New car prices keep climbing, but there are still affordable choices on the Portuguese market. As you’d expect, they’re all found in the A- and B-segments, yet there’s still a decent spread of models to pick from.
In the latest episode of Auto Rádio - a Razão Automóvel podcast supported by PiscaPisca.pt - we set out to find every brand-new car you can buy in Portugal for under €19,000, and we identified a total of 15 models.
Among them is the Dacia Sandero, currently the cheapest new car on sale in Portugal. Perhaps that explains why, in an unprecedented result, it topped the sales charts in Portugal (and in Europe) in 2024 - a clear sign of how important cars in this price bracket are for Portuguese private buyers.
Dacia is the low-price champion
In 2024, Dacia sold more than 270,000 units of the Sandero across Europe - a figure no other model managed to match. The days when the Volkswagen Golf ruled the European market are long gone.
So what’s behind the Sandero’s success? Price. It isn’t the model’s only strength, but it is unquestionably the headline feature: in Portugal, it starts at €14,050.
Backed by the Renault Group’s reputation for reliability, with a steadily more adventurous image and the equipment today’s customers expect, Dacia has, in recent years, cemented itself as the benchmark for affordable cars.
The proof is right here: in this list of 15 models priced under €19,000, five wear a Dacia badge - Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Logan, Jogger and Spring. The Duster doesn’t make the cut, but only by €350.
Stellantis has joined the fight
For many years, no manufacturer seemed willing to take Dacia on directly, but that is changing. With Stellantis’ new global Smart Car platform, Citroën now has refreshed credentials to challenge Dacia - and the Sandero.
Take the new Citroën C3: there are versions (without electrification) that begin at €15,240, making it the third-cheapest model for sale in Portugal, behind only the Sandero and the Mitsubishi Space Star - a proposition that is clearly showing its age.
Comfortable, fitted with the essentials for modern life and carrying a tough-looking design, the new C3 has plenty going for it. We’ve already driven it and told you everything you need to know:
If you’re not completely sold on the French model’s styling, it’s worth looking towards Italy - specifically at the new FIAT Grande Panda.
It uses the same underpinnings and technical solutions as the C3, but its look is inspired by the original Panda and its dynamic behaviour feels more polished. It is, however, a little pricier: it starts at €18,616 because the entry-level version is already electrified (mild-hybrid).
Japanese and Korean brands are in the mix too
The under-€19,000 new-car list wouldn’t be complete without entries from Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Kia and Toyota. Between them, these brands account for seven models in this price bracket.
The Mitsubishi Colt - which shares almost everything with the Renault Clio - starts at €17,218 and stands out as a solid B-segment choice, much like the Hyundai i20. We’ve tested it already and were convinced, even in its most affordable version:
Still, one thing is hard to miss: the A-segment Toyota Aygo X is among the models that come closest to €19,000, leaning on the reliability everyone associates with the Japanese brand.
Full list of new cars you can buy in Portugal for under €19,000:
- Dacia Sandero - from €14,050
- Mitsubishi Space Star - from €15,149
- Citroën C3 - from €15,240
- Dacia Sandero Stepway - from €16,150
- FIAT Pandina - from €16,300
- Dacia Logan - from €16,700
- Kia Picanto - from €16,899
- Dacia Spring - from €16,900
- Mitsubishi Colt - from €17,218
- Hyundai i10 - from €17,680
- Kia Stonic - from €17,875
- Toyota Aygo X - from €18,240
- Dacia Jogger - from €18,350
- Hyundai i20 - from €18,510
- FIAT Grande Panda - from €18,616
What will this exercise look like in the future?
With electrification gathering pace and European emissions and safety rules becoming increasingly strict, everything suggests new cars will continue to get more expensive.
For that reason, it seems most likely that when we run this same exercise again, there will be fewer than 15 brand-new models below the €19,000 threshold.
We can’t predict the future, but we can already schedule another Auto Rádio on this very topic for later on. Will you join us?
See you on Auto Rádio next week
There’s no shortage of reasons to watch/listen to the latest Auto Rádio episode, which returns next week on the usual platforms: YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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