Dacia Sandero Stepway review

Entry-level Essential trim gets a DAB radio, but you’ll need to step up to Comfort if you want a touchscreen. The 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system is responsive, its graphics are clear and its menus are easy to get to grips with, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring are also included. 

In any Sandero, though, you are always aware that you're in a budget car. True, there are some flashes of chrome on the dashboard and the infotainment screen is set in a gloss-black fascia, but don’t expect much in the way of soft-touch materials or fancy detailing. What you will find is lots of hard, grey plastic, but at least everything feels solidly screwed together.

Despite having a height-adjustable seat as standard, it can be hard to fine-tune your driving position as the steering wheel only moves up and down (not in and out). The seat itself isn’t particularly comfortable, either, with quite a flat base and little bolster or lower back support.

That said, you get a good view of the road ahead, thanks to the Stepway’s slightly raised ride height. The windscreen pillars are thin so don’t obstruct the view, while the window line is kept at a sensible level to make pulling out at junctions and roundabouts that bit easier. Rear parking sensors are standard with Comfort trim, while range-topping SE Twenty adds a rear-view camera.