Dacia Sandero Stepway hatchback Review

Dacia Sandero Stepway hatchback

Were big fans of Renault's budget brand Dacia here at CarBuyer. Their SUV, the Duster, is our Car of the Year 2013, after all. Dacia is doing an incredible job of building a reputation for making capable cars that you can buy at rock-bottom prices. Its arrival has been a real game changer, with other manufacturers now looking into spinning off their own budget divisions. The Sandero supermini is the UK's cheapest supermini, and the Sandero Stepway picks up where the supermini leaves off by adding raised suspension and adopting a more rugged exterior style. Costing around £2,000 more than the Sandero, it's pitched as a slightly more upmarket car and comes with a choice of a three-cylinder turbocharged 900cc petrol engine or a fuel-efficient 1.5-litre diesel. Have no illusions a car this inexpensive is never going to feel sporty, but the levels of comfort, interior space and equipment are impressive considering the extremely competitive price tag and relatively small dimensions of the car. You can get the Sandero Stepway in two specifications the ultra-basic entry-level Access model in the standard car is skipped, the Stepway going instead to the mid-range (and probably most realistic starting point for most buyers anyway) Ambiance and top-of-the-range Laureate.

Drive

A relaxing way to travel, if you keep it slow and steady

This may sound like damning with faint praise, but the Sandero Stepway doesnt disgrace itself on the road. What we mean by that is that such an affordable car was always going to be less impressive than most of its rivals on the road, so dont expect the best drive of your life and you wont be disappointed.  The raised suspension means there's lots of body roll when driving through the corners, and steering inputs arent met by immediate response from the front wheels, which can be a bit disconcerting, but it grips the road fairly well around corners. Drive the Stepway a straight line, however, and it's much better, staying far smoother, quieter and more comfortable than youd expect from a car at this price point. And it's not entirely lacking in driving fun, with the 900cc TC3 engine proving to a great little engine with quick acceleration and a surprisingly sporty sound, too. The 1.5 dCi is also smooth, but feels that little bit more grown up and is better suited to driving on the motorway than its smaller brother. So, it's decent enough, but it's never going to rock your world or be the most comfortable car youll ride in. But for the money, that's a small price to pay. 

Comfort

Space for five adult, but the car rolls about too much

Dacia doesnt so much cut corners as find ways to smooth them out. Luckily, this is reflected in the comfort levels of the Stepway, which are decidedly good for such an inexpensive car. Drive too quickly into corners and you will definitely find yourself holding on as the car rolls from side to side, but drive in a more reserved way and youll find that the comfort levels are superb. The Stepway feels slightly softer and absorbs bigger bumps in the road more easily than the standard Sandero, thanks to its suspension being higher off the ground. The lack of air-conditioning on the cheaper Ambiance model might put some people off, but if you go for the top-spec Laureate then you get all the comfort and convenience features that you could need. It isnt too much of a squeeze in the back, either, with plenty of space for three adults to fit in, shoulder to shoulder. 

Reliability

Renault component, but reliability is unproven

Dacia is still too new a brand to feature directly in the 2013 Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but as all the technology and mechanics that go into building its cars are taken from mother company Renault, we can look at the French manufacturer as a guide. Renault ranked 21st in the list of manufacturers, which is actually an improvement of six places on its 2012 ranking, but its best single car performance was the Scenic, which came an impressive fourth in the top 100 cars poll. So, all the engines and other mechanical components in the Stepway are already proven in other Renault cars and are built to last. It's also worth noting that the basic entry-levels models have less to go wrong. Because of the rock-bottom prices, Dacia claims that more than 90 per cent of its customers will likely be entirely new to buying a brand-new car, so the reliability should be a big step up in comparison to previous second-hand used-car purchases they have made.

Practicality

More space and versatility than youd expect

With the addition of its standard-fit roof bars, the Stepway is that little bit more practical than the standard Sandero, but the interior space is basically identical. That means a 320-litre boot that can be expanded to 1,200 litres when you fold the 60:40 split-fold rear seats down flat, which is a good 50 litres more than most other traditional superminis such as the Renault Clio, but is still less than the Hyundai i20, a purpose-built supermini crossover. Under-body protection and its raised ride height make the Stepway perfect for tackling uneven country lanes, but it's far from an off-roader, so it's best not to get carried away. A touring pack that costs £280 can be added to any model in the Stepway range and adds a front centre armrest, a boot luggage net and roof bars to improve practicality that little bit more.

Value for money

The cheaper model is great value

Dacia is rewriting the book on this category, and, unsurprisingly, the Stepway's key selling point is indeed its superb value for money. It's not just about the entry-level price tag - you also get plenty of equipment for that money, and if you want to spend some of the money you save on the list price by adding a few options, those are good value too. Unlike the Sandero, there's no stripped-back, super-basic base-spec Access model, so the cheapest Ambiance model (which costs £600 more than the equivalent Sandero) comes with electric front windows, front fog lights and a stereo (which the Sandero Access car does not). Top-of-the-range Laureate models include a chrome front grille, full electric windows, electric heated door mirrors and sat-nav. Leather seats are a £600 option, and you do also get traction control, ABS and four airbags all fitted as standard.

Running costs

Excellent economy, cheap insurance and low maintenance costs

The Stepway just keeps looking better and better, because it should be almost as cheap to run as it is to buy in the first place. Unlike the Sandero, which comes with an entry-level 1.2-litre petrol engine, the Stepway is only available with the top two engines, but both are easy on the wallet at the petrol station. The three-cylinder 900cc TCe turbocharged engine returns 54.3mpg and emits 116g/km of CO2, while the 1.5dCi returns 74.3mpg and emits a tax-fee 99g/km of CO2. A three-year, 60,000-mile warranty comes as standard, but there's also the option to buy an extended five or seven-year plan for £395 and £850, respectively, which could chop down maintenance costs significantly in the long run.

Last updated: 11 Jul 2013