Dacia Sandero Stepway Prestige TCe 90 (2021 - 2022)

Renowned as the cheapest car on UK roads, the Dacia Sandero has offered the opportunity of ‘new-car ownership’ to the masses since it was first launched back in 2008. Even in 2022, the Sandero can be snapped up from as little as £11,765.

Such was its appeal, that Dacia launched a beefed up version of the model called the Sandero Stepway which, despite being very much based on the standard five-door Stepway, added more rugged design cues to the mix as well as an increased ride height.

This model has gone on to account for more than 60 per cent of Sandero sales in the UK.

Customers can choose from a range of trims with the Sandero Stepway Essential costing from £12,995. It is also available in Comfort from £14,595 and Prestige costing from £15,395. There is a range of efficient petrol and dual fuel engines to choose from along with manual or auto transmissions. 

With such budget pricing you would expect the Dacia Sandero Stepway to lack real charm and charisma. In fairness, you would be wrong because this five-door SUV-styled hatchback looks good from any angle, especially if it features Desert Orange paintwork like our test car.
Eye-catching styling cues include body-coloured bumpers and mirrors, LED light signatures, black plastic cladding on the wheel arches, roof rails, front fog lights, heated and electrically-adjusted door mirrors and 16-inch diamond-effect alloy wheels.
Move inside and you are greeted by a bright, modern and thoughtfully laid out interior that boasts smart titanium black seat fabric, along with neat orange contrast trim on the seats, air vents and doors. There is even upholstery on the dashboard and door trims for added appeal.
The high-end Prestige model, as tested, was well-equipped with all the mod cons we demand in our vehicles these days, such as an eight-inch infotainment display screen, six-speaker sound system, DAB radio, Bluetooth and air conditioning. You can wirelessly connect a smartphone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 
The interior is driver-focused with the infotainment screen tilted slightly towards the driver for convenience and there are touch-sensitive buttons to sweep between functions.

We tested the Dacia Sandero Stepway in high-end Prestige trim powered by a punchy 1.0-litre petrol engine that delivered 90hp and 160Nm of torque. It was matched to a six-speed manual gearbox and could complete the 0-62mph dash in 12.0 seconds going onto a maximum speed of 107mph.

While it’s not the fastest out the blocks, or the most dynamic in its handling, the Sandero Stepway is no slouch and is very capable of getting the job done. Despite lacking blistering pace, the acceleration through the six-speed manual transmission is smooth enough and there is ample power on tap to cruise at 70mph on motorways.

The steering is a little light but offers ample feel, and the car is impressively grounded into tight corners and when fizzing along twisting B roads. You will notice a little body sway if curves are attacked too eagerly, but it’s worth remembering before being too critical, that this is a compact family car that carries a very low price-tag.

It nicely agile in town centres with good all-round visibility. This is a vital factor as this car will likely feature on the dreaded school run with parents, cars, bikes and pushchairs appearing from all angles.

While the Dacia Sandero Stepway is a compact SUV-styled hatchback, it does score well when it comes to practicality. Up front, there is bundles of room for a couple of six footers to sit comfortably, and even with the front seats pushed quite a way back, there is enough leg room for a trio of youngsters to sit in the back.

The car stretches 4,099mm in length, is 1,848mm wide and 1,787mm tall. That height results in excellent levels of headroom inside the car and even six footers could fit in the back without their hair brushing the headlining.

Another plus point is storage. The Sandero Stepway’s boot can swallow 328 litres of kit, increasing to a very decent 1,108 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped down. 

And throughout the cabin, additional storage options include a glovebox, front cup holders, a central cubby box, a tray, front and rear door bins and pockets in the front seatbacks. Our test car came with a spare wheel stored beneath the boot floor and this added £150 to the final cost.

The Dacia Sandero Stepway line-up costs from £12,995 for the entry-level Essential model. Our test car, in top-of-the-range Prestige, was priced at £13,895, increased to £14,605 with options (2021 prices).

According to official figures, under stringent WLTP testing, the car could deliver a combined 50.4mpg with carbon emissions of 127g/km. This CO2 emissions figure would result in a first year road tax fee of £190 dropping to the standard charge of £165 after 12 months.

The car has an Eco mode that will help maximise fuel efficiency over time too.

Insurance costs are very reasonable with our test car set in group 10.

Dacia also enjoys a very impressive reputation when it comes to reliability and frequently scores high in customer satisfaction surveys. That helps make the Sandero Stepway a model well worth checking out if you are on a fairly tight budget but want all the warranty rewards and prestige that goes with a new car. Shame about the Euro NCAP safety rating though.