Little smasher
scored four stars. Just awarding the Stepway two stars without putting that into context is misleading.
The Dacia Sandero Stepway Prestige TCe 90 Auto that we’re testing this week costs £15,095, and that’s the most expensive version that Dacia makes (the entry-level car costs £11,495).
Because crash-worthiness is improving all the time you can assume a four-star car today is safer than a five-star car from three years ago. So what’s better – a brand new Stepway or a second or third-hand used car costing the same money that would be considerably less safe in an accident?
The new Sandero Stepway is built on the same Renault CMF-B platform as used for the current Clio and Captur. It’s essentially a normal Sandero that has been given a higher ride height, roof rails and body-cladding to make it look more adventurous. It isn’t of course, but it outsells the straight Sandero by a factor of six to four.
Our Stepway Prestige comes with a hugely impressive list of standard equipment that includes automatic air-conditioning, smartphone mirroring, rear-view camera, blind spot warning, cruise control, rear Isofix fittings, keyless entry and heated front seats.
The engine is Renault’s threecylinder turbocharged 1.0-litre unit giving 90bhp, and the transmission is a new CVT automatic (a six-speed manual is also available).
The engine is smooth and goes far better than its 0-62mph time of 14.2 seconds suggests. Combined fuel consumption is 45.6mpg (53.3mpg with a manual gearbox).
There’s an area that Euro NCAP ignores completely and that’s how distracting and fiddly a car’s systems are to use. The Dacia Sandero has a selection of buttons, switches and knobs with which you can adjust settings. The VW ID.4, ( five-star NCAP rating), requires you to press a button and then move a slider across on the touchscreen to simply turn down the heater fan, taking the driver’s eyes off the road.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this car to anyone. And if I was in the market for a spacious, comfortable, very affordable, well-equipped car then I’d have one myself.