Dacia Sandero Stepway Review 2023
The Dacia Sandero Stepway is an SUV style hatchback that’s great for families who need a versatile motor. A larger version of the original Sandero, it comes with a spacious interior, immense build quality, and an affordable price.
Rivals to the Sandero Stepway include the Volkswagen T-Roc Hatchback, Ford Fiesta Active, Suzuki Ignis, and Honda Jazz.
Our Dacia Sandero Stepway review covers:
- Bigger and more muscly version of the regular Sandero
- Well-built and spacious interior
- 328-litre boot
- A petrol or bi-fuel engine available
- Three trims: Essential, Expression, and Extreme
Pros:
- Good ride quality
- Affordable
- Spacious interior
Cons:
- Noisy engines
- Not that fun to drive
- Basic interior
The Sandero Stepway’s exterior is a buffed-out version of the original. It features a more prominent bonnet, plastic wheel-arch extensions, roof rails, and faux metal bumper skid plates to make it look that bit more rugged.
Inside the cabin, there’s plenty of space for a family of four. Up front, there’s enough head and legroom for two adults over six feet, while in the rear there’s enough space for a pair of teenagers to get comfortable. It’s that good, it almost matches the spacious Honda Jazz.
Boot space comes in at 328 litres for the Sandero Stepway which is certainly not to be sniffed at. Although it’s not the best design and has a large load lip, it’s the best in its class, exceeding the Honda Jazz and the Ford Fiesta Active. You can also fold the seats 60/40 to reveal 1,108 litres of space.
The interior of the Sandero Stepway will fit the bill, but it wont blow you away in terms of quality. Most of the dashboard is made up of black plastic, and although this looks okay, you’ll do well to find any premium materials, albeit a leather steering wheel. However, it’s very well built and the dashboard is relatively straightforward to use.
With the standard Essential trim, you don't get an touchscreen infotainment system on the dash, instead there’s a DAB radio with Bluetooth connectivity to sync your phone up. If you want a screen, you’ll need to upgrade to the mid-range Expression trim that has an eight-inch display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Three trim levels are available: Essential, Expression, and Extreme.
Essential has 16-inch steel wheels, LED headlamps, 25% tinted windows, manual air conditioning, electric front windows, stepway upholstery, an anti-lock braking system, cruise control and speed limiter, and electronic stability control with traction control and hill start assist.
Expression adds to this with an eight-inch media display, rear parking sensors, keyless entry, and auto light and wipers.
Extreme has 16-inch alloy wheels, extended grip, an electrical parking brake, and Extreme upholstery with the Dacia logo.
Two engines are available under the bonnet. There’s an entry-level petrol TCe 90 or a bi-fuel (a combination of petrol and liquified petroleum) TCe 100. Both are manual, but there is an option to upgrade to an automatic gearbox.
The petrol TCe 90 has 89bhp, achieves 0-62mph in 12 seconds, has a top speed of 107mph, and has a combined fuel efficiency of 50.4mpg. It’s a perfectly good unit for its class, pulling well from low revs making it good to drive around town. It can be slow to get up to motorway speed, worth noting if you plan on racking up the miles.
The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel increases power to 100bhp giving it a bit of extra power, but it’s most suited to those who want to save money as Bi-Fuel is much cheaper than petrol. You can still use just petrol, thanks to a switch on the dash.
On the road, the Sandero Stepway is decent. Its six-speed manual gearbox is light and easy to use, and both engines are good to drive.
Although wind noise is a bit louder than the Fiesta Active, the Sandero Stepway is comfortable and tackles bumps in the road well, especially at higher speeds. Because it’s a relatively small car you can feel potholes, but it’s still more comfortable than the Suzuki Ignis.
Where suspension is good, the handling is not so much. There’s a good amount of body lean through corners and it doesn't feel nimble, frustrating if you’re trying to have a bit of fun on country roads.
Prices for the new Dacia Sandero Stepway start from £14,425.00 OTR* or to lease from £170.80 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Dacia Sandero Stepway? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
