Dacia Sandero Stepway Review

Take what was the UK’s cheapest car, the Dacia Sandero, make it a bit more expensive and… it becomes more popular? The Sandero Stepway shouldn’t work but it does. But while Dacia buyers love the brand’s commitment to value and to no-nonsense, few people are happy driving around in an entry-level Sandero that’s spartan to the point of bleak.

Especially when you consider that, on PCP finance, the difference between bottom-rung and top-rung Dacia is very small indeed. You might only need to pay a few pounds per month more to get extra features, nicer interior trim and the Stepway’s trendy SUV styling.

The Stepway might not come with the four-wheel drive you might expect from its chunky looks, but it does have extra ground clearance. That’s useful even if you’re not planning to drive up a rutted track – the extra height makes it a little easier to get in and out, and it gives you a slightly raised view over the road ahead. Now the Stepway makes a lot more sense.

Besides some lovely copper air vent detailing and stitching, the Stepway’s interior is just the same as the standard car’s. The emphasis is on durability rather than luxury, with a lot of hard plastics that should at least be easy to keep clean.

The layout of the interior is intuitive and purposeful, but lacks much design flair. Again, that’s okay, because it makes the Sandero Stepway easy to use and to drive. The dials are simple to read and keep costs down.

It probably offers more equipment than you might expect from a small, cheap car. Essential, the first of three trim levels, comes with air conditioning, bright LED headlights, rear parking sensors and cruise control. Higher-spec versions come with electric mirrors, auto emergency braking, a rear-view camera and a touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The eight-inch infotainment screen risks looking a little outdated, but in fact it’s really good to use. It’s quick to respond and is easy to hit the right place while you’re driving – the buttons are big and the system is pleasingly simple. We’d recommend getting a Sandero with a touchscreen if your budget stretches to it – the phone connection on the basic Media Control unit can be spotty, and the touchscreen makes the interior look more modern.

For a small car, the Sandero Stepway is usefully practical. It offers more rear seat space than the related Nissan Micra, there’s room under the front seats for your feet and headroom is good enough as well. Only some cars get map pockets and a 12V socket, though, and the nice materials in the front don’t stretch to the back seats.

Up front, the glovebox is so small that it’s barely usable – a little odd considering the related Renault Clio has a full-size one. At least the door bins are a good size and there’s somewhere to put your phone or house keys.

Like the regular Sandero, the Stepway has a 328-litre boot, which is quite spacious for a supermini if not absolutely class-leading. Every version gets split-folding rear seats, allowing you to fold one or two of the seats down to carry both passengers and luggage, and there are a couple of useful hooks.

Roof rails come as standard on the Stepway. On mid- and high-spec cars, these are upgraded to modular roof rails that can be turned across the roof to create built-in roof bars. A clever touch that means you don’t need to buy and store a separate set of roof bars – and that lets you carry extra things on the roof whenever you need to.

The Stepway doesn’t get the underpowered entry-level engine that you can pick on the regular Sandero, instead offering a simple choice of a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine or a curious bi-fuel option consisting of petrol and LPG fuel tanks. That means every Stepway has enough power to get up to speed without feeling strained.

The 1.0-litre petrol is available with outputs of 90hp and 110hp, with a CVT automatic gearbox optional on the less powerful version. Avoid the auto if you can drive a manual – the CVT makes the car noticeably slower and about 5mpg less economical.

Speaking of which, the petrol engines with a manual gearbox return 51mpg, while the bi-fuel returns 49mpg on petrol power and 40mpg on LPG. The appeal of this engine is that LPG costs much less than petrol and, with both tanks full, you should manage around 700 miles or more. 

We mean this in the best way: the Sandero Stepway drives just fine. It feels solid and stable on the move, and there are no nasty surprises in the driving experience. Yes, there’s a bit more engine and road noise than in a Clio or Micra with the same engine – the Dacia clearly gets a bit less sound deadening to save money – but it’s never harsh on your ears.

Some cars are more refined, or more sporty, or isolate you from the mechanical parts more, but the Sandero Stepway is good enough for any type of driving you might do. It’s small enough to make city driving a breeze – and parking is made easier with standard-fit parking sensors – but feels confident on the motorway too.

Its raised ride height also keeps you further away from imperfections in the road surface, so the Stepway is marginally more comfortable than a standard Sandero.