CHILLI HOT STEPPER (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

In second generation form, the Dacia Sandero Stepway continues to offer a bit of fun for not a lot of money. Jonathan Crouch tries it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 52

The Dacia Sandero Stepway is inexpensive but doesn't look it. It's a supermini that's been jacked up a bit to give a crossover look and seems to press all the right buttons for buyers who don't want big outlay but require big value. Here's the latest version of the third generation version.

Backgroundword count: 168

You know when an idea is a good one when your opposition are looking at each other and wondering why they didn't think of it before. The Dacia formula is really rather simple. It takes tried and tested Renault engineering and recycles it into new cars hailing from Romania. Therefore there's very little research and development expense, low labour costs, minimal tooling outlay and hey presto, you have a line of cheap and reliable cars that are just about pitch perfect for these austere times. Hardly rocket science is it? Renault acquired the company in 1999 and began importing into the UK thirteen years later. The core range is based around the Duster compact SUV and the Sandero supermini, the latter still the cheapest car on sale in the UK, and was rejuvenated back in 2020 in third generation re-designed form. The contender we look at here, the Sandero Stepway, is a spin-off of that model and it's one that has a lot to be said for it.

Driving Experienceword count: 313

In order to understand the appeal of the Sandero Stepway, know this. The basic Sandero supermini upon which it's based has been designed to sell into many third world markets and as such is billed as having excellent ground clearance and "robust underbody protection for impressive performance on unpaved tracks". If that's not a great basis for building a jacked-up version with even greater abilities, we don't know what is. Do remember though, that this isn't a four-wheel drive car, so there are limits as to what it can negotiate. For tougher stuff, you'll probably need to buy Dacia's Duster compact SUV. The extra wheel travel seems to give the Stepway a marginally better ride quality than the standard Sandero and the 41mm raise in height hasn't made body control noticeably worse. This third generation model's stiffer, more sophisticated CMF-B platform means it can deliver some better engineering. Most Stepway folk will want the powerplant you have to have, one we'd recommend, the 89bhp three cylinder turbo petrol TCe 90 unit, which can be had with either 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic gearbox. Dacia isn't bothering with a diesel this time round, but if you're looking for something super-frugal, you can have the TCe 100 petrol unit in LPG Bi-fuel form, with a dual fuel tank situated where the spare wheel would normally sit. With both the petrol and the LPG tanks filled, you'd have a range in this eco-variant of over 800 miles. Dacia promises that this car will be easy to use around town too, thanks to the fact that the steering is for this MK3 design electrically (rather than hydraulically) assisted and apparently needs up to 36% less effort to turn at low speeds. The final engine choice is a perkier TCe 110 petrol turbo unit, which makes 62mph in 10 seconds and only comes with manual transmission.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227