | Kia Picanto Urban | 1.0 GDI, manual | 16.991 €* |
| 7 | Citroën C3 | Turbo 100, manual | 17.000 € |
| 8 | Skoda Fabia Essence | 1.0 MPI, 80 hp, manual | 17.281 € |
| 9 | Renault Clio Evolution | TCe 115, manual | 17.800 € |
| 10 | Skoda Scala Essence | base version | 18.224 € |
* Kia indicates separately a mandatory legislative kit of 240 lei, which must be added to the car price.
1. Dacia Logan — 14.950 €
Logan remains the cheapest new car with a clearly published list price in Romania. The Essential version with the TCe 100 engine costs €14,950, according to the Dacia configurator. At the same sum the ECO-G 120 petrol and LPG powertrain is also listed, which makes it interesting for drivers who cover many kilometres.
The main argument is not only the price, but the saloon format and the large boot. The compromise is the base equipment: before ordering you must check exactly what the Essential level includes and how much the options considered necessary cost.
2. Dacia Sandero — 15.750 €
Sandero is €800 more expensive than Logan, but the hatchback body makes it easier to use in town. Dacia Romania announces a starting price of €15,750 for Expression TCe 100.
It is one of the more balanced choices on the list for mixed use: compact enough for parking, but more suitable as a main car than mini-class models. The entry version is also better equipped than its ranking position suggests, being Expression, not Essential.
3. Dacia Sandero Stepway — 16.000 €
Sandero Stepway Essential TCe 110 starts from €16,000, according to the same official Dacia list. The difference of only €250 versus Sandero can make it attractive for buyers who prefer higher ground clearance and a crossover look.
Stepway does not have all-wheel drive, and its SUV styling elements should not be confused with serious off-road ability. The practical advantage is a somewhat higher driving position and easier access, not off-road capability.
4. Suzuki Swift — 16.625 €
Swift Cool costs €16,625 and is the first mild-hybrid model in the ranking. The official Suzuki Romania list indicates a 1.2-litre engine, 83 hp, a manual gearbox and combined WLTP consumption of 4.4 l/100 km.
Low mass and compact dimensions help it in town. For families, space and boot are more limited than on Logan, Sandero or Scala. Suzuki also specifies that the transaction is made in lei, at the rate practised by the dealer.
5. Hyundai i20 — 16.895 €
The Hyundai i20 Comfort with a 1.0-litre engine and 90 hp has a recommended price of €16,895, displayed by Hyundai Auto Romania. The table price is the recommended one, not the promotional value that assumes access to the Rabla programme.
i20 offers small-class dimensions and a well-established local network. The importer's page notes, however, that dealers set their own prices, so the final sum can differ from the figure published online.
6. Kia Picanto — 16.991 €
Picanto Urban 1.0 GDI with a manual gearbox has a list price of €16,991 on the Kia Romania website. On top of this sum comes the mandatory legislative kit of 240 lei.
It is the model on the list best suited to congestion and small parking spaces. The very dimensions that help it in town, however, limit its usefulness on long journeys and for a family with a lot of luggage.
7. Citroën C3 — 17.000 €
Citroën displays for the C3 with Turbo 100 engine and manual gearbox a starting price of €17,000 including VAT on the official model page. Combined consumption is declared at 5.6-5.7 l/100 km, depending on configuration.
The C3 is 4.01 metres long and offers a higher driving position than classic hatchbacks in the segment. The price places it very close to the Picanto, although the two answer different needs: Citroën is more suitable as a sole car, Kia as an urban car.
8. Skoda Fabia — 17.281 €
Fabia Essence starts from €17,281, according to the Skoda Romania range. The entry version uses the 1.0 MPI engine of 80 hp and a five-speed manual gearbox.
Fabia is a rational choice for those who want more space than in a mini model and do not need the performance of a turbo engine. For frequent trips outside town, it is worth comparing the cost of the 1.0 TSI version with 95 hp.
9. Renault Clio — 17.800 €
The new Clio generation costs from €17,800 in Evolution trim, with the TCe 115 engine and a manual gearbox. The price is confirmed both in the Renault configurator and in the launch communication for Romania.
Clio brings the most powerful base engine among the conventional hatchbacks in the ranking. The full-hybrid version is more efficient in town, but sits in a different price zone and cannot be compared directly with the TCe 115.
10. Skoda Scala — 18.224 €
Scala Essence closes the ranking at €18,224, according to the current Skoda Romania list. It is longer and more spacious than most of the models above, which partly explains the price difference.
For the buyer looking for a family compact, the extra €943 versus Fabia can be justified by interior space and boot. Equipment and the powertrain of the available configuration must be checked before the order is signed, because the range and recommended prices can be updated.
Which cheap model is worth choosing?
The lowest absolute price belongs to Dacia Logan. Sandero is more practical in town, and Stepway asks for very little extra for a higher driving position. Swift is the efficient, light alternative, Picanto is the strictly urban choice, and Fabia, Clio and Scala are better suited to drivers who use the same car on long journeys too.
The entry price should not decide the purchase on its own. A difference of a few hundred euros can be cancelled by equipment, insurance cost, services, consumption, resale value or mandatory accessories. The correct comparison is between written offers for similarly equipped cars, not between a Rabla advertisement and a list price without discount.
