Used Dacia Sandero Stepway cars for sale or finance at 10.9% APR

There’s only one version of the Dacia Sandero Stepway. It’s a five-door hatchback that’s very closely based on the regular Dacia Sandero. However, the Stepway treatment brings a taller SUV-inspired ride height, a chunkier SUV-inspired body kit, and roof rails to help it look more butch than the regular model.

Buyers looking at nearly new Sandero Stepway models are likely to encounter two different generations of the car. The current-generation model went on sale from 2021 onwards, whereas the previous-generation Stepway was sold from 2012 to part-way through 2021. The current model gets some choice upgrades over the previous version, the the latter can be had for noticeably less money.

The two look quite similar so can be hard to tell apart, with the newer car simply sharpening the styling found on the previous version. Perhaps the most obvious visual difference is the B pillar – the pillar between the front and rear side windows. On previous-generation Sandero Stepway models, this pillar is painted the same colour as the body, whereas on the current Sandero Stepway, this pillar is finished in black plastic cladding.

The Sandero Stepway is a hair under 4.1 metres long. That means it’s a few millimetres longer than rivals including the Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 208, and a few millimetres shorter than a Skoda Fabia. That means the Sandero Stepway is easy to squeeze into tight parking spaces or gaps in city traffic.

Space for passengers is decent in the Sandero Stepway, making it slightly easier to live with than more stylish hatches like the Mini or Fiat 500. Four adults can fit comfortably, and five can squeeze in for short hops. Boot space is, again, decent for the class but you do have to lift your cargo quite high to clear the high boot lip.

The Sandero Stepway’s engine range is cheap and cheerful like the rest of the car. There’s only petrol choices available and the overwhelming majority come equipped with a manual gearbox, although a small handful offer Dacia’s CVT automatic gearbox.

For Sandero Stepway cars registered after April 2017, all versions cost the standard rate in VED (road tax). For the 2023/24 financial year, that means tax costs £180 for a year.

Despite its chunky looks, the Sandero Stepway is exclusively front-wheel drive. If you need a little bit of off-road capability, the Extreme trim level comes with Dacia’s ‘Extended Grip’ traction control system, or the bigger Dacia Duster is available with four-wheel drive.

The Dacia Sandero Stepway excels at being a cheap, honest car with a smattering of trendy SUV styling. Mid-spec cars come with an infotainment system with the same smartphone connectivity as much costlier cars, plus extra creature comforts that’ll make daily journeys more pleasant. The latest model, marked out by its Y-shaped headlights and two-bar grille, doesn’t feel like a basic product as it uses a lot of Renault parts inside.