Dacia Sandero Stepway Review (2021) Car News

During the eight years of commercialization in the United Kingdom, the Dacia Sandero has managed to make a name for itself.

Landing on our shores for the first time in 2013 under the guise of the second generation, the Romanian supermini immediately claimed the title of ‘Britain’s cheapest new car’. Prices for the standard Access bog model started at £ 5,995, for which you’d get a four-wheeled car, engine, and not much else. Such was the lack of standard equipment that even the most conservative Spartan would have felt right at home behind the wheel.

Of course, despite the price that made the headlines, few people opted for the Austerity Special. The higher spec variants offered a bit more comfort (namely air conditioning and a stereo), but were still offered with an insanely low sticker price. The formula proved to be a success, and with a lineup bolstered by similar discounted offerings in the form of the Duster SUV and Logan MCV, Dacia sold its 100,000th British car just three years after its first installation.

Fast forward to 2021, and the Renault-owned brand has sold 108,000 Sanderos in Britain alone. It is the basic model of Romanian society and has contributed significantly to its ability to move more than 500,000 cars per year in Europe before the pandemic.

Technical specifications

Model tested: Sandero Stepway TCe 90 Prestige

Price: £ 13,895

Tested price: £ 14,605

Engine: 3-cylinder in-line, 999 cc, turbocharged, petrol

Transmission: six-speed manual

Transmission layout: front engine, front wheel drive

Model tested

Sandero Stepway TCe 90 Prestige

See all specs and rivals

Engine

3-cylinder in-line, 999 cc, turbocharged, petrol

Transmission

Six-speed manual

Transmission layout

Front engine, front wheel drive

Now the Sandero is back for a third generation. It might still be the cheapest new car on sale in Britain (prices now start at £ 7,995) but, as we’ll continue to explore, this time around Dacia has made even more of it. ‘efforts with regard to strengthening equipment, and outright desirability, while trying to keep costs to the customer at levels that would see them thinking about it instead of a used car. It is a tightrope that is difficult to walk. Let’s see how it goes.