Name: Dacia Sandero Stepway (2021 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car...
Item: Dacia Sandero Stepway
Rating: 62

Summary

The Dacia Sandero Stepway first appeared in 2017 as a rugged, off-road themed variant of the Sandero supermini, dubbed Europe’s best-selling retail car. All-new versions of both models were launched in 2021.

The Stepway takes most Sandero sales in the UK and the reason it sells so well is because it is very much a cheap car, prices ranging from just £11,000 at launch. However the budget focus earned the Stepway the wrong sort of headlines in 2021 – Euro NCAP awarded it an almost basement two-star crash-test rating due to its very basic active safety system.

Sandero Stepway models are available only with petrol engines. There’s a 1.0-litre of 90hp or a 100hp version that can also run on Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), a rarity in today’s market. There’s also the option to replace the six-speed manual gearbox with a CVT auto.

Testers have generally liked the Sandero, praising it for the interior space and equipment you get for a bargain price, and the same goes for the Stepway. According to Autocar the purpose of this model “is to offer people the cheapest way into a good new car possible”, and it’s the basics – “comfort, equipment, enjoyment and refinement” – that boost the car’s score.

Those basics include a good, adjustable driving position, lots of interior space with a bigger boot than most superminis, and the availability of such niceties as air conditioning, touchscreen navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The Daily Telegraph comments that the Sandero Stepway is “a bargain basement hatchback with a tiny engine and an automatic gearbox that you might actually want to own,” but adds that “we find it hard to recommend a budget option if it means cutting a corner on safety”. Likewise, Which? has slapped the Sandero Stepway with a ‘Don’t Buy’ tag due its poor safety score.

As of January 2024, the Dacia Sandero Stepway holds a New Car Expert Rating of C with a score of 62%.

Sandero Stepway highlights

Great value
Lots of room
Big boot
Plentiful equipment

Sandero Stepway lowlights

Poor safety rating
Slow
Uninspiring ride and handling
Hard plastic interior

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door hatchback
Engines: petrol, petrol/LPG dual-fuel
Price: From £15,295 on-road

Launched: Winter 2020/21
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Dacia Sandero Stepway makes a great case for itself as an urban runabout, with rugged SUV-style looks, plenty of space and low running costs – all for the price of a bog-standard city car.”
Author: Ellis Hyde, Alastair Crooks
Read review

Model reviewed: 2023 facelift model
Score: 9 / 10
“With the Stepway, Dacia has managed to make it feel like a genuinely competitive offering in the supermini segment, rather than one that relies on its headline price tag and falls short everywhere else. With low-budget rivals drying up, the jacked-up image has now become a bit of a USP for the Stepway, which only adds to its appeal.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol/LPG manual TCe 100 Bi-Fuel
Score: 9 / 10
“This is another hugely impressive Dacia. It does a brilliant job of disguising its budget car status and will have you checking the price list in disbelief. It now adds a fair dose of style and up-to-date tech to the original no frills formula, and is easy to live with.”
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Auto Trader+

Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“While the standard Sandero is the embodiment of Dacia’s bargain brand ethos the Sandero version offers a little more in the way of style and substance thanks to its chunkier crossover looks and some feelgood garnish for the fixtures and fittings.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“Trendy crossover looks and a bargain price make the Stepway version of the Dacia Sandero an even more appealing choice for cost-conscious buyers.”
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Autocar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Here we find ourselves in a Suzuki Jimny situation – it’s a car that we like and admire a great deal but which safety agencies do not rate highly. Judged on its other merits – comfort, equipment, enjoyment and refinement – the Dacia Sandero is a solid performer that stands great scrutiny against both new and used alternatives.” (Matt Saunders)
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Comfort
Score: 8 / 10
“The Dacia Sandero Stepway is an appealing machine that comes with a greater breadth of capability than before while still offering class-best value for money.”
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Business Car+

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Prestige
Score: 8 / 10
“Dacia has made good strides with its latest models to appeal to buyers from more than just a cost basis, but we shouldn’t overlook the fact that the range still represents excellent value for money. And though the regular Sandero is cheaper still, for those keen on a crossover the Stepway’s cost proposition will demand strong consideration.”
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Car+

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol/LPG manual Bi-Fuel
Score: 8 / 10
“We really like the Dacia Sandero Stepway. Yes, it’s more expensive than the standard Sandero hatchback but it’s still an honest, likeable and comfortable family car.”
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8.2 / 10
“Headline-grabbing price and improved features make the Dacia Sandero Stepway a tempting option.” (Andy Goodwin)
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Dacia Sandero Stepway is a great hatchback mimicking an SUV in a rather pointless way.”
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Heycar+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“With good fuel economy, plus low insurance and tax costs, the Dacia Sandero Stepway is already affordable before you consider it’s about half the price of the best small SUVs. It might not be sophisticated, but basic transport has never been better.” (Lawrence Allan)
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Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“Brilliant value for money, much improved over old model.”
Read review

The Sun+

Model reviewed:
“I think I prefer the Dacia Sandero Stepway to the standard Sandero. Whatever car or trim you choose, you are guaranteed one thing from the new Sandero family and that’s comically cheap, carefree motoring in what feels like a much more expensive car.”
Read review

The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: 1.0-liter petrol automatic Prestige
Score: 6 / 10
“It’s a great all-rounder and terrific value, with one notable exception. You may be prepared to accept the Dacia Sandero Stepway’s crashworthiness as an expected by-product of its lower price, but we find it hard to recommend a budget option if it means cutting a corner on safety.”
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol/LPG manual Bi-Fuel
Score: 8 / 10
“The Dacia Sandero Stepway is value for money without making you look cheap, less pretentious than other crossovers and actually a reasonably deft piece of design.”
Read review

What Car?+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Dacia Sandero Stepway is a brilliant 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. The Euro NCAP safety rating is disappointing, though.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 2 stars
Date tested: April 2021
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 70%
Child protection: 72%
Vulnerable road users: 41%
Safety assist: 42%

Notes on safety rating

The Dacia Sandero family (including the Sandero Stepway) scored a very poor two-star rating from Euro NCAP, which generated headlines in the motoring media and was a very disappointing result. However, a better understanding of why the Sandero was only rated two stars is important.

The Sandero scored reasonably well in terms of occupant protection for both adults and children in crash tests. It’s still short of the best small cars, but certainly adequate. If the overall rating was just based on crash performance, it would probably have been awarded four stars rather than two.

Where the Sandero really fell down was in its crash avoidance technology, which has become increasingly important in determining overall ratings – after all, it’s far better to avoid an accident altogether than to survive one. Compared to other small cars, the Dacia’s autonomous emergency braking system is more basic and unable to properly detect pedestrians or cyclists. It does better at avoiding other vehicles, but is still not as good as other small cars.

Given that many of the Sandero Stepway’s rivals are actually used cars from other brands based on older technology and older Euro NCAP standards, the overall two-star rating is not as bad as it sounds – although it’s still not good enough for a brand new car in 2023. In summary, the Sandero Stepway does an adequate job of protecting you in a crash but doesn’t do enough to actually avoid one in the first place.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: 1.0-litre petrol manual 90hp

Overall score: 2.5 stars
Date tested: June 2023
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 6.1 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 4.8 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 3.3 / 10

Notes on eco rating

Green NCAP tested the 90hp, 1.0-litre petrol manual version of the Dacia Sandero Stepway in June 2023. This rating does not apply to any other engine or gearbox.

Green NCAP said: “The car comes with a state-of-the-art exhaust aftertreatment system and scores an above-average 6.1/10 in the Clean Air Index. The petrol consumption is as can be expected for this type of vehicle and powertrain… enough for an Energy Efficiency Index of 4.8/10.

“Due to the unspectacular consumption figures and the addition of the upstream greenhouse gas emissions for the supply of the fuel, the Greenhouse Gas Index receives only 3.3 points out of 10 and the car misses the qualification for the additional robustness tests.”

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 13
Average repair cost: £421.98
Last updated: January 2024

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The Dacia Sandero range (including the Stepway) is a very creditable 86%, according to extended warranty data from our commercial partner MotorEasy, which puts it well above average. The only caveat to this score is that it currently comes from a small number of data points, so could shift significantly as more claims are added to MotorEasy’s database.

This score applies to both the current (2020 onwards) and previous generations of the Sandero family, which is good news if you are considering a used Sandero of any kind.

The average repair cost to date is just over £420, which is dragged up by an average engine repair bill of nearly £1,900. Other repair costs (electrics, brakes, fuel system) are all quite low.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	49 mpg	C	49 – 50 mpg	B – C

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	130 g/km	A	127 – 141 g/km	A – B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	12	A	10 – 14	A – A

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£149	A
Year 2	£393	A
Year 3	£644	A
Year 4	£839	A
Year 5	£1,203	A
Overall	£3,228	A

Data provided by our partner Clear Vehicle Data backs up the Sandero Stepway’s reputation for long-term affordability.

Only available with petrol drivetrains, the crossover has an average fuel consumption, with low CO₂ emissions. Service and maintenance costs over a five-year period are very affordable too when compared to the market as a whole.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Dacia Sandero Stepway has received

2023

Auto Trader Awards – Best Value New Car

2021

Scottish Car of the Year Awards – Best Small SUV/Crossover

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Dacia Sandero Stepway, you might also be interested in these alternatives

There are few direct rivals to the Sandero Stepway’s combination of rugged looks and value, but one of the closest is the Suzuki Ignis, a mini SUV with lots of character, more economy but less space.

Ford offers a beefed-up ‘Active’ version of its mass-selling Fiesta – it’s a much better car than the Dacia but a whole lot more money. The MG ZS is also a traditional SUV of similar size to the Sandero stepway, but while budget it’s still not as cheap as the Dacia.