This car has been superseded by a newer model, click here to go to the latest Dacia Sandero Stepway review.

Dacia Sandero Stepway (2013 - 2021) practicality

04 February 2020 by Parkers experts

Parkers overall rating: 3 out of 5 3.0

Capacious cabin for a small car
Elevated driving position
Standard 60/40 split rear seat

It’s big for a small car, the Dacia Sandero Stepway, and the dimensions are used efficiently with a satisfyingly roomy cabin. Four adults will have no issues getting comfy in there, although a fifth might be a bit of a squeeze.

You’ll find a few areas to place your cabin detritus but none of them are covered barring the glovebox, so you’re hard-pressed to keep your valuables out of sight.

2020 Dacia Sandero Stepway rear seats

The Sandero might be big inside, but its exterior dimensions are still quite small so there shouldn’t be any problems when it comes to parking it. The extremities are all easy to judge but if you do struggle, mid-spec Comfort models come with reversing sensors while top-spec Techroad cars get a reversing camera, too.

Boot

Not only does the Dacia Sandero Stepway have one of the largest boots in its class, the 60/40 split rear seat that’s standard across the range, is also unusual at this price point.

Okay, they don’t fold completely flat, but they do add a welcome degree of flexibility.

2020 Dacia Sandero Stepway boot

The biggest gripe is, like with the regular Sandero, the tailgate can only be opened from the outside with the key, although there is a release handle down by the driver’s seat. Still an unnecessary faff, though.

Safety

Four-star Euro NCAP crash test result
Not much modern safety kit here
Two Isofix points in the back

The four-star crash-test rating from Euro NCAP was rather good back in 2013, but times – and accident-mitigation technologies have moved on since then. Unfortunately, the Dacia Sandero Stepway has been left behind.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)? No. Blind spot monitoring? Look elsewhere. Lane-keep assistance? Not a chance.

Of course, ABS, a suite of airbags and electronic stability software are present and correct, but that’s about your lot. Remember, despite the Stepway’s looks, it doesn’t have four-wheel drive or any form of traction enhancement.

Got kids to ferry about? You’ll find a couple of Isofix child seat mounting points on the outer positions of the rear bench.

Basic equipment

The basic equipment list includes equipment that is standard across all versions of the Dacia Sandero Stepway (13-21).

3x3 point rear seat belts
ABS
Body coloured bumpers
Cloth seat trim
Driver`s airbag
Folding rear seats
Front electric windows
Front fog lights
Isofix child seat anchor points
PAS
Passenger`s airbag
Remote locking
Side airbags
Steel wheels
Traction control

Equipment by trim level

To view equipment options for a specific trim level, please select from the following list:

Equipment included on some trim levels
Air conditioning Audio remote CD Cruise control Electric mirrors Heated mirrors Height adjustable drivers seat Metallic Paint Parking sensors Rear electric windows Roof rails Sat Nav Service indicator Steering wheel rake adjustment

Ambiance standard equipment
Audio remote CD Roof rails

Ambiance optional equipment
Air conditioning Height adjustable drivers seat Metallic Paint Steering wheel rake adjustment

Comfort standard equipment
Air conditioning Cruise control Electric mirrors Heated mirrors Height adjustable drivers seat Parking sensors Rear electric windows Sat Nav Service indicator Steering wheel rake adjustment

Comfort optional equipment
Audio remote CD Roof rails

Essential standard equipment
Air conditioning Height adjustable drivers seat Steering wheel rake adjustment

Essential optional equipment
Audio remote CD Roof rails

Laureate standard equipment
Air conditioning Audio remote CD Cruise control Electric mirrors Heated mirrors Height adjustable drivers seat Parking sensors Roof rails Sat Nav Steering wheel rake adjustment

Laureate optional equipment
Metallic Paint Rear electric windows Service indicator

SE Summit standard equipment
Air conditioning Audio remote CD Cruise control Electric mirrors Heated mirrors Height adjustable drivers seat Metallic Paint Parking sensors Rear electric windows Roof rails Sat Nav Steering wheel rake adjustment

SE Summit optional equipment
Service indicator

SE Twenty standard equipment
Air conditioning Cruise control Electric mirrors Heated mirrors Height adjustable drivers seat Parking sensors Rear electric windows Sat Nav Service indicator Steering wheel rake adjustment

SE Twenty optional equipment
Audio remote CD Roof rails

Techroad standard equipment
Air conditioning Cruise control Electric mirrors Heated mirrors Height adjustable drivers seat Metallic Paint Parking sensors Rear electric windows Roof rails Sat Nav Service indicator Steering wheel rake adjustment

Techroad optional equipment
Audio remote CD

Euro NCAP Rating – 4 stars

The Dacia Sandero Stepway (13-21) was tested by Euro NCAP in 2013 and was awarded a 4 star overall rating. This overall rating is calculated from the following individual ratings:

Test 2013

Individual safety ratings
Adult Occupant:	80%
Child Occupant:	79%
Vulnerable Road Users:	57%
Safety Assist:	55%

Euro NCAP provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe. The safety ratings are determined from a series of vehicle tests, designed and carried out by Euro NCAP. These tests represent, in a simplified way, important real life accident scenarios that could result in injured or killed car occupants or other road users.