Item: Dacia Sandero Stepway
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

This is a slightly more powerful version of the three-cylinder engine that can also run on cheap LPG. It’s smoother and quieter with a little more verve, so we’d recommend it.


1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel

Hatchback

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds Britain’s cheapest new car, the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means nasty, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the Logan estate and Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing platforms and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

SANDERO STEPWAY

We'd recommended going for Comfort trim. It's still astonishing value but comes with a deep pool of extra kit over Essential, including alloy wheels electric rear windows, rain-sensing wipers and keyless entry. You also get a responsive 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system and rear parking sensors.


Comfort

1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel Comfort 5dr

10-tce-bi-fuel-comfort-5dr

Audi A1

Citroën C3

Dacia Sandero

Dacia Sandero Stepway

Ford Fiesta

Honda Jazz

Hyundai i10

Hyundai i20

Kia Rio

MG 3

Mazda 2

Mini

Mini 5dr

Nissan Micra

Peugeot 208

Renault Clio

Seat Ibiza

Skoda Fabia

Suzuki Baleno

Suzuki Swift

Toyota Yaris

Vauxhall Corsa

Volkswagen Polo

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Compared with the regular Dacia Sandero, the Stepway misses out on entry-level Access trim and the cheapest non-turbo engine, making it quite a bit more expensive on the face of it. However, with the regular Sandero we recommend jumping up to Comfort trim and one of the TCe engines anyway, which narrows the price gap significantly.&nbsp;

Even top-spec Prestige trim, not offered on normal Sanderos, is still cheap in the grand scheme of things. A reasonably well-specced<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49"> Hyundai i10</a> is more costly and smaller, while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta Active</a> is even pricier and, you’ve guessed it, smaller to boot. Strong<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122"> predicted resale values</a> mean that any Sandero Stepway is attractive on<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/pcp-or-hp-which-car-finance-option-makes-most-sense/n1163"> PCP finance</a>.

Fuel economy isn’t quite as good as that of the regular Sandero, let alone what you'd get from a hybrid<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343"> Honda Jazz</a> or<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris/hatchback/review/n31"> Toyota Yaris</a>, but the TCe 90 still returns an official figure of more than 50mpg. In our experience, more than 40mpg will be easily achievable in the real world, so you’d have to drive your Yaris an awful lot to recoup the cost difference. And while the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213"> official CO2 emissions</a> are nothing to write home about, the low purchase price will lead to<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255"> company car drivers</a> enjoying low benefit-in-kind tax payments every month.

On paper, the TCe 100 Bi-Fuel isn’t quite so efficient, with higher CO2 emissions and slightly heavier fuel consumption, but running it on cheaper LPG will not only save you money but also reduce your emissions. If there’s a filling station near you with LPG, you could recoup the extra initial outlay surprisingly quickly.

Essential trim gives you just that, with wheel trims, electric front windows, cruise control and remote central locking, along with the basic infotainment system we mentioned earlier. However, if you can, we'd recommend going for Comfort trim. It's still astonishing value but comes with a deep pool of extra kit, including electric rear windows, rain-sensing wipers and keyless entry. That's on top of the extra infotainment goodies and visibility aids we mentioned earlier. Prestige adds even more parking aids, along with alloy wheels, climate control and an electric parking brake.

Dacia didn’t do brilliantly in the What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n20069">Reliability Survey</a>, finishing mid-table in joint 14th place (out of 31 brands). Still, that was above Citroën, Ford, Seat and Volkswagen and a lot higher than MG and Vauxhall. Every new Sandero comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is par for the course in this class. Hyundai, Kia and Renault all provide longer warranties as standard.

In terms of safety, the Sandero Stepway only received a disappointing two-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. However, it’s worth noting that it was assessed under the latest, much tougher test requirements. If you dive into the detail of the results, you’ll find that it outperforms the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a> (the closest rival to be tested under the new regulations) when it comes to protecting adult occupants in a frontal collision.&nbsp;

Nevertheless, more expensive rivals such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris/hatchback/review/n31"> Toyota Yaris</a>&nbsp;are quite simply in another league when it comes to overall safety, with both cars awarded a full five stars by Euro NCAP. Those cars also get far more sophisticated active safety systems as standard, including lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control, allowing them to tot up points in the crucial Safety Assist section of the NCAP test.&nbsp;

In comparison the Dacia Sandero Stepway has to make do with automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a>, tyre pressure monitoring, six airbags, Isofix child seat mounts and e-Call emergency assistance. It's worth noting that if you go for entry-level Access trim, you'll get only two rear head restraints, while Prestige adds blindspot monitoring.

