2023 Dacia Sandero Essential TCE 1.0L Petrol · CE23 JJX

With only a single MOT on record and one advisory to its name, this 2023 Dacia Sandero presents a limited but broadly encouraging picture. The test carried out on 9 March 2026 resulted in a pass, with the sole advisory being an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit and worn on its edge. That is a modest finding for a three-year-old car, though the edge-wear pattern is worth attention: wear concentrated on the shoulder of a front tyre can point to tracking or wheel alignment being out of specification, or simply to a tyre that has been run at incorrect pressures. One advisory across one test does not constitute a pattern, but equally a single test offers limited evidence of long-term durability, so the record should be read as clean but thin. The recorded mileage of 10,185 miles over roughly three years equates to around 3,395 miles per year, well below the UK average. This suggests the car has spent significant periods unused or confined to short local journeys. Mechanically, low mileage reduces wear on consumables such as brake discs, suspension bushes and clutch components, but short-trip use can leave its own marks: condensation in the engine oil and exhaust system, surface corrosion on brake discs from standing, and tyres that age or develop flat spots before they wear out. The advisory tyre wear at such low mileage is slightly unusual and reinforces the possibility that alignment or pressure maintenance, rather than sheer distance covered, is the underlying cause. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is the offside front tyre itself. Check its tread depth across the full width with a gauge, confirm whether it has been replaced since the March test, and inspect the near-side front tyre for a matching wear pattern. If both front tyres show shoulder wear, budget for a four-wheel alignment check rather than simply fitting new rubber, otherwise the replacement tyres will wear the same way. On a test drive, listen for any pulling to one side under braking or on a straight, flat road, and note whether the steering wheel sits off-centre, both of which would support an alignment concern. Beyond the tyre, the inspection should focus on the effects of light use rather than heavy wear. Examine the brake discs for rust ridges and feel for any judder through the pedal on the first few stops, check the exhaust for corrosion staining, and verify that all tyres, including the rears, are free of cracking in the sidewalls consistent with age rather than mileage. Given the car's youth, it should still sit within the remainder of Dacia's original warranty terms, which is worth confirming with the seller. Overall the record shows a car that has passed its only test with a single minor advisory, and there is nothing in the DVSA history to suggest structural or mechanical concern, though the limited data means a thorough physical inspection carries more weight than usual.