Why we’re running it: To see how similar Britain’s cheapest supermini is to its class-leading sibling
Month 1 - Specs
Life with a Dacia Sandero Stepway: Month 1
Welcoming the Sandero to the fleet - 17 July 2024
Reader, I'm disappointed. Not wanting to be left behind by the industry, I had a man come to quote for installing an EV charger at my home. "Nope, can't do it" was his instant verdict.
Because my flat is 35 metres from the block's car park, they would need to dig up the drive and lay an armoured steel cable, which would cost many thousands of pounds and then wouldn't work properly anyway, due to voltage drop.
Therefore I'm relieved and very grateful - as should be the other 100-plus residents here, and indeed those in the other blocks on my road, and in fact millions of Brits - that combustion-engined cars are still being made and, given that this isn't an affluent area, that some remain 'affordable.
Dacia is dedicated more than any other manufacturer to keeping the working class mobile, as evidenced by the fact that you can buy a factory-fresh Sandero for just £13,795.
And that's not for some horrifying crapbox but a truly modern compact hatchback that can accommodate five people in comfort and is composed of parts that Renault is happy to put its name to.
This is also a company that couldn't give a damn what Euro NCAP says about its refusal to fit driver assistance technology that's expensive yet in many cases unwanted, unnecessary and sub-standard. Stuff your multimillion-pound, limited-edition supercar makers: the Romanians are who I admire.
My own Sandero actually costs £16,295 because it's an off-roader-lookie-like Stepway in Expression trim, but that's still less than half the price of the average new car in the UK - and if you forgo the extra ride height, plastic body trim and root rails, you can get this spec (which you will want, because it adds an 8.0in touchscreen, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera to the standard air-con and Bluetooth-equipped four-speaker stereo) for an incredible £14,795.
In any case, most people get their cars on finance, and the Expression is actually E7 per month cheaper (at just £140) than the Comfort, due to its better resale value. Add another £6 per month if you must have the Stepway, despite its conspicuous lack of four-wheel drive.
The one big problem with this premise is that Renault is currently offering a 0% APR finance deal on its entry-level Clio, which uses exactly the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (which makes 89bhp and 118lb ft of torque) and six-speed manual gearbox, and has a comparable level of standard equipment, for just £142 per month. I previously ran a Clio, albeit in pricier E-Tech hybrid form, which I absolutely loved and which Autocar now considers the class leader. So will I find justification in recommending the Sandero to you instead?
The interior probably won't pull any fence-sitters down, if I'm being brutally honest. There's nothing wrong with it fundamentally. Analogue speedometer and tachometer dials now seem a rare treat, the infotainment software features Apple CarPlay, the seats are adjustable and give the driver and passenger enough space, and I have no objections to dark cloth upholstery. But away from the steering wheel, the plastics are far from tactile delights, and the touchscreen has a matt finish that feels weird to touch.
I suppose the design may sway some, particularly after a light refresh in 2022 that implemented Dacia's new brand image, which to me gives it a slightly more upmarket appearance (although I did wonder why they had swapped a D-shaped logo for an X-shaped one until someone pointed out that it's meant to be a D and a C...).
I can also see some people being drawn to its 4X4 look, especially in the metallic Dusty Khaki seen here. In fact, I've already had someone stop to ask how it drives because they loved the look. No, I'm not making that up, and I never had that happen in my many months with the Clio. My answer to him was "It's great, given the price" '.
It doesn't feel like a Clio, though. In fact, it feels remarkably different, given that they are so closely related, having a much softer suspension set-up and thicker-walled tyres, which gives the ride a totally different character, and there's much less appetite for dynamic cornering evident in its handling.
It's still early days, so I haven't yet worked out exactly how I feel about my new long-termer. I already have a few long motorway trips booked in, so we will soon see. Although my lack of any reservations about that prospect probably says something in itself.
Second Opinion
I’ve approached the Sandero with fresh eyes now as the owner of the cheapest Renault, an £18k petrol manual Clio. This Dacia is notably more rudimentary and basic-feeling, despite near parity on price to its sibling. Dacia has clearly taught its parent company a few tricks about how to build affordable cars.
Mark Tisshaw
Dacia Sandero Stepway TCE 90 Expression specification
Specs: Price New £16,295 Price as tested £16,945 Options Dusty Khaki metallic paint £650
Test Data: Engine 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol Power 91bhp Torque 118lb ft Kerb weight 1072kg Top speed 109mph 0-62mph 12.2sec Fuel economy 50.4mpg CO2 119g/km Faults None Expenses None