Unlike with the regular<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55"> Dacia Sandero</a>, there’s no entry-level non-turbo engine available for the Sandero Stepway. Not that we’re complaining, because the turbocharged TCe 90 gives perfectly acceptable performance for the class with a decent amount of punch from low engine speeds. It’s not the swiftest to reach motorway pace, but it’ll sit there all day long without fuss once you’re up there.

For a few hundred pounds more, there’s the TCe 100 Bi-Fuel. It has a little bit of extra poke at the expense, on paper, of economy and emissions, but you can also use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to reduce them. We’ll go into this in more detail in the costs section.

You can flip between the two fuels using a switch next to your knee, so if you can’t find anywhere to fill the LPG tank, you’ve always got petrol to fall back on. If anything, we’d say this is the engine to go for, because it’s a little stronger from low engine speeds and accelerates a bit more quickly. Crucially, it’s smoother and far quieter when accelerating than the TCe 90. Regardless of the engine choice, though, you’ll find far punchier options in most rivals.

We don’t have any issues with the light gearshift and easy-to-modulate clutch of the standard 6-speed manual. The optional continuously variable transmission (CVT) available on the TCe 90 is smooth enough around town, but it does cause the engine revs to flare under heavy acceleration – a characteristic of CVT gearboxes. You’ll hear a bit more wind and road noise than in a<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106"> Ford Fiesta Active</a> or<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376"> Volkswagen Polo</a>, but the Sandero Stepway cruises more quietly than similar-priced rivals such as the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/review/n17867"> MG 3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/ignis/hatchback/review/n17225">Suzuki Ignis</a>.

It’s also far more comfortable than the MG and Suzuki, as well as most other small cars, smoothing out rough roads impressively, especially at speed. Potholes and expansion joints do send a bit of a thwack through it, although not as noticeably as with similar-priced rivals. Indeed, you’d have to spend a fair chunk extra on a Volkswagen Polo or<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/karoq/estate/review/n118"> Skoda Kamiq</a> to find something that rides better.

The soft suspension does mean handling isn’t the Dacia Sandero Stepway’s forte, though. There’s plenty of body lean in corners and it never feels particularly agile. Still, there's decent grip and the steering weights up in a reassuring manner when cornering, which instills confidence. The Fiesta Active is certainly more fun if you’re a keen driver, though.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

10-tce-bi-fuel

This turbocharged three-cylinder engine is the entry-point for the Stepway. It’s punchy enough and pretty economical if rather noisy.


1.0 TCe 90

10-tce

The Dacia Sandero Stepway isn’t some fiendish new exercise machine – it’s an SUV-themed small hatchback at a very competitive price.

It's based on&nbsp;the regular&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a>&nbsp;but&nbsp;gets a more heavily sculpted bonnet, roof rails, chunky plastic wheel arch extensions, an increased ride height and bumpers with integrated skidplates, additions that are well suited to the&nbsp;urban jungle. There are just three trim levels to pick from, and no options apart from&nbsp;colour and a few dealer-fit accessories.

Some might be disappointed there’s no hybrid or diesel version, just a couple of turbocharged petrol engines. One is entirely conventional, but the other offers an interesting way&nbsp;to reduce&nbsp;costs and CO2 emissions, as we’ll explain later. An automatic gearbox is optional while a 6-speed manual is standard.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IqLbpPWRf38"></iframe>

Of course, it's not&nbsp;the only high-rise hatchback out there. For a start, there’s the long-running <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/panda/hatchback/review/n128">Fiat Panda Cross</a>, plus the <a href="http://v">Ford Fiesta Active</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz Crosstar</a>.

The Sandero Stepway is significantly cheaper than all of them, though, even undercutting smaller city cars such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/review/n9">Volkswagen Up</a>, let alone small SUVs including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/karoq/estate/review/n118">Skoda Karoq</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc</a>. Even the diminutive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/ignis/hatchback/review/n17225">Suzuki Ignis</a> is pricier.

But does this bargain basement price bring any inherent compromises? Over the next few pages of this Dacia Sandero Stepway review, we’ll tell you how peppy it is, whether it’s geared for comfort or cornering, and just how practical it is.

If you decide that the Sandero Stepway – or any other new make and model of car or SUV&nbsp;for that matter – is the one for you, the free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> service provides an easy, hassle-free way to find big savings with having to haggle, including great prices on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/dacia">new Dacias</a>.

All Stepways come with a height-adjustable driver’s seat with an armrest, plus a height and reach-adjustable steering wheel. That’s enough for you to get comfortable easily – regardless of how tall you are. You’ll find plenty of easy-to-use switches and knobs conveniently placed around the interior to control all the major functions, with no fiddly touch-sensitive ones, and easily readable instruments in front of you.

Your forward view is improved slightly by the raised ride height, and if you jack up the driver’s chair enough, you can just about convince yourself that you're in an SUV, albeit a very little one. The windscreen pillars aren't thick enough to get in the way, but those at the rear are rather chunky. That’s actually one of the reasons why we’d recommend Comfort trim, which gives you rear parking sensors. Impressively, all Stepways have powerful LED headlights as standard, while Prestige trim adds front parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

Essential trim gets a DAB radio, Bluetooth and two speakers, although it's still a relatively basic system by modern standards, with no touchscreen interface.

Comfort trim and up adds an 8.0in colour touchscreen system with built-in sat-nav, along with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone mirroring that you can sync your phone to wirelessly, saving you the bother of plugging it in to the USB socket on short journeys.

The screen is mounted helpfully high up on the dashboard and is tilted towards the driver, with some touch-sensitive shortcut buttons down the side that you can use to directly switch&nbsp;between functions. We’d prefer physical shortcut buttons, but the operating system is easy to get your head around and responds quickly to prods and swipes.

The Dacia Sandero Stepway is&nbsp;a brilliant small car that&nbsp;only the regular Sandero can topple for value in the class.

The Dacia Sandero Stepway is one of the biggest cars in the small car class. In fact, it almost matches the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a> for front head room and actually beats it for leg room. The Stepway's interior is relatively broad, too,&nbsp;so you won’t feel hemmed in. There are plenty of handy storage bins for all your clutter, and a couple of cupholders.

Rear space also impresses. True, it doesn't have quite as much leg room as the Jazz, but six-footers will still enjoy a gap between their knees and the seat in front. There's absolutely loads of head room, and its considerable breadth helps when you need to put three people in the back. In fact, our only grumble is that the rear door bins are quite small.&nbsp;

While the design of the boot could be improved – reducing the size of the lip at the entrance, for one thing – you can’t argue with its size. Officially there are 328 litres of space below the parcel shelf, and we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases inside. That's more than in any other car in the class, including the Tardis-like Honda Jazz. Just be careful of the exposed metal instead of tough plastic around the boot opening; there's a risk of scratching the&nbsp;paint.

If you suddenly need a small van, the rear seats fold in a standard 60/40 split. The Jazz Crosstar, in contrast, offers all sorts of clever features, including rear seat bases that flip up like those in a cinema to create an extra luggage area. Then again, it costs nearly twice as much.

As you’d expect for the money, the Dacia has&nbsp;acres of hard, unyielding plastic, although a fabric insert on the dash and a few little chrome trims on Comfort trim and up help lift things a little so it doesn’t feel too austere. Everything is solidly constructed, although those looking for a bit of luxury will need to dig much deeper for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/review/n17350">Mini</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n30">Peugeot 208</a>.

Essential trim gives you just that, with wheel trims, air conditioning electric front windows, cruise control and remote central locking along with a basic infotainment system without a touchscreen.


Essential

essential

comfort

This top trim comes with a rear parking camera, front parking sensors, climate control and an electric handbrake instead of a manual one. Still cheap, but we’d suggest Comfort has all you really need.


Prestige

prestige

The Sandero Stepway is a fine small car at a scarcely believable price. With plenty of space for people and a bigger boot than some cars costing twice as much, it’s a real steal. That’s especially true given the willing engines and comfortable ride that make whiling away the miles a pleasant experience. The Euro NCAP safety rating is disappointing, though.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought by single people or couples with no children – but the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen&nbsp;Polo have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

The Fiesta remains a star of the class, thanks to its strong Ecoboost petrol engines and suspension settings that are beautifully judged for British roads. However, the latest Volkswagen offers even more practicality, decent performance and a classy interior that has the edge on the Ford’s for quality.

Any of these models will be a competent commuter car – especially if fitted with one of the increasingly popular small turbocharged petrol engines – but just remember that while you’ll be able to carry two adults and two children, it might still be a struggle to get all of their luggage into the boot.

Introduction

What Car? says...